All posts in Farm Resilience

Earth, Fire, and Water

Earth, Fire, and Water

CAFF Sends Fellow to Fire Practitioner Training Last fall, CAFF’s Wildfire Resilience Program sent Josh Harjes, its resident Grizzly Corps fellow, to a Firefighter Type 2 training in northwestern Sonoma […]

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Mushrooms for Wildfire Resilience

Mushrooms for Wildfire Resilience

A Workshop with Cheetah Tchudi on Mycoremediation All photos taken by Michael Berlin In December 2022, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers partnered with TurkeyTail Farm to co-host a workshop […]

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Pile Burning on Working Lands: Siskiyou County

Pile Burning on Working Lands: Siskiyou County

On a chilly March morning in Northern California, a group of ranchers, land stewards, and fire practitioners held an all day workshop on a land management practice called pile burning. Justin […]

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Cómo responder a los apagones por motivos de seguridad pública (las “PSPS”)

Cómo responder a los apagones por motivos de seguridad pública (las “PSPS”)

En respuesta a condiciones climáticas adversas, el PG&E implementará un corte de energía por motivos de seguridad pública, lo que PG&E llama Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) en inglés. En […]

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Community Wildfire Planning Center

Community Wildfire Planning Center

This non-profit organization believes in empowering people through wildfire education and action. They assist state and local governments, fire departments, land managers, and residents in creating safe and vibrant places. […]

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2019 Camp Fire Water Resources Monitoring and Research Symposium

2019 Camp Fire Water Resources Monitoring and Research Symposium

The symposium brought together researchers who have been investigating the impacts of the Camp Fire and other urban fires in Northern California. Speakers covered a diversity of research conducted on […]

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RX Fire Field Guide – Placer RCD

RX Fire Field Guide – Placer RCD

The Rx Fire Field Guide created by the Placer County Resource Conservation District serves as a landowner education tool and provides a framework to guide discussions on prescribed burning between […]

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Ag/Livestock Pass Programs in California

Ag/Livestock Pass Programs in California

What is an Ag/Livestock Pass? The Agriculture and Livestock Pass Identification Card is a form of verification that allows farmers and ranchers to access their properties and tend to their […]

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What to Know About Wildfire and Food Safety

What to Know About Wildfire and Food Safety

Introduction In 2011 the Food Safety Modernization Act was signed into law. Of the many rules in this law, the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) was created to address federal food […]

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Wildfire and Food Safety References

Wildfire and Food Safety References

CAFF’s Wildfire Resilience Program collaborated with the National Farmers Union to create a unique resource called “What to Know About Wildfire & Food Safety”. Be sure to peruse the links […]

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Wildfire Community Preparedness Day 2023

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day 2023

Happy wildfire community preparedness day! Have you ever looked at your calendar and noticed there’s a holiday that you’ve never heard of before? Sure, there are the ones that are […]

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Consejos para Agricultores Familiares Preparando por Evacuaciones durante un Incendio Forestal

Consejos para Agricultores Familiares Preparando por Evacuaciones durante un Incendio Forestal

Hoy en día, el cambio climático, la propagación de plantas invasivas y la actualización de prácticas agrícolas están aumentando constantemente la frecuencia de los incendios forestales. Como resultado, es importante […]

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Episode 3: First Rain Farm- Nevada City

Episode 3: First Rain Farm- Nevada City

In this episode, we travel to First Rain Farm in Nevada County, where Tim Van Wagner is integrating a number of effective wildfire preparation methods on his property, as well […]

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Webinar: Climate Conversations: Insurance

Webinar: Climate Conversations: Insurance

A conversation about how to ensure the insurance industry can continue to support Americans amidst increasing climate hazards.

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Food Safety in Disaster or Emergency

Food Safety in Disaster or Emergency

Another resource with information about keeping food safe before, during, and after emergencies, such as floods, fires, natural disasters, or the loss of power.

