Welcome to the California Department of Food and Agriculture

PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS

Economics and Adoption of Conservation Biological Control
Conservation biological control involves improving the conditions for natural enemies in agricultural systems. Authors from Santa Clara University and Lincoln University in New Zealand examine the economics of this relatively new discipline. The study was partially funded by CDFA's Pesticide Consultation office. wedge Abstract   wedge Full Text on Author's Website

Evaluation of Fumigation and Surface Seal Methods on Fumigant Emissions in an Orchard Replant Field (Abstract)
The following abstract, from the 3/1/08 issue of the Journal of Environmental Quality, encapsulates the latest results to emerge from the CDFA pesticide consultation office's USDA/ARS fumigant emissions-reduction research contract. wedge Abstract

Socio-Economic Analysis of the North American Commercial Natural Enemy Industry and Implications for Augmentative Biological Control
California growers practicing augmentative biological control rely on the commercial insectary business for natural enemies. Researchers at Santa Clara University and UC Berkeley report on their analysis of this industry as part of the CDFA Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis biological control project. wedge Abstract   wedge Full Text on Author's Website

Interim Report: Biological Control of Arthropod Pests in California Agriculture
Researchers at UC Berkeley and Santa Clara University have produced a preliminary overview of the current status and future potential of biological control techniques in managing arthropod pests in California agriculture, a topic of rising importance due to persistent regulatory pressure on conventional insecticides. This ongoing study is being funded by CDFA's Pesticide Consultation office. wedge more...

California Agricultural Resource Directory 2007
This directory presents the most recent information and data on the performance and output of agriculture in California. As the statistics and figures demonstrate, California's farmers and ranchers are real visionaries who have succeeded in developing new and better ways to produce food and fiber of the highest quality and with the greatest care for the environment. wedge more...

Research Publications (Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab)
The scientists in the Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch perform active research programs. This site features the publications of the current scientific staff, historical publications out of the Branch, databases served from these programs, interactive identification tools, pest sheets, Branch Annual Reports, and the California Plant Pest and Disease Report. more... wedge more...

How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides
CDFA's Office of Pesticide Consultation & Analysis provided a modest sum to help defray the cost of this Pacific Northwest Extension publication outlining steps that growers can take to minimize harmful effects of pesticide applications on bees.wedge more...(PDF)

Surface Seals Reduce 1,3-Dichloropropene and Chloropicrin Emissions in Field Tests (Abstract)
Here is an abstract from an article published in the 1/9/07 issue of the Journal of Environmental Quality, which summarizes the latest USDA/ARS research into ways to reduce fumigant emissions in California production agriculture. Such research is particularly time-urgent given DPR's unfolding crackdown on pesticide volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. The article's authors are principal investigators of a long-term research contract with CDFA's pesticide consultation office. wedge more...

Organic Vineyard Management in California
As part of a larger, ongoing CDFA-funded study of the role of biological control in arthropod pest management, University of California experts report on the status of IPM in organic vineyards.wedge more...(PDF)

Statistical Highlights Brochure: Ensuring a Safe, Affordable and Abundant Food Supply
California’s 76,000 farms and ranches received $31.4 billion for their output, down from the all-time high of $32.8 billion reached in 2005. wedge (Brochure in Production)

Agriculture Excerpt From Governor Schwarzenegger's Two-Year Review: "Restoring the Golden State."
"California's unique blend of fertile soils and temperate climates, combined with cutting-edge technology, pioneering research and marketplace innovations, has helped create the most sophisticated agricultural production and distribution systems in the world." wedge more...(PDF)

Annual Report 2007: CDFA - Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services (PHPPS)
The goal of the PHPPS division is to prevent the entry, spread and establishment of invasive plant pests that could be detrimental to the State’s agriculture, public, and natural resources. wedge more...(PDF)

Report: A Critical Evaluation of Augmentative Biological Control
Two UC Berkeley entomologists employ a literature review to assess the feasibility of augmentative biological control as an alternative to conventional, insecticide-based pest control. The project was funded by CDFA's Office of Pesticide Consultation & Analysis. wedge more...(PDF)

Pierce's Disease Program Annual Report to the Legislature (2006)
The Pierce’s Disease Control Program (PDCP), in its sixth year of existence, is realizing that no two years are quite the same. Each year presents its own challenges. This past year glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) populations increased, and new infestations required additional rapid response programs. In addition, the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board (PD/GWSS Board) selected a research director and the nursery treatment pilot program continued to generate valuable efficacy data. wedge more...(PDF)

Protecting California from Biological Pollution (January 2004)
Biological Pollution: "The unintended introduction of exotic and invasive strains and species." A safe food supply is a precious commodity. The California Department of Food and Agriculture(CDFA) is required by law to uphold many different responsibilities – including a core charge for the exclusion of plant and animal pests and diseases. The early identification and the prevention of entry of pests and diseases is one of our most significant challenges. Failure to meet this challenge presents one of the greatest threats to public health and safety and California’s environment. wedge more...(PDF)

Biological Control Program Annual Report (2003)
It has been an exciting year for several of the projects pursued by the Biological Control Program. Most notably, the exotic rust, Puccinea jaceae var. solstitialis was approved for use as a biological control agent against yellow starthistle in North America. Approval of this rust came after over 25 years of quarantine evaluations by Bill Bruckart and his colleagues at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, and the Foreign Disease and Weed Science Research Unit at Fort Detrick, Maryland. Very few exotic plant diseases have been released in the United States for control of an exotic weed, and this is the first disease to go through the new permitting system established after the federal Plant Protection Act of 2000. wedge more...(PDF)

Agricultural Biotechnology Publications:
Senate Bill 2065 (Costa, Chapter 589, Statutes of 2000) required the creation of the Food Biotechnology Task Force (comprised of the Secretaries of the Health and Welfare Agency, the Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency, and the Department of Food and Agriculture) in order to identify and analyze emerging food biotechnology issues considered of primary importance to the state. The Department contracted with the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), to prepare a scientific overview assessing current research on food biotechnology. The Department submitted this manuscript to the Legislature in July 2002. The complete report, "Benefits and Risks of Food Biotechnology," is available on the CCST Web site. A Food Foresight Analysis of Agricultural Biotechnolgy: A Report to the Legislature (PDF): This final report was submitted to the Legislature in May 2003. It builds upon the previous scientific overview and includes an analysis of the emerging food biotechnology issues of primary importance to Californians. This report includes input from the Food Biotechnology Advisory Committee, consisting of representatives of consumer groups, environmental organizations, the biotechnology industry, farmers, ranchers, food processors, organic farmers, policymakers, and academic experts.

Preventing Biological Pollution: The Mediterranean Fruit Fly Exclusion Program
One of the world's most destructive pests affecting the food supply is the Mediterranean fruit fly, or Medfly (Ceratitis capitata). Given the high societal costs of responding to Medfly infestations in California, significant efforts go towards combating this special threat. CDFA's Medfly Exclusion Program focuses on the Los Angeles Basin because its many ports of entry receive millions of international visitors and products from infested nations. The area is also home to periodic produce smuggling operations. wedge more...(PDF)

Report: The Economic Importance of Organophosphates In California
CDFA offers to interested readers this University of California, Berkeley, report analyzing the economic importance of organophosphate (OP) insecticides in California agriculture.
Foreword (PDF)
Report (PDF)
Appendix (PDF)

2008 Directory: Nurserymen and Others Licensed to Sell Nursery Stock in California:
To view the directory online or for information on how you can order this directory in electronic (CD-ROM) format, follow this link to Nursery Services wedge more...

NFACT
Farm Bill 2007. wedge more...