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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance - the higher the performance, the higher the payment.
The 2021 CSP application deadline is March 26, 2021.
“We are making excellent strides to improve the applicability and benefits of CSP across all farm, ranch, and forestry operations,” says Carlos Suarez, state conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, California. “We have many options for conservation on small, urban, and large-scale farm operations.”
Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS, helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners expand stewardship activities and receive payments for both their existing conservation work and new enhancements they undertake.
Enhancements are available to help with soil health, pollinators, changing weather patterns, western forest structure, efficient irrigation, rangeland health and much more.
“This is a program especially well-suited to California where many agricultural industries and supporters promote and reward advanced levels of stewardship,” says RaeAnn Dubay, assistant state conservationist for Farm Bill Programs. “CSP can help with those additional goals. It can also help producers meet regulatory requirements or further work they have been doing to promote organic production, forest health and rangeland management.”
While conservation applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit CSP applications to their local NRCS office by March 26 to ensure their applications are considered for 2021 funding.
Selections will be announced in late April and contracts will be obligated by July 30, 2021.
For additional information about CSP, please schedule an appointment with your local USDA Service Center; visit https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/.
More information can be found at www.farmers.gov/.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
“These outreach meetings are essential to ensure we gain information and knowledge from the people who live and work on the land and the organizations that support them,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We want to hear from all those interested in discussing farmer- and rancher-led efforts to help ensure climate resilience, greenhouse gas mitigation, biodiversity and food security.”
The meetings will be organized around three agricultural categories: livestock and dairy; row and field crops (annual crops); and trees and vines (perennial crops).
The resulting report will be made available for a 30-day public comment period, after which the information will be used to inform CDFA and other state agencies about farmer-and rancher-led climate solutions.
The collected information will also inform the next update of the California AB 32 and SB 32 Scoping Plan, and ongoing and future work of the Natural Working Lands Climate Smart strategy.
Each agricultural category will include two meetings of approximately two hours each.
The first meeting will include an introductory presentation followed by an opportunity for stakeholder input.
The second meeting will allow further discussion and capture additional feedback. Those interested in attending are invited to register via the following links:
• Livestock and Dairy meeting No. 1, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.:
https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsdO-qrjwpE9TCt74IRi0V4FaVYS9f5jNu
• Livestock and Dairy meeting No. 2, Feb. 12 at 9 a.m.:
https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpce-opzMsGNAruyE0r0-kytqobtBN_cNN
• Annual Crops meeting No. 1, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.:
https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtdOqgqj0sGNRlzD5RdDouZcGBWa3d_RMc
• Annual Crops meeting No. 2, Feb. 19 at 9 a.m.:
https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsf-GhrTsuE9J1mm3NiT8KwCR2qJhwBRXp
• Perennial Crops meeting No. 1, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m.:
https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEude6orDkiEtAwaTScN-oU3f5IQCBmAqws
• Perennial Crops meeting No. 2, Feb. 26 at 9 a.m.:
https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkcOytrz4pHd3fJw2Ig7xNqT6PbvGFKIEb
CDFA has engaged previously with agricultural stakeholders on farmer- and rancher-led climate solutions and produced several reports, including the Climate Change Consortium and Climate Assessment reports.
Farmer- and rancher-led climate solutions are also highlighted in CDFA's Climate Smart Agriculture programs under the Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation and include the Healthy Soils Program, State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, Dairy Digester Research and Development Program and Alternative Manure Management Program.
Stakeholders are encouraged to review these programs prior to the public meetings noted above.
If you have questions regarding these meetings, please contact CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation by email at
The meeting agenda can be found at www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/climate.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board will hear from water stakeholders, financial entities and businesses involved in the establishment and launch of the Index.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. via GoToWebinar. Access the meeting here: the webinar ID is 147-182-363.
In addition to the water futures discussion, the board will have an update on COVID-19 vaccine distribution for the food and agriculture sector by the California Department of Public Health.
“Even with our recent rainfall, we are looking at the potential for dry conditions ahead,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “This makes the work of water districts, groundwater sustainability agencies, and the state’s farmers and ranchers all the more critical in sustainably managing this precious resource.”
Invited speakers include Dr. Ron Chapman, California Department of Public Health; Tim McCourt, CME Group; Clay Landry, WestWater Research; Patrick Wolf, Nasdaq; David Guy, Northern California Water Association; Amer Hussain, Geosyntec Consultants; Roland Fumasi, Rabobank; Ellen Hanak, Public Policy Institute of California and other invited speakers.
“Agriculture is all about innovations on the farm,” said President Don Cameron, California State Board of Food and Agriculture. “Water trading – both surface and groundwater will remain a significant tool for farmers and ranchers. New approaches to managing the volatility of water pricing are intriguing, but in the end we need to see how this benefits water deliveries to farmers and our communities.”
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and CDFA secretary on agricultural issues and consumer needs.
The board conducts forums that bring together local, state and federal government officials; agricultural representatives; and citizens to discuss current issues and concerns to California agriculture.
This meeting will have simultaneous audio translation in Spanish and can be accessed at 844-460-0074 at the start of the meeting.
Follow the board on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Cafood_agboard.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This is a new role for the company to lead both sales and operations for corporate-owned and agent retail locations in California, Oregon and Washington.
Pearson joined UScellular in 2000 as a retail wireless consultant.
Since then, she has held roles of increasing responsibility, including sales manager, store manager, area sales manager. She was most recently director of sales for the business channel in the Northwest Region.
Pearson has a bachelor’s degree in communication and business from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. She and her husband reside in Medford, Ore.
“Sarah has extensive experience leading teams and driving customer growth in the fast-paced wireless industry and she is a great fit for this role as the company remains committed to staying connected to our customers in the communities we serve,” said Eric Jagher, senior vice president, retail sales and operations at UScellular. “I am excited for Sarah to help us achieve our long-term goals while delivering an unmatched wireless experience.”
The new role of area vice president/general manager allows UScellular to tailor its support and offerings to the needs of individual communities while managing its overall business, driving an exceptional customer experience and moving faster in a competitive wireless industry.