California Ag Network

Category: Education

  • CAWG Foundation Awards $30,000 in Student Scholarships

    The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Foundation has awarded $30,000 in college scholarships to nine students. The scholarships are awarded annually to students whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California wine grape grower.

    “We are excited about the amazing students we honored with scholarships this year,” said Steve Heringer, chair of the CAWG Foundation board of directors. “Each of our scholarship award winners has shown tremendous focus, tenacity and accomplishment in pursuit of their educational goals. The CAWG Foundation is pleased to help these inspirational young adults reach their academic dreams and believes they can accomplish great things for themselves, their families and communities in the future.”

    Each year the CAWG Foundation board selects at least seven recipients from high schools throughout the state. Scholarship selection is based on scholastic ability, financial need, community involvement, leadership and a 500-word essay. Since the program’s inception in 1998, the foundation has awarded $433,000 in scholarships. Funds are raised through the generous donations of members of the California Association of Winegrape Growers and the California wine community.

    The four-year scholarships are $8,000 each for students attending a University of California or California State University campus. An additional $4,000 scholarship was awarded this year to a high-caliber applicant. The two-year college scholarships are $2,000 each for students attending a California community college.

    The Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship was created by the family of Bob Miller, a California wine industry leader who helped establish the Central Coast as a leading wine grape growing region. The scholarship invests in the future of Central Coast students who plan to study viticulture or enology at either Allan Hancock College or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and pursue a career in the region’s wine grape industry. This year, scholarships were awarded to two Cal Poly-bound students.

    2018 CAWG FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

    Four-Year University Scholarship Recipients / $8,000 each

    Juan Rosa Guardado, Firebaugh, Firebaugh High School

    Liliana Villeda, Tulare, Tulare Western High School

    Four-Year University Scholarship Recipient / $4,000

    Nancy Gonzalez Andrade, Cloverdale, Geyserville New Tech Academy

    Two-Year Community College Scholarship Recipients / $2,000 each

    Gloria Ramirez Barrera, Yuba City, Yuba City High School

    Luis Herrera, Ione, Argonaut High School

    Yuri Terrones, San Andreas, Calaveras High School

    Mariana Albor Villagomez, Santa Rosa, Analy High School

    Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship Recipients / $1,000 each

    Samantha Grisaffi, Arroyo Grande, Arroyo Grande High School

    Chloe Kline, Modesto, Thomas Downey High School

    ABOUT THE RECIPIENTS

    Below are excerpts from the students’ essays and letters of recommendation:

    Juan Rosa Guardado, Firebaugh, Firebaugh High School

    Juan and his family moved to the U.S. from El Salvador to obtain a better standard of living. Financial and other difficulties did not deter his enthusiasm to learn and desire to excel. He worked diligently to succeed – taking nearly every AP class offered – and is now ranked No. 1 in his class with a 4.4 GPA. Juan is a member of the Academic Decathlon, California Scholarship Federation and FFA, and he volunteers for a migrant program that assists families. “Juan’s abilities and dedication as a student leave me no doubt about his ability to succeed at any college he should choose to attend,” his teacher wrote. Juan plans to attend UC Merced and major in computer science and engineering with a minor in business. “I aspire to achieve my goals and to share my success with my community despite the economic difficulties I will have to conquer,” Juan wrote.

    Liliana Villeda, Tulare, Tulare Western High School

    Liliana is the daughter of Mexican immigrant field workers who faced financial hardship. Life’s circumstances propelled her to go above and beyond academically and surpass intellectual expectations. Liliana has a 4.4 GPA, is ranked No. 1 in her class and has received numerous academic and FFA awards. Over the past four years she been an active member of FFA, a California Scholarship Federation member and a volunteer for numerous organizations. She has balanced school and extracurricular activities with a job throughout high school. “Liliana will use her education to build a successful life for herself, but also to build up her community,” her teacher wrote. Liliana plans to attend UCLA and major in human biology (pre-medicine). “I would be extremely grateful if awarded this money because it would prove that hard work, dedication and dreaming big ultimately pay off,” Liliana wrote.

