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- Written by: California State Board of Food and Agriculture
Meetings and site visits will be held at various locations in El Dorado County.
“Communities within the Sierra Nevada have a strong interconnection with forests and farming,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “They are also nestled in California’s primary watershed, which has an essential role in the state’s overall water supply. Visiting this area will provide the opportunity to connect with farmers and ranchers in the region and better understand the challenges related to forest health.”
The meeting on July 31 will focus on forest health issues and will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the U.S. Institute for Forest Genetics, 2480 Carson Rd., Placerville. Invited speakers include Russ Henly, California Natural Resources Agency; Helge Eng, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; Jim Branham, Sierra Nevada Conservancy; and Malcolm North, University of California.
Following the meeting, the Board will visit several sites including the Placerville Nursery (U.S. Forest Service), a cattle ranching operation, and restoration project at Jenkinson Lake where they will also hear from Dan Corcoran with the El Dorado Irrigation District.
The meeting on Aug. 1 will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at High Hill Ranch, 2901 High Hill Road, Placerville, and will focus on foothill farming. Invited speakers include Charlene Carveth, agricultural commissioner/sealer for El Dorado County; Chris Delfino, Apple Hill Growers Association; and a representative from the El Dorado County Farm Bureau Federation. Following the meeting the board will visit local area farmers in the region.
“Foothill farming provides an excellent example on the uniqueness and diversity of California agriculture,” said President Don Cameron, California State Board of Food and Agriculture.
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 representatives and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.
All meetings are open to the public and attendance is welcome.
Follow the board on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/Cafood_agboard.
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- Written by: California Department of Food and Agriculture
The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program provides farmers and ranchers with grants to implement irrigation systems that save water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Projects funded through SWEEP commonly include elements such as soil, plant or weather sensors, micro-irrigation systems, pump retrofits or replacements, renewable energy, and variable frequency drives (among others). The draft requests for grant applications for the SWEEP program is posted at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/sweep .
The Healthy Soils Program offers grants to farmers who take action to capture greenhouse gas emissions – such as carbon dioxide – in the soil to help combat climate change.
The Healthy Soils Program will be implemented under two separate sections: an incentives program and demonstration projects. The Incentives program will award grants to provide financial assistance to farmers and ranchers for implementation of agricultural management practices that sequester soil carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The demonstration projects will award projects that monitor and demonstrate to farmers and ranchers in California, specific management practices in agriculture that sequester carbon, improve soil health, and reduce atmospheric GHGs.
The requests for grant applications for both the HSP Incentives Program and Demonstration Projects can be found on the CDFA Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation webpages: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/IncentivesProgram.html and https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/DemonstrationProjects.html.
CDFA will hold three listening sessions at the end of August to provide information on how to comment on the draft RGAs and answer questions related to the programs. Listening sessions are scheduled for:
Northern California – Augu. 30, 9 a.m. to noon
Glenn County Farm Bureau
831 5th St.
Orland
Southern California – Aug. 31, 9 a.m. to noon
Imperial County Farm Bureau
1000 Broadway
El Centro
Central California – Sept. 4, 1 to 4 p.m.
Fresno County Farm Bureau
1274 W. Hedges Ave.
Fresno
Webinar participation will also be available on Sept. 4 for those unable to travel to any of the listening sessions in person. To register for the Sept. 4 webinar visit https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/519454765226725891.
Comments regarding the draft requests for grant applications can be submitted to
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- Written by: California Treasurer's Office
“It was not long ago when California’s credit teetered perilously close to non-investment grade,” said Treasurer John Chiang. “With IOUs and chronically late budgets in the rearview mirror, we’ve climbed out of the trough and are now considered not just a solid, but a highly-desirable bet for investors. The recipe: swapping out accounting gimmicks, deficit spending, and fake budgets for fiscal discipline, long-term planning, and a robust rainy day fund.”
The upgraded outlook is attributed to the state’s fiscal discipline; accumulation of rainy day funds; successively balanced budgets year-after-year; and improved liquidity, resulting from reduction of budgetary borrowings.
Moody’s also highlighted that continued fiscal discipline over the coming years could lead to further upgrades, and that California is in a sound financial position to weather an economic downturn, which some have predicted may be looming in the years ahead.
“The outlook for the State of California is positive and reflects the state's strongly performing economy and finances,” Moody’s said in a release. “Continued fiscal discipline in a healthy revenue environment or retention of reserves despite slowed revenue growth could support a higher rating within the next one to two years.”
Treasurer Chiang agreed. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to enhancing the state’s credit quality,” he said, “and to borrowing at lower costs so we can meet California’s growing infrastructure needs. This will allow us to invest more in California schools, roads, and affordable housing.”
Moody’s analysis also affirmed the following:
– An Aa3 rating on the State of California's outstanding general obligation bonds.
– An A1 rating on the state's outstanding lease debt, its outstanding appropriation debt, and outstanding school fund apportionment lease revenue bonds.
– An A3 rating on outstanding debt of certain state regional centers.
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- Written by: California Controller's Office
Approved by California voters in 2012 through Proposition 39, the Clean Energy Jobs Act allocates projected revenue to California’s General Fund and the Clean Energy Job Creation Fund to support public schools and create jobs in the clean energy sector.
The measure established a Citizens Oversight Board to review expenditures, which maintains transparency and accountability for the fund.
Alvord brings to the board more than 25 years of experience in energy, agricultural, and environmental policy in the government, nonprofit and private sectors.
She is western states director for the Union of Concerned Scientists, based in Oakland, where she ensures passage and implementation of clean energy laws and helps pioneer energy, infrastructure, climate, and transportation policies.
Alvord previously worked in senior staff roles in the California State Legislature as lead aide for then-Assemblymember Fran Pavley on California’s landmark climate legislation (AB 32).
A fifth-generation Californian, Alvord received a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Berkeley.
“As we work to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and transition to the low-carbon economy, clean energy jobs are critical to the state maintaining its leadership through sustainable practices,” said Yee, the state’s chief fiscal officer. “Ms. Alvord’s expertise will help ensure our schools are using taxpayer money prudently as they become greener places to teach and to learn.”
Under the Clean Energy Jobs Act, up to $550 million annually is available for eligible projects to improve energy efficiency and expand clean energy generation in schools.
The last date for eligible local educational agencies – including county offices of education, school districts, charter schools, and state special schools – to request funding from the California Energy Commission through an energy expenditure plan was June 30, 2018.
The controller, attorney general, and treasurer each appoint three members to the Citizens Oversight Board, while the California Energy Commission and California Public Utilities Commission each have one ex officio member. Members serve without compensation, but are reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.