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Wildfire Ash: Impacts on Forage Crops

Wildfire Ash: Impacts on Forage Crops

A report from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources with findings from a study on the impacts of wildfire ash deposition on crops grazed or harvested for livestock […]

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Webinar: Financial Prep For Disaster 101

Webinar: Financial Prep For Disaster 101

From Farmer Campus, this recorded workshop will give you an overview of the financial resources available to farmers in the event that a disaster strikes.

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Karuk Good Fire Report

Karuk Good Fire Report

Current Barriers to the Expansion of Cultural Burning and Prescribed Fire in California and Recommended Solutions

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Webinar: Defensible Space and Infrastructure Hardening for Farms and Ranches

Webinar: Defensible Space and Infrastructure Hardening for Farms and Ranches

Watch the Defensible Space and Infrastructure Hardening for Farms and Ranches Webinar Recording here. Password: pT2XQ&sb

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Wildfire Retardant Impacts to Organic Certification

Wildfire Retardant Impacts to Organic Certification

In this episode of ‘Sustainability Now!’ host Ronnie Lipschutz and guests Amber Schat and David Obermiller discuss farmers facing the loss of organic certification due to climate-related disasters and wildfires.

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Webinar: Post-Fire Remediation and Watershed Defense

Webinar: Post-Fire Remediation and Watershed Defense

From CoRenewal, this webinar features Taylor Bright and Matthew Trumm, who will explain the how, what and why of proposed bioremediation approaches, and lessons learned during post-fire wattle biofiltration installations […]

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Episode 2: Wild Oat Hollow Penngrove, CA

Episode 2: Wild Oat Hollow Penngrove, CA

In this episode, Sarah Keiser of Wild Oat Hollow in Penngrove, CA describes her entry into ranching and how her love of the land positioned her to become a leader […]

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New Podcast Season: Farmer Stories of Wildfire Recovery & Preparedness

New Podcast Season: Farmer Stories of Wildfire Recovery & Preparedness

CAFF’s Wildfire Resilience Program provides specialized recovery and preparedness resources for small farms and communities in California impacted by wildfire and those seeking to prepare against future threats. One of […]

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Episode 1: Turkey Tail Farm – Yankee Hill

Episode 1: Turkey Tail Farm – Yankee Hill

In this episode we visit Cheetah Tchudi at his diversified operation in Yankee Hill, Butte County, CA. Cheetah shares his experience surviving the 2018 Paradise wildfire, and some methods for […]

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How to Establish an Ag/Livestock Pass Program from UC ANR

How to Establish an Ag/Livestock Pass Program from UC ANR

A detailed description of how to establish a county-based program that grants agriculturalists special access to their farms or ranches during disaster.

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Breaking Down Soil Compaction: Does It Increase Forage Production?

Breaking Down Soil Compaction: Does It Increase Forage Production?

Maintaining a healthy and vigorous pasture should be a major objective of grazing management, but it should also be used as a tool for maintaining acceptable soil physical conditions.

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Understanding Livestock Grazing Impacts from UC ANR

Understanding Livestock Grazing Impacts from UC ANR

Information on the impacts of livestock grazing, presented in a comprehensive and accessible guide.

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The Combustibility of Landscape Mulches from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

The Combustibility of Landscape Mulches from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

Using the results from this project, recommendations are offered concerning the use of mulches in wildfire hazard areas.

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CAL FIRE Wildland Fire Retardant FAQ

CAL FIRE Wildland Fire Retardant FAQ

FAQs about wildland fire retardant from CAL FIRE

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Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide

Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide

This Guide includes specific recommendations for how to retrofit existing components of a home to withstand wildfire. The illustrations throughout the Guide are intended to show best practices for reducing […]

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Webinar: Small Farms Disaster Insurance Part 1

Webinar: Small Farms Disaster Insurance Part 1

From Farmer Campus, this webinar provides an overview of insurance for small farms, including how insurance works and what to buy.

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Fire Safe Council Handbook

Fire Safe Council Handbook

A Fire Safe Council is a coalition of public and private sector organizations that share a common, vested interest in wildfire prevention and loss mitigation.