    Nancy Gonzalez Andrade, Cloverdale, Geyserville New Tech Academy

    Nancy has seen how her immigrant parents have worked hard, struggled financially, handled a serious health issue and made sacrifices for the family. She has developed a strong desire to persevere and succeed – for herself and her family. Nancy is a straight-A student who is actively involved with the California Scholarship Federation, student council, MEChA, the school newspaper and yearbook, and sports. She also participates in the Upward Bound Program at Sonoma State University and as a volunteer for the Boys & Girls Club. “Nancy’s personal strengths are as impressive as her intellectual accomplishments,” her teacher wrote. Nancy would like to attend UC Davis, major in neuroscience and explore a career as a psychiatrist or neurologist. “Attending college will help me expand my academic knowledge, gain new experiences, set a positive example for my younger sisters and make my parents proud,” Nancy wrote.

    Gloria Ramirez Barrera, Yuba City, Yuba City High School

    Gloria was three years old when her family moved from Mexico to the United States. She was always taught that education is a gateway to success. Since a young age she has applied herself academically and has worked hard for the past four years to be on the honor roll. Gloria is involved in the Spanish Honor Society and MEChA, a student organization through which she volunteers in her community. She has held a job in agriculture for the past year to help save for college. “It is evident that Gloria cares deeply and is committed to all she sets her mind to,” her school counselor wrote. Gloria became interested in a science-related career in seventh grade. She plans to attend Yuba College, transfer to Chico State to major in biology, and become a forensic scientist. “Attending college is truly something I feel passionate about and hope to achieve,” Gloria wrote.

    Luis Herrera, Ione, Argonaut High School

    Luis is an ambitious and well-rounded student who has taken advantage of many opportunities in and outside of school. A 4-year honor roll student, he has been a member of the Art Club, Catholic Club and Link Crew, which helps freshmen feel more welcome at school. Luis volunteers as a school office assistant and at his church. In addition, he played recreational soccer for many years and participated on cross country and track teams. “Luis is a reliable, courteous and hard-working student. He is most deserving of this scholarship opportunity,” his teacher wrote. Luis has also gained real-world experience working for vineyard operations. His goals are to become an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force Reserves and pursue a college education. “I am aware of the opportunities that await me…as well as the hours of studying and hard work in order to achieve my goals, and I am proud to say I am ready,” Luis wrote.

    Yuri Terrones, San Andreas, Calaveras High School

    Yuri is constantly trying to improve herself with extracurricular activities, academics or volunteering at her church’s bible school. She has been actively involved in FFA for four years – raising sheep, attending conferences and achieving degrees and awards. One of her biggest accomplishments is that she qualified to receive her California State FFA degree, which requires over 500 hours of project work. “Yuri has set goals for herself, and I know without a doubt that she will achieve them,” her teacher wrote. Yuri’s parents did not have the opportunity to attend college and thus faced struggles in their personal and professional lives. So, she understands the value of education and intends to pursue a career in cosmetology and interior design. “For me and my family, it would be an honor to attend Butte Community College and be one step closer to my dreams,” she wrote.

    Mariana Albor Villagomez, Santa Rosa, Analy High School

    Mariana did not speak English when she moved to the U.S. four years ago. But since then, she has embraced academics and volunteering in her community. She volunteers for the Work Ready Program, as a math and English tutor, and as the president of her high school’s MEChA club. “Her commitment to her community and her academic success has made her a role model,” Mariana’s teacher wrote. She is now the only one in her family who has the chance to pursue higher education. Mariana’s goal is to attend Santa Rosa Junior College, transfer to Sonoma State University and eventually become a Spanish teacher. “I want to continue my education to become an inspiration to the Latino community and other Latino students who may have the same struggles as me,” Mariana wrote.

