News on Farming

Sonoma County Healthy & Sustainable Food Action Plan

The Sonoma County Healthy and Sustainable Food Action Plan, a project of the SCFSA, is poised to be a huge success.

Yolo/Solano “Farmbudsman” article highlighting Michelle Stephens hire

May 2013 After over a year of collaborating and advocating for the position, the YAFA & Solano partners welcome their new “Farmbudsman”.

DPR-commissioned Nonfumigant Strawberry Production Working Group Releases Action Plan

April 2013 A Working Group of industry and scientific leaders convened by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation released an action plan detailing research priorities for developing cost-effective management tools and practices for soilborne pests of strawberries in the absence of conventional fumigants.

Fresno FSA’s Farm-to-School Committee Members Feautred on NPR Valley Public Radio

April 2013 FFSA Farm-to-School Committee members, Pao Saephan and Jose Alvarado, were featured on NPR Valley Public Radio on April, 2nd.

SCCFSA Member highlighted in article about immigrant growers in Santa Clara County

March 2013 Aziz Baamuer of UCCE Small Farms Program and SCCFSA member, speaks to the challenges of Asian immigrant farmers in Silicon Valley. See Article

Hiring underway for “Farmbudsman” position in Yolo/Solano Counties

December 2012 Thanks to the work of the YAFA & Solano partners, the two counties are hiring for a new Farmbudsman position.

SMFSA Members Release Report: Farming and Farmland Report on San Mateo County Land Use

January 2013 SMFSA Members, Jered Lawson and Ned Conwell, and Pie Ranch staff Jessica Beckett released a report looking at farmland availability and preservation on San Mateo County.

Conserving Coyote Valley Agriculure Feasibility Study releases final report

The final report, Sustaining Agriculture and Conservation in the Coyote Valley: Findings and Recommendations. The Study and Executive Summary are also available for download from the website of the project funder, the Coastal Conservancy.

CRAE Releases Ecosystem Services Guidelines

Nov. 2012. On Nov. 14, 2012, the California Roundtable on Agriculture and the Environment (CRAE) launched a new paper entitled Guidelines for Creating Effective Ecosystem Services Incentive Programs and Policy.

2012 Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance (VAFA) Progress Report

Dec. 2012 Ventura AFA has released a report on the Ag Summit and the work the Alliance has done since this incredible event.

Sonoma FSA Hosts Successful School Food Workshop for Food Day

Oct. 2011 Sonoma County FSA hosted a free School Food Workshop on October 25 for Food Day, which provided a review of best practices, networking opportunities with local farmers.

Farm Forum Praises Sonoma County FSA

Sept. 2011 Sonoma’s 3rd Farm Forum featured more than a dozen speakers on various aspects of the food system. Praises were sung for the Sonoma County Food System Alliance among other efforts within the county. Click to read the Press Democrat article (pdf).

Sonoma FSA Presents Food Forum Report to BOS

Aug. 2011 The Sonoma County Food System Alliance presented their Food Forum report to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on August 9.

Dry Farming in Sonoma County

May 2011 Dry farmed vineyards, apples, tomatoes, potatoes, and more are thriving in Sonoma County. Learn more in a recent article in the Bohemian, How Dry am I? You may also download a pdf of the article.

Ag Water Stewardship: Online Resource Center

The Agricultural Water Stewardship online resource center is a clearinghouse of information and resources on important on-farm practices for sound water management, many of which have been overlooked for their potential to help growers and ranchers thrive while being good stewards of the water that flows through farms. Each listed practice includes an overview of the practice, the associated water savings, additional benefits, applicability in different production scenarios, case studies, and additional resources.

Ag Water Stewardship Symposium

Feb. 2011 On February 9, 2011 representatives from a range of agricultural research and technical assistance organizations and agencies gathered at the California Endowment’s Oakland Conference Center to share best practices, support systems, and lessons learned; to provide feedback and input to a policy platform to enhance programs that support sound on‐farm water management; and to build a stronger network and ongoing collaborations in service of agricultural viability through smart farm water management. They heard from leading practitioners about model projects and practices. They learned about the policy work that CAWSI and its partners have been doing and helped to shape its future direction. They discussed how they might work more closely together in the future to advocate for policies and programs beneficial to ag water stewardship.

Presentations from the day can be downloaded here:

• Water Conservation, Soil Function, and Organic Matter (pdf), Rex Dufour, National Center for Appropriate Technology
• Water Harvesting, Storage & Dry Farming (pdf), Brock Dolman, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center WATER Institute
• Drought Proofing Your Farm (pdf), Michael Cahn, Monterey County Cooperative Extension

The final report is also available in pdf form.

UCSC releases oral history of organic farming & sustainable agriculture on CA Central Coast

2010. A wealth of colorful, informative stories told by dozens of pioneers in the development of organic farming and sustainable food systems in California’s Central Coast region is now available on the UCSC Library’s website