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Wildfire Recovery: The Nuts And Bolts Of Resilience With TurkeyTail Farm

Wildfire Recovery: The Nuts And Bolts Of Resilience With TurkeyTail Farm

Farmers Cheetah and Samantha run TurkeyTail Farm in Yankee Hill, California. During the Camp Fire in Butte County, they were evacuated for 28 days and lost everything but their livestock to severe […]

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Wildfire Response: Evacuating With TurkeyTail Farm

Wildfire Response: Evacuating With TurkeyTail Farm

Farmers Cheetah and Samantha run TurkeyTail Farm in Yankee Hill, California. During the Camp Fire in Butte County, they were evacuated for 28 days and lost everything but their livestock to severe […]

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Fighting farmland and rangeland wildfires

Fighting farmland and rangeland wildfires

A reference for employer’s engaged in Oregon OSHA’s Agriculture Activities.

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Wildfire Preparedness in Agriculture

Wildfire Preparedness in Agriculture

This course is designed to prepare farmers, ranchers and rural residents for wildfires. Over the course of seven modules, you will learn how to create an emergency farm plan for […]

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Go Kits And Emergency Plans: Preparing For Wildfire With Bee-Well Farms

Go Kits And Emergency Plans: Preparing For Wildfire With Bee-Well Farms

For this story, we travel to Glen Ellen, California, to hear from the farmers at Bee-Well Farms who were heavily impacted by the 2017 Nun’s wildfire. Having recovered, they now […]

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Fighting Fire with Fire: Policy Options to Increase the Use of Prescribed Fire on National Forests

Fighting Fire with Fire: Policy Options to Increase the Use of Prescribed Fire on National Forests

From the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC), this report provides an overview of the current science and need for prescribed fire, describes barriers to the use of prescribed fire […]

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California’s Strategic Plan for Expanding the Use of Beneficial Fire

California’s Strategic Plan for Expanding the Use of Beneficial Fire

The purpose of this Strategic Plan is to guide the expansion of beneficial fire across the state through 2025, as set forth in California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.

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Pathways to Prescribed Fire Report March 2022

Pathways to Prescribed Fire Report March 2022

From the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC), three case studies highlighting opportunities for community based nonprofits to build cooperative burning capacity.

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Maneuvering Through Wildfire Evacuations – for Small Farmers

Maneuvering Through Wildfire Evacuations – for Small Farmers

Farmers face increasing fire frequency, size and severity due to several factors, including climate change, the spread of invasive grasses and by changing farming practices. If you live and farm […]

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5 Key Wildfire Resilience Practices

5 Key Wildfire Resilience Practices

It’s not always obvious that some of the ecological farming practices used frequently by farmers, also provide wildfire protection and recovery benefits. Check out the infographic below which was developed […]

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Navigating Public Safety Power Shut Offs for Farmers

Navigating Public Safety Power Shut Offs for Farmers

PG&E will implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff, also called a PSPS, in response to severe weather as a public safety measure. After the catastrophic fires of 2017 and 2018, […]

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Food Safety & Wildfires Case Study: Brisa Ranch

Food Safety & Wildfires Case Study: Brisa Ranch

Key Details: Location: San Francisco bay area , near Pescadero Acres in Production: 16 Main Crops: Fruit, vegetables, flowers Wildfire: CZU Complex in 2020 3rd Party Audit(s):  USDA Harmonized GAP […]

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Micro Farm Program

Micro Farm Program

Information about The Micro Farm program offered through the USDA. The Micro Farm program provides a risk management safety net for all commodities on your farm under one insurance policy. […]

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Introducing The New Micro Farm Insurance Program For Farmer And Ranchers

Introducing The New Micro Farm Insurance Program For Farmer And Ranchers

This recorded webinar with Catharine Anderson the Risk Management Agency covers the new Micro Farm program. This new crop insurance program is offered through the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection policy and is tailored to small […]

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Hooves & Hands How We Work Together to Stay, to Heal, and to Coexist  in Fire Ecosystems Facing Climate Change

Hooves & Hands How We Work Together to Stay, to Heal, and to Coexist in Fire Ecosystems Facing Climate Change

This book is an anthology of resilient communities telling their story of how they built collaboration with people and ruminants. Each one is told with a different voice, a different […]

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Video: Hunter Grazing Cooperative Overview

Video: Hunter Grazing Cooperative Overview

This video details the work of Sarah Keiser and her efforts in Community Grazing Cooperatives.