    Samantha Grisaffi, Arroyo Grande, Arroyo Grande High School

    Samantha has demonstrated a strong work ethic balancing school, volunteer activities and a job. She credits her parents for showing her that with hard work comes success. Samantha has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school while showing her leadership through Link Crew and the LGBTQ+ Club. She also donates blood as a way to give back to those in need. “I find it very inspiring to see a young adult so focused on life in order to become the best she can be,” her school librarian wrote. Samantha plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, major in wine and viticulture, and someday work at a winery and grow grapes. “I am passionate about the field of wine and viticulture because of the many different processes to grow and transform grapes into wine. This scholarship will help with…pursuing my dreams in this field of study,” Samantha wrote.

    Chloe Kline, Modesto, Thomas Downey High School

    Chloe has shown resilience despite her family enduring setbacks with employment and a house fire. She has remained focused on academics, sports, activities and volunteerism. A scholar athlete, Chloe has maintained a high GPA while participating on the water polo and swim teams the past four years. She also serves as an assistant coach for the girls’ swim team. Chloe is a member of the California Scholarship Federation, Blue Crew Club and other school clubs, and she volunteers in her community. “I have no doubt that whatever she ends up doing she will bring her intelligence and passion into the work,” her teacher wrote. Chloe has been accepted into Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s wine and viticulture program and wants to continue her family’s farming history by pursuing a career at a Central Coast winery. “My community and school helped me discover my passion for agriculture and leadership,” Chloe wrote.

  • New Dairy Princess Crowned
 in Fresno County

    Monserrat Vazquez of Fresno Selected as District 8 Dairy Princess

    Monserrat Vazquez of Riverdale was selected as the 2018 Dairy Princess for the California Milk Advisory Board’s (CMAB) District 8. The crowning took place before a crowd of approximately 100 dairy industry members and their families and friends, on Friday, April 27, 2018, at the C.P.D.E.S. Hall in Fresno.

    Retiring Dairy Princess Jennifer Garcia ended her reign by turning over the title to Monserrat and wished her well as she represents the California dairy industry throughout the coming year.

    Monserrat will represent District 8, which includes Fresno and Madera counties. As Dairy Princess, she will play an important role on the CMAB’s Communications Services team in meeting community relations objectives.

    Monserrat is the daughter of Gustavo Vazquez and Patty Garcia of Riverdale. She is a senior at Riverdale High School and plans to attend California State University, Fresno with a long-term career goal of becoming a large animal veterinarian. Monserrat is an active member of Riverdale FFA, where she has served as an officer and competed in many contests. She shows dairy cattle at the Big Fresno Fair.

    First Alternate, Elizabeth Martin, is the daughter of Patrick and Sherry Martin of Fresno. She is a junior at Washington Union High School. Elizabeth is an active member of the Washington Union High FFA where she has participated on the dairy and sheep show teams. She plans to attend a four-year college and major in agricultural education and minor in dairy science in hopes of becoming an agriculture teacher.

    Miss Vitality 2018 was Drew Vogt of Kingsburg. Drew is the daughter of Bill and Devon Vogt of Kingsburg. She is a junior at Immanuel High School and very active in FFA. She is a member of the dairy cattle evaluation team and is the current San Joaquin Regional FFA president. Drew shows sheep and swine and competes in public speaking contests with FFA.

    Elizabeth will assist the new District 8 Dairy Princess in her duties, which include speaking on behalf of the California dairy industry at schools, service clubs, with the media, and at numerous public events throughout the year.

    In addition, the Dairy Princess and her Alternate will attend a training session with workshops on presentation development, promoting the California dairy industry and leadership and etiquette tools.

    The emcee for the event was Hal H. Bolen II. Contestants were judged on poise, personality, speaking ability, education and dairy background. Judges for the contest were Matt Alvernaz of Livingston, Lauren Evangelo of Hanford and Barbara Matheron of Hilmar. The event chairpersons were Lucy Areias of Fresno and Melannie Rollin of Riverdale. The Dairy Princess Contest was catered by Blair Harlan Catering of Riverdale. Photos were by Ashley Loyd photography of Riverdale.

  • UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center (SBC) Recognized for Education Efforts

    UC Davis SBC Education Director Rale Gjuric

    UC Davis is excited and proud to announce the placement of UC Davis SBC Education Director Rale Gjuric on EUROPEAN SEED’s list of highly influential people in 2017. In a time where seed companies worldwide are having trouble filling their breeding vacancies, Rale has been instrumental in spearheading education efforts that have trained numerous students. Under his leadership, the UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy has offered 15 classes worldwide since 2006 that were attended by 281 breeders from over 60 countries, making this organization the most recognized program of its kind.

    Read about Rale in European Seed article: http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/files/283367.pdf or full article at: http://www.european-seed.com/docs/books/volume-5/issue-2/inc/pdf/flipbook.pdf.

    The next class of the UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy in Davis starts in September 2018.  The registration is still open for the few remaining spots.  For more information on the UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy contact Joy Patterson at jpatterson@ucdavis.edu or visit http://pba.ucdavis.edu.

    The mission of the Seed Biotechnology Center (SBC) is to mobilize the research, educational and outreach resources of UC Davis in partnership with the seed and biotechnology industries to facilitate discovery and commercialization of new seed technologies for agricultural and consumer benefit.  As part of its educational program, the UC Davis SBC offers a variety of courses catered to the needs of seed industry professionals.

    UPCOMING COURSES

    Seed Biology and Quality, June 19-21, 2018, Davis, CA

    (http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/Courses/Seed_Biology_and_Quality/)

    Seed Business 101 Field Crops, August 20-24, 2018, St. Charles, IL

    (http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/Courses/Seed_Business_101/Seed_Business_101_-_Field_Crops/)

    Program Management for Plant Breeders, September 18 – 20, 2018, Davis, CA
    (http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/Courses/Program_Management_for_Plant_Breeders/)

    Seed Business 101 Horticulture, December 3-7, 2018, Davis, CA

    (http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/Courses/Seed_Business_101/Seed_Business_101_-_Horticulture/ 

    Seed Production, February 12 – 14, 2019, Davis, CA USA

    (http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/Courses/Seed_Production/)

  • Diagnosing Herbicide Symptoms Course, July 10-11

    Weed scientists at the University of California are offering the Diagnosing Herbicide Symptoms 2018 course on July 10-11, 2018. This 1-1/2 day course will focus on how an herbicide injury situation can arise, what types of information can help diagnose herbicide problems during field investigations, and what herbicide symptomology tools are available to you.

    The course provides a rare opportunity for professionals to update their understanding of herbicide symptoms and injuries and interact with experts in this field. Cooperative Extension specialists Kassim Al-Khatib and Brad Hanson along with farm advisor John Roncoroni are a few of the course instructors.

    Topics include herbicide mode of actions :: how symptoms develop and progress :: recovery from herbicide injury :: relationship between symptomology and economical damage :: symptoms from several classes of amino acid synthesis inhibiting herbicides :: symptoms from herbicides that mimic plant hormones and the synthesis of fatty acids :: symptoms from herbicides that affect photosystem I, photosystem II, or that act by disrupting cell membranes :: biotic and abiotic symptoms that resemble herbicide symptoms :: herbicide symptomology tools :: what happens during a field investigation :: what happens in an herbicide injury legal case.

    This program is intended for pest control advisers, sales representatives for chemical companies, field investigators, and insurance adjusters.

    Take advantage of the early-bird registration fee ($465.) The fee goes up after June 10 to $495 and then to $525 after June 26. The registration fee includes lunch, refreshments and course materials.

    The course is approved for DPR and CCA continuing education credits–PCA, QAC, QAL, Private Applicator: 8.0 Other; Certified Crop Adviser: 7.0 IPM, 1.0 PD

    More information, visit the UC Weed Research & Information Center website (http://wric.ucdavis.edu/) and click on DIAGNOSING HERBICIDE SYMPTOMS.

