A new report from the California Department of Food and Agriculture outlines the breadth of state programs supporting farm productivity, pest prevention, food safety and climate resilience, offering a snapshot of how the agency says it is positioning the industry to meet emerging threats and long-term challenges.

The report, titled CDFA’s Contributions to California’s Agricultural Excellence, details ongoing work across animal health, invasive species protection, climate initiatives and market oversight, while emphasizing the scale and economic significance of the state’s agricultural sector.

In the foreword, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross describes the agency’s role as building resilient food systems and supporting farmers, ranchers and workers through both urgent response efforts and longer-term investments.

Among the most immediate challenges highlighted is highly pathogenic avian influenza. According to the report, outbreaks in 2024–2025 affected 773 dairies and 108 commercial poultry farms, with tens of thousands of samples processed and hundreds of biosecurity assessments conducted. The department also strengthened cattle movement safeguards, overseeing import and export requirements covering about 1.3 million animals annually to limit interstate spread.

The report focuses heavily on climate resilience. CDFA is developing a statewide Climate Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture, built through public workshops, scientific advisory input and coordination across agencies. The strategy aims to reduce emissions, enhance biodiversity, and improve water and nutrient management while maintaining farm profitability and long-term viability.

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Food safety and public health efforts feature prominently as well. CDFA’s “One Health” approach links plant, animal and human health systems with projects like the California Longitudinal Study examining E. coli risks in leafy greens and collecting environmental data across coastal growing regions to help prevent future outbreaks.

Pest prevention remains another core priority. The report notes California receives an estimated 8.05 million parcels per day, increasing the risk of invasive species introductions. Detector dog teams working parcel facilities have recorded more than 15,900 pest detection events since 2010, with quarantines for invasive pests costing anywhere from $2 million to $20 million or more.

Beyond biological threats, CDFA is also playing a role in emerging infrastructure oversight. Through its Division of Measurement Standards, the agency certifies electric vehicle charging equipment to ensure transaction accuracy and marketplace fairness as the state expands clean transportation networks.

The report underscores the scale of California agriculture, which generates more than $61.2 billion annually in farm production value across roughly 62,500 farms. Dairy, almonds and grapes lead the state’s commodities by value, while exports total about $22.4 billion, with Canada, the European Union and Asia among the largest markets.