Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)

Calling on Farmers, Ranchers, and Organizations to sign on in support of a California Assembly Bill (AB1009 - Bloom) supporting the development of community-based food hubs, prioritizing direct sales from small and mid-scale and socially-disadvantaged farmers to their local public schools, institutions, and community. Food hubs are mission-driven organizations that aggregate produce from smaller farms, providing much-needed support to their local farm economies. Developing co...mmunity food-hubs will increase purchasing of healthy, local, and climate-friendly produce, boost the local farming economy, employ food system workers, and accelerate climate adaptation and resilience. Deadline to sign is April 8th at 5pm. CLICK HERE TO SIGN ON:

When we speak of advocating for agriculture, that means the entire community. From kids eating in cafeterias to those harvesting crops. Farming is not about landownership or the price of commodities. And we should never measure the strength of our agricultural sector by its GDP. Rather, we should measure success by the overall impact of our farms: on our health, on the land, on the rural communities surrounding our farms, and on those who make our entire food system possible:... farmworkers. Today we honor Cesar Chavez Day, a chance to reflect on the long and enduring fight to remind Americans where their food comes from, by whose labor, by whose hands. From small organic operations to corporate behemoths, on the ground making every farm function are the hardest working men and women in America, without whom you’d go hungry. Cesar Chavez made huge strides towards the rights of these most essential of essential workers. But we still have a LONG way to go. The price of food today simply doesn’t reflect the work that goes into it. And our current system pits farms against one another in a race to the bottom, often at the expense of labor. From immigration reform to basic labor protections to assuring that when crisis hitsbe it wildfire or pandemicthat these communities aren’t forgotten, we have much work ahead of us. But to truly reform this global system it’ll take more than good intentions; it’ll require an alliance of farmers and farmworkers, consumers and policymakers, urban and rural. But for today, we simply ask that as you sit down at each meal, that you reflect on the journey of those ingredients, the hands it took to bring it to your plate, and please, #thankafarmworker #cesarchavezday #farmworkers #farmworkersfeedtheworld #thehandsthatfeedus

With California facing drought conditions in 2021 following a 2020 growing season that was one of the driest and warmest in recent history, University of California (UC) crop water management and irrigation specialists provide advice to winegrape growers to help manage irrigation this season. Growers are advised to begin irrigation early for proper canopy growth and fruit set, use available technologies to monitor water status and efficiently apply irrigation, and monitor soils and irrigation water for salinity levels. More here: https://tinyurl.com/z4v5t4u5

When one of our local CAFF chapters noticed signs going up claiming that farmers opposed a local ballot initiative that would strengthen common-sense community oversight of law enforcement, they knew they had to set the record straight. Farmers, if you see your name or profession being misrepresented for political purposes, it's your duty to speak out and let your community know that farmers are no monolith. And in fact many farmers, like those featured in this story, believe that when it comes to "justice for all", our communities can do better.

Whether on horseback, tractor or bicycle, just make sure you get to the ballot box soon. And while you’re at it, remind friends and neighbors: your vote matters!

Amazing what you'll find growing on California farms! Find a local luffa farmer near you, or any number of farms growing hundreds of unique crops on the new California Farm Directory.

Happening Soon! Tune in. Fire need not be a universally maligned force. For millennia, California’s indigenous peoples used fire as a tool in practices of traditional burning. Fire can be used as a tool to eradicate invasive weeds, help restore native plant communities, and reduce the intensity of wildfires when they occur. Landowners and communities are increasingly recognizing this, and coming together to share tools, resources, knowledge, and labor. And federal agencies a...re turning to Native communities for consult on the use of fire in land management practices. This webinar will explore both good fire, as well as approaches for recovery. We’ll hear perspectives from members of prescribed burn associations on the application of prescribed burning on private land, farmers dealing with fire-borne toxins and utilizing mycoremediation to aid in recovery, and Native Californians on fire ecology and their long-standing relationship with using fire to tend to the land. See more

It's not too late to make your voice heard. Just a few minutes filling out CAFF's annual survey will guide our work and our advocacy in the year ahead. Open to California farmers, ranchers and the wider CAFF community.