    Attached Files

    press release Diagnosing Herbicide Symptoms course 2018

  • CropManage Hands-on Workshop, June 6

    Bringing Irrigation & Nutrient Management Decision Support to the Field

    Date: Wednesday, June 6, 2018
    1pm – 4:30pm

    Location: UCCE Ventura, 669 County Square Drive, Ventura, CA 93003
    California Room

    669 County Square Drive Suite 100 Ventura CA 93003 805-645-1451 • ceventura.ucanr.edu

    • Learn how to use CropManage to support irrigation and nutrient management decisions and record-keeping
    • Learn the new version of CropManage (3.0) – also available in SpanishCropManage is a free online decision support tool for water and nutrient management of coastal crops. Based on in-depth research and field studies conducted by the University of California, CropManage provides real-time recommendations for efficient irrigation and fertilization applications— while maintaining or improving overall yield.

      At this free workshop, we will provide hands-on training so that you can learn to use the newest version of CropManage (3.0) which has been updated to be more compatible for in-field use by farm staff. CropManage is now available in Spanish.

      Crops currently supported by CropManage in Ventura County include strawberry and celery. In the Watsonville area, raspberry, head, romaine, and leaf lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bell pepper, spinach, baby lettuce, cilantro and mizuna, in addition to strawberry and celery.

      Who should participate? Vegetable and berry growers, ranch managers, other farm staff, and technical service providers are welcome. The workshop is for both new and current CropManage users.

      What to bring? This is a participatory workshop. Please bring a tablet or laptop computer so that you can follow along and participate in the exercises. Each participant will need a user account for CropManage. Please set up a free user account at v3.cropmanage.ucanr.edu before the workshop.

      Registration is free: Please register by May 30 using the following link:http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=24795

      Questions: Andre Biscaro at asbiscaro@ucanr.edu or 805-645-1465.

      AGENDA

      1:00 – 1:30 Registration and computer set-up
      1:30 – 3:00 Getting started with CropManage 3.0
      3:00 BREAK
      3:15 – 4:00 Strategies for using CropManage for decision support and record-keeping 4:00 – 4:20 Advanced features and interfacing sensors with CropManage
      4:20 – 4:30 Discussion of new features or changes needed

      2.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) applied for Certified Crop Advisers (CCA)

      It is the policy of the University of California (UC) and the UC Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities (Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/215244.pdf ).

      Inquiries regarding ANR’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to John I. Sims, Affirmative Action Compliance Officer/Title IX Officer, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2801 Second Street, Davis, CA 95618, (530) 750-1397.

  • California Hosts 17th National Dairy Challenge

    College dairy students – 235 in total – from 28 different states and Canadian provinces recently traveled to sunny California for the 17th annual Dairy Challenge.® This was the first time many of the students had visited a Western dairy, which provided extra intrigue and challenge in their task as a consultant team for a local dairy.

    Visalia, Calif., was home base for the 2018 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge® (NAIDC) held April 12th to 14th, with six area dairies participating in the educational event. Dairy students from 38 colleges worked to improve their dairy management and communication skills, networked with other students, and explored industry careers.

    “It is really incredible to see the California dairy community come together to make this premier event possible for these college students – from host dairies, to agribusiness sponsors and dairy product donors, to the more than 120 volunteers that helped plan and coordinate the Dairy Challenge,” explained Chad Wright, DVM, of Bidart Dairy and NAIDC Board Chairperson.

    Dairy Challenge is a unique, real-world experience where dairy students work as a team and apply their college coursework to evaluate and provide solutions for an operating dairy farm. In Visalia, two programs ran concurrently – the 17th annual Dairy Challenge contest and the sixth annual Dairy Challenge Academy. The events were coordinated by the NAIDC Board of Directors and the Western planning committee.

    This year’s contest included 38 universities, whose four-person teams competed for awards based on their quality of teams’ farm analysis and appropriate solutions. Their farm presentations were evaluated by a panel of five judges, including dairy producers, veterinarians, finance specialists and seasoned agribusiness personnel.