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Natural Product Phenolic Diglycosides Created from Wildfires, Defining Their Impact on California and Oregon Grapes and Wines

Natural Product Phenolic Diglycosides Created from Wildfires, Defining Their Impact on California and Oregon Grapes and Wines

This study presents some of the first quantitative measurements of PDs bioaccumulated in premium California and Oregon grapes and wines due to wildfire smoke. Strategies of bioanalytics, oenology, and focused […]

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Fire Is Family: A Conversation With The Yurok Tribe’s Cultural Fire Management Council

Fire Is Family: A Conversation With The Yurok Tribe’s Cultural Fire Management Council

Tribal members Elizabeth Azuz and Margo Robbins join Farmer Campus’s Farmers Build Fire Resilience online course to share knowledge with producers learning to live with the repercussions of an intensifying wildfire […]

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Financial Recovery And Support After A Wildfire

Financial Recovery And Support After A Wildfire

In this two part photo blog series, Farmer Campus talked with farm manager David Cooper to hear his wildfire story and get a glimpse into the realities of farming with […]

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Climate Intervention with Biochar

Climate Intervention with Biochar

A White Paper about Biochar and Energy (BC&E) for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Emission Reduction (ER).

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Building Vulnerability to Ember Exposure

Building Vulnerability to Ember Exposure

As part of its research effort to study and understand the vulnerabilities of buildings subjected to wildfire exposures, IBHS developed the capability of simulating ember exposures on building components and […]

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An Overview of Fire Effects on Soil

An Overview of Fire Effects on Soil

Fires in forests and rangelands produce some of the most profound impacts on ecosystems of the Southwest. Wildfires and prescribed fires affect the vegetation, soils, wildlife, and water resources of […]

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Sonoma Biochar Project

Sonoma Biochar Project

Biochar is a specialized form of charcoal that is produced by heating biomass using high heat (typically 350 C to 1000 C) in low-oxygen environments, and that is suitable for […]

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Sisikyou Livestock Pass Program

Sisikyou Livestock Pass Program

The Siskiyou County University of California Cooperative Extension (“UCCE”) and the Siskiyou County Agricultural Department have established a program, through the issuance of a Livestock Access Pass, which may permit […]

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Counting the Losses: Tallying the True Costs of Wildfire for Farmers

Counting the Losses: Tallying the True Costs of Wildfire for Farmers

In this two part photo blog series, Farmer Campus talked with farm manager David Cooper to hear his wildfire story and get a glimpse into the realities of farming with […]

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Quick Intro to On-Farm Fire Preparedness

Quick Intro to On-Farm Fire Preparedness

In this 7 minute overview, you will learn about basic concepts to get your farm prepared for wildfire season.

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Fighting Farmland and Rangeland Wildfires

Fighting Farmland and Rangeland Wildfires

A reference for employers engaged in Oregon OSHA’s Agriculture (Division 4) activities.

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Wildfire Preparedness in Agriculture – Online Course Certified for OR OSHA

Wildfire Preparedness in Agriculture – Online Course Certified for OR OSHA

This course is designed to prepare farmers, ranchers and rural residents for wildfires. You will cover wildfire risk awareness, emergency response and prevention planning, and creating defensible space. Over the […]

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Forest Management Handbook for Small-Parcel Landowners in the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Range

Forest Management Handbook for Small-Parcel Landowners in the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Range

A significant portion of Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades forests are owned and managed as small parcels (10 to 100 acres) by nonindustrial private landowners. This handbook is for such […]

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Ready on the Farm Disasters Preparedness Plan

Ready on the Farm Disasters Preparedness Plan

From Farmer Campus and Nuestra Comunidad, Disaster Preparedness Plan for farming or ranching families, businesses and their workforce.

