State Budget

• CDFA budget cuts total $12 million - - Gov. Brown outlined his proposed 2012-2013 budget on Jan, 5, 2012.The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)2012-2013 budget contains $12 million in General Fund reductions, which were negotiated by the stakeholder consortium developed by CDFA Secretary, Karen Ross. The budget includes $4.38 million in cuts to border station inspections, eliminates state funds for the Light Brown Apple Moth program (federal funds remain), decreases funding to the biocontrol program by $701,000, reduces plant pest diagnostics and seed labs by $366,000 and cuts the animal health program by $245,000, among other reductions. In addition, $2.4 million in CDFA cuts are still being discussed at this time. The $12 million in reductions are in addition to the $19 million in cuts already made to CDFA in the current-year budget.
  
  As part of the budget reductions, alternative funding solutions of roughly $3 million will be achieved through increases in phytosanitary certificates, master certificates, device fees and dairy inspection programs. The phytosanitary fees to CDFA will support the following areas:
  
  • Creation and maintenance of pest-free areas; these areas conform to international standards
  • Emergency Quarantine Response Program
  • Pest Detection Program
  • Emergency Pest Eradication Program
  • Exotic Pest Trapping
  • Plant Pest Diagnostics Laboratory
  • Trade Facilitation

State Agency Appointments

• Brown names Brian Leahy new DPR Director - - Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed Brian Leahy, 55, of Sacramento, as director at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Leahy has served as assistant director for the California Department of Conservation since 2006. He was a partner at EcoFacilitation in the Netherlands in 2006, and served as executive director for the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts from 2004 to 2006. He was executive director at the California Certified Organic Farmers from 2000 to 2004. Leahy was owner and operator of Cherokee Ranch Inc. from 1980 to 2003 and also a farm operator for Ackerlund Farm Incorporated from 1992 to 1993. Leahy earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Creighton University School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $142,965. Leahy is a Democrat.

   

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Water

Pesticides

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