    The Academy provided interactive training for more than 90 students from four-year universities or two-year dairy programs. Academy participants were divided into smaller groups including students from various schools, and dairy industry volunteers worked as Advisors to coach these less-experienced Academy participants as they assessed the dairy and developed recommendations.

    Dairy Challenge Applies Learning to a Real-world Dairy

    Over its 17-year history, Dairy Challenge has helped more than 6,400 students prepare for careers in the dairy industry, dairy production and veterinary medicine.

    The three-day event began with learning stations at Maddox Dairy, Riverdale, CA, where the Maddox team and their consultants helped students better understand California dairy conditions and shared details about reproduction, nutrition, cow comfort, milking protocols and other key areas. Back at the Visalia Convention Center, students enjoyed ice cream sundaes as they poured over the in-depth dairy records for their assigned dairy.

    Day two began with the on-farm analysis, with all students having just two hours to visit their assigned dairy and witness the dairy’s operations. After a question & answer session with the farm owners and advisors, the student teams developed recommendations for nutrition, reproduction, milking procedures, animal health, cow comfort, and labor and financial management.

    On Day Three, students presented their recommendations to the judging panel, visited with sponsors at the Career and Innovation Fair, and learned through presentations from top-level NAIDC sponsors. These talks were presented by:

    • Ryan Camara, Vice President-Credit and Linda Sousa, Assistant Vice President-Credit, Farm Credit West – “How to Prepare for Your Lender”
    • Brad Barham, Sales Support Manager, All West/Select Sires – “Utilizing Data to Maximize Genetic Improvement”
    • Heather Lee, Dairy Regional Account Manager and Kurtis Monteiro, Dairy Account Manager, Genex Cooperative, Inc. – “Bringing Value to the Dairy Industry as a Recent Graduate”
    • Josh Hushon, US Dairy Marketing Communications Lead, Cargill – “Farm Decision Making: Unlocking the Power of Data and Analytics”
    • Christie Underwood, Ph.D., Nutritionist & Technical Consultant, Land O’ Lakes – “Getting Your Career Started: Launching a Successful Path”
    • Jack Hippen, North American and EU Sales Director, ST Genetics – “The History of Sexed Semen”
    1st Place Team – California Polytechnic State University: L to R: Coach Vagnoni, Anthony Echeverria, Amber LaSalle, Matthew Ruby, Tony Lopes

    Eight College Teams Earn Top Awards

    At Saturday evening’s banquet, the following contest teams and students were announced as First Place winners, with each student receiving a $200 scholarship.

    • Michigan State University: Alycia Burch, Nicole Chase, Ethan Haywood, and Ellen Launstein coached by Roger Thompson
    • University of Wisconsin-Madison: Charles Hamilton, Anthony Schmitz, Logan Voigts and Connor Willems Coached by Theodore Halbach and Dave Combs
    • Iowa State University: Kassidy Buse, Brady Goetz, Cassie Krebill and Sabrina Portner. Coached by Hugo Ramirez
    • California Polytechnic State University: Anthony Echeverria, Amber LaSalle, Tony Lopes and Matthew Ruby. Coached by David Vagnoni

    Teams and students earning Second Place and $100 student scholarships include:

    • University of Vermont/Vermont Technical College:  Michelle Poulin, Julee Tellkamp, Sharron Palmer, Quentin Nelson. Coached by Wanda Emerich
    • Cornell University: Cooper Galton, Britney Hill, Jake Palladino, Keith Koerner. Coached by Mike Van Amburgh
    • University of Guelph: Andrew VanderSpek, Jeroen Slits, Matthew Wells, Michael Reijnen, Coached by Trevor DeVries, Robyn Walsh, Matt Groen
    • The Ohio State University: Jaclyn Krymowski, Hannah Meller, Alexandra Houck, Marina Sweet. Coached by Maurice Eastridge

    All Dairy Challenge contest participants received a lifetime membership to Dairy Shrine, compliments of Allflex USA and Lely North America.