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Go-Kits and Wildfire Emergency Plans from Bee-Well Farms

Go-Kits and Wildfire Emergency Plans from Bee-Well Farms

Getting your farm and crew prepared for a disaster like a wildfire can feel overwhelming – but having a plan and Go-Bags ahead of time is a critical step in […]

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Intro to On-Farm Wildfire Preparedness with BeeWell Farms, Farmer Campus and CAFF

Intro to On-Farm Wildfire Preparedness with BeeWell Farms, Farmer Campus and CAFF

As we head into spring, there’s no better time to evaluate your on-farm risk, get your evacuation plan made and practice your response plan ahead of fire season! Check out […]

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Fire Recovery Assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Fire Recovery Assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has multiple agencies that provide financial and/or technical assistance to help farmers, ranchers and rural landowners recover from natural disasters, such as wildfires. Listed are […]

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Service Providers for Small Farmers – Crowd Sourced

Service Providers for Small Farmers – Crowd Sourced

From Farmer Campus, this crowd sourced spreadsheet contains recommendations for farmers to obtain support and connect with agents around disaster and crop insurance, as well as bookkeepers, CPAs, and attorneys.

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Rescue Small Farms, California!

Rescue Small Farms, California!

Irrigation pipes beside a fallow field that last year overflowed with vegetables for a local CSA. Photo by Kelsey Joy Murphey Farming has always been a risky business, but here […]

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Mycoremediation in the Wake of the “Camp” Fire

Mycoremediation in the Wake of the “Camp” Fire

This video outlines some of the concepts and research of fungal bioremediation and the potential to address fire-borne toxins. Topics covered are the types of environmental pollutants that are generated […]

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USDA Disaster Assistance Programs At a Glance

USDA Disaster Assistance Programs At a Glance

A quick summary of all of FSA (Farm Service Agency) disaster programs and a guide that shows what type of disasters they cover.

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Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool

Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool

Learn about USDA disaster assistance programs that might be right for you by completing five simple steps.

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Protecting Outdoor Workers Exposed to Smoke from Wildfires

Protecting Outdoor Workers Exposed to Smoke from Wildfires

Smoke from wildfires contains chemicals, gases and fine particles that can harm health, especially those working outdoors. We know our family famers want to keep their crews safe and healthy. […]

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Food Safety After a Disaster

Food Safety After a Disaster

A comprehensive website from UC Davis featuring many post-disaster resources exploring food safety for producers and consumers alike.

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Insurance Post-Declared Disaster

Insurance Post-Declared Disaster

If you are a property owner and your property is located in an area designated as a disaster by the President of the United States or the Governor, and you […]

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CA Dept. of Insurance

CA Dept. of Insurance

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) provides several information guides, tips and  tools to help you understand home/residential insurance so that you can make the best decision for your situation.  If you […]

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The FAIR Plan

The FAIR Plan

The FAIR Plan provides insurance as a last resort, and should be used only after a diligent effort to obtain coverage in the voluntary market has been made.

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Community Grazing

Community Grazing

Build resilience by transforming our wildland-urban-interface from neighborhoods into communities with grazing ruminants while increasing each community’s ability to withstand wildfire and drought by grazing livestock across property lines.

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On-Farm COVID-19 Food Safety Info & FAQs

On-Farm COVID-19 Food Safety Info & FAQs

By: Kali Feiereisel, MPH Senior Manager, Farmer Services   Last updated: April 7th, 2020 We realize this is a time of great uncertainty and anxiety. Hopefully this blog post can […]

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Farm Operational Continuity Template

Farm Operational Continuity Template

What if you or members of your crew get sick? Use this template, combining standard operations procedures with emergency planning to help keep your farm going when unexpected events happen.

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California Farmers Face a Long Road to Recovery After Wildfires

California Farmers Face a Long Road to Recovery After Wildfires

CIVIL EATS – At the peak of the state’s fire season, we spoke to five farmers who endured wildfires over the past two years. Here are their stories. David Kaisel […]

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Fire Survivor: David Kaisel, Capay Mills

Fire Survivor: David Kaisel, Capay Mills

David Kaisel of Capay Mills in Rumsey, CA  David Kaisel first came to the Capay Valley in Northern California about 30 years ago to learn to paddle white water on […]

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