Tim Hearden
Apr 01, 2021
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has released for public comment a draft report, “Farmer-and Rancher-Led Climate Solutions.” The comment period closes on April 30, 2021 at 5 p.m.
The report documents the wide range of comments, ideas and feedback provided to CDFA by farmers, ranchers and stakeholders during six online listening sessions held in February. The sessions were held in response to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-82-20, on nature-based solutions, to identify solutions to sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gases and enhance biodiversity through voluntary, farmer and rancher-led action.
The 322 unique workshop participants included farmers, ranchers, commodity group representatives, and technical assistance providers, many attending more than one meeting. Several farming or ranching attendees were past recipients of CDFA’s Climate Smart Agriculture incentive programs: the Heathy Soils Progra
Feb 24, 2021
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation is seeking public comments on recommendations for proposed new manure management practices to be potentially included in its Alternative Manure Management Program.
Comments must be submitted via email to cdfa.oefi ammp tech@cdfa.ca.gov by 5 p.m. PT on Monday, March 1, 2021.
Proposals for new practices were accepted through a request for proposals (RFP) between July 6 and Sept. 4, 2020. There were several important requirements needed to submit a manure management practice for consideration in AMMP. Submitted proposals were reviewed by subject matter experts within CDFA, the California Air Resources Board and the AMMP Technical Advisory Committee. Recommendations for practices for potential inclusion under AMMP are now available for public comments through March 1, 2021.
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture will be holding stakeholder meetings in February to solicit feedback from the public and agricultural stakeholders on farmer-and rancher-led climate solutions that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gases and enhance biodiversity.
“These outreach meetings are essential to ensure we gain information and knowledge from the people who live and work on the land and the organizations that support them,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We want to hear from all those interested in discussing farmer- and rancher-led efforts to help ensure climate resilience, greenhouse gas mitigation, biodiversity and food security.”
The meetings will be organized around three agricultural categories: livestock and dairy; row and field crops (annual crops); and trees and vines (perennial crops).
For Some California Farmers, a Virus-Driven Drop in Emissions Could Set Back Their Climate Efforts
The state’s cap-and-trade program funds ‘climate smart’ agriculture programs. But with emissions down, funding for those programs may be threatened.
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The drop in greenhouse gas emissions that accompanied the coronavirus stay-at-home orders might seem like the lone silver lining of the Covid-19 pandemic. But in California, the reduced demand for petroleum-based fuel has had one paradoxical consequence: Revenue from the state’s system for limiting carbon emissions plummeted last month, putting many of the “climate smart” agricultural programs it funds in jeopardy.