CDFA OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON FARMER AND RANCHER-LED CLIMATE SOLUTIONS DRAFT REPORT

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SACRAMENTO, March 30, 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 PM.

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 Program, State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, Alternative Manure Management Program, and Dairy Digester Research and Development Program.

“It is critical for us to hear from the agricultural community, so we were pleased by the attendance and engagement at the virtual listening sessions,” said CDFA secretary Karen Ross. “We look forward to building upon this report in collaboration with our sister agencies to identify recommendations and strategies to meet the state’s carbon neutrality goals.  The leadership of the many farmers and ranchers who have participated in California’s Climate Smart Agriculture incentive programs demonstrates the importance of nature-based solutions for climate and biodiversity.”

The draft report was prepared by California State University Sacramento’s Consensus and Collaboration program in partnership with CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation.

The report is available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/climate/. Public comments can be summited to CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation by email at cdfa.oefi@cdfa.ca.gov until April 30, 2021 5 PM.

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