Yesterday CAFF had the pleasure of bringing together a group of family farmers to meet the new chair of California's Agriculture Committee, Assemblyman Robert Rivas, as well as Assembly members Marc Levine and Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. While policymakers in Sacramento hear from larger agricultural interests all the time, this was a rare chance for them to hear directly from smaller-scale producers, CSA farmers, ranchers who sell direct to their customers and those working to grow... a more resilient local food system. As Assm. Rivas so eloquently put it, as he travels across the state listening to farmers, he's finding that the real innovators are on small farms. We couldn't agree more. Thanks to the Assemblymembers for coming by and big thanks to the farmers who showed up to represent the needs, concerns and hopes of small farms across California!

Caiti is a small business & farm owner who supports #Prop15 because now is the time to cut taxes for small businesses and homeowners while investing in our schools and communities, simply by closing corporate tax loopholes. Join Caiti in voting #YesOn15

Thurs, Oct 29th webinar will explore how CSA farmers and farmer support organizations are producing new & engaging virtual experiences and learning a lot in the process. We will hear from our guest speakers about the most successful, challenging, and innovative aspects of holding virtual events: CSA fairs, farmer field days, fundraising events and farmer-led CSA member events.

Free Hedgerow Plants and On-Farm Conservation Consultations for California Growers! Are you interested in planting hedgerows of native plants on you farm, but aren’t quite sure how to get started? The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is currently offering free consultations and free plants to California farmers interested in planting hedgerows on their land. Whether you are looking to provide habitat for beneficial insects such as pollinators, predators, and... parasites, establish a windbreak, or plant a vegetative buffer at the edge of your property, NCAT can help you select the most appropriate plants for your hedgerow and give you tips on hedgerow planting and maintenance through both phone and on-site consultations. NCAT can also provide free plantsmostly native perennialsfor your hedgerow project. Interested growers should be prepared to provide irrigation (drip works fine) for the first two to three years to get the plants established. However, in most locations, once established, they won’t require irrigation. To learn more about this offer or to order plants, contact Rex Dufour at (530) 792-7338, or email [email protected] by November 6, 2020.

DID YOU RECEIVE A HEALTHY SOILS INCENTIVES GRANT? CAFF is offering technical assistance to growers and ranchers to help implement Healthy Soils practices on-farm! We can help: - Provide advice on how to implement cover cropping, no-till and reduced tillage, whole orchard recycling, compost application and more.... - Connect with local resources to help you get started and successfully see the project through (equipment, extension resources, etc). - Dot the i’s and cross the t’s on technical paperwork and implementation procedures according to CDFA’s protocols. - Get answers from CDFA more quickly regarding specific questions. If you’d like assistance, reach out to: [email protected] or call 530-756-8518

FREE WEBINAR this SATURDAY: Cover Cropping on Small and Urban Farms with Kristyn Leach! October 24th, 1011:30am Krystin Leach practices permaculture, organic and traditional Korean farming methods at Namu Farm, a two-acre organic farm that Leach runs in partnership with the restaurant Namu Gaji. Leach grows over 60 crops each year and is an avid seed saver of Korean specialty crops. Leach employs cover cropping methods like cereal heavy cover cropping with plants like barley, oats, Dundale peas and common vetch. She’ll discuss choosing cover crop, no till systems, residue management and how root biomass builds organic material. Webinar Registration Required: http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=32312

This Oct 27 webinar will explore both good fire, as well as approaches for recovery. We’ll hear perspectives from members of prescribed burn associations on the application of prescribed burning on private land, farmers dealing with fire-borne toxins and utilizing mycoremediation to aid in recovery, and Native Californians on fire ecology and their long-standing relationship with using fire to tend to the land.

Are you a farmer who's been impacted by the 2020 wildfires? If so, we're here to help! The California Family Farmer Emergency Fund (founded by CAFF) was created to support farmers through disasters. If you've experienced losses - either from direct fire damage, lost sales because of market closures, evacuations, or crop damage due to ash or drought - apply for funding using our quick and easy application (available in English & Spanish)