CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE TO DISCUSS CLIMATE CHANGE AND CDFA’s SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM

SACRAMENTO, August 26, 2014 – The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss climate change and CDFA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014 in Sacramento. The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 ‘N’ Street – Main Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814.

"With the release of ‘Safeguarding California: Reducing Climate Risks’, California is building upon our continuing efforts to prepare and adapt to a changing climate," said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. "How California farmers and ranchers adjust for extreme weather events, drought, and the spread of invasive plant pests and disease is critical to our agricultural future.”

The Safeguarding California Plan provides policy guidance for state decision makers, and is part of continuing efforts to reduce climate impacts and prepare from climate risks. Implementation of the Safeguarding Plan will help foster a vibrant and sustainable future for California. 

Invited speakers on the climate change topic include: Wade Crowfoot, Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.; Sandra Schubert, California Department of Food and Agriculture; Kerri Steenwerth, USDA Agricultural Research Service; Barbara Allen-Diaz, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Jeanne Merrill, California Climate and Agriculture Network; Cynthia Cory, California Farm Bureau Federation; and Tony Linegar, Specialty Crop Climate Change Consortium

Additionally, the Board will  review and discuss CDFA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. In 2013, CDFA was awarded more than $18 million to enhance the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crop sector.  Funding supported 64 projects that we selected through a competitive review process. The Board will hear comments from agricultural stakeholders and CDFA concerning the application and competitive review process.

"The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program has been a great success for California," said Craig McNamara, president of the CA State Board of Food and Agriculture. "The opportunity to review California’s grant program with the department and agricultural stakeholders can only help to improve an already successful model.”

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and the CDFA secretary on agricultural issues and consumer needs. The state board conducts forums that bring together local, state and federal government officials, agricultural representative and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.

This meeting will be streamed online at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/LiveMediaStream.html

Follow the board on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/Cafood_agboard
 

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