    Total Industry Effort

    Five dairy farms opened up their farms for analysis and in exchange, received a wealth of ideas from students and judges. Host farms for the 2018 Dairy Challenge were:

    • Van Beek Brothers, Tipton, CA
    • Double J Dairy, Visalia, CA
    • Rancho Sierra Vista, Visalia, CA
    • Delta View Farms, Visalia, CA
    • Double Oak Dairy, Tulare, CA

    “On behalf of all the students and organizers, we sincerely thank the hundreds of individuals and organizations that made this event possible,” said Cathy Myers, Co-Chair of the event. “We look forward to interacting with these students as they continue onto careers as dairy owners, managers, consultants and the many other support roles that make dairy possible.”

    About Dairy Challenge

    NAIDC is an innovative event for students in dairy programs at North American post-secondary institutions. Its mission is to develop tomorrow’s dairy leaders and enhance progress of the dairy industry, by providing education, communication and networking among students, producers, and agribusiness and university personnel. Over its 17-year national history, Dairy Challenge has helped prepare more than 6,400 students for careers as farm owners and managers, consultants, researchers, veterinarians or other dairy professionals. The next national event will be hosted in Tifton, Georgia, March 28-30, 2019. Four regional events are held in late fall and winter; details are at www.dairychallenge.org.

  • UC ANR’s Elkus Ranch is an Outdoor Classroom for Local Youth

    Half Moon Bay, Calif., (April 24, 2018) – Each year, about 9,000 kids visit the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Elkus Ranch in Half Moon Bay for hands-on educational experiences in urban horticulture, nutrition, food safety, pest management, livestock management and food preservation, reported Sara Hayden in April 2018 issue of Half Moon Bay Magazine (the article begins on p. 16).

    Hayden visited the ranch with photographer Jaime Soja when a group of preschoolers descended to explore the garden and meet the farm animals.

    “They can taste and touch and smell things – feel the wool of a sheep or an egg, know where their food is from, where the clothing fiber comes from,” said Kathi Baxter, UC Cooperative Extension environmental science educator at Elkus Ranch. “Ideally, kids would get the idea that space is necessary to grow food. We’re hoping to plant that seed of stewardship here.”

    The Elkus family donated the 125-acre ranch in the 1970s as a gift for youth. The ranch’s operating budget depends heavily on grants and donations.

    For more, visit the Elkus Ranch website at http://ucanr.edu/sites/elkus_ranch.

  • UC Davis World Food Center Relaunches

    Davis, Calif., (April 24, 2018) – The University of California, Davis, has renewed its World Food Center within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The World Food Center’s mission is to mobilize the research, educational and outreach resources of UC Davis to promote innovative, sustainable and equitable food systems.

    “The renewed program intends to work on local, national and global scales to support scientific research, extension and policy developments at UC Davis that address these goals,” said Kent J. Bradford, the newly appointed interim director of the World Food Center. Bradford is also a distinguished professor in the Department of Plant Sciences and director of the UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center. “We are excited by the opportunity to enable the unique resources of UC Davis to be focused on improving the diverse aspects of food systems.”

    Previously housed in the Office of the Chancellor, the realignment of the World Food Center within the college was first announced in December 2016. Under Interim Director Jan Hopmans, the center has engaged in internal evaluation processes among campus and college leadership, faculty, and staff to determine its most effective role as a college program. In September 2017, the UC Davis Office of the Provost approved a two-year plan created by the World Food Center’s Visioning Committee to pursue new opportunities and begin reforming the center within the college.

    Dean Helene Dillard and Associate Dean David Campbell of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences provide oversight to the World Food Center, along with a steering committee of nine faculty members.

    “As a world leader in agricultural and environmental sciences, we are excited to build on the voices and expertise of our college faculty to seek transformational solutions to critical food-system challenges,” said Dean Dillard. “We look forward to working with partners in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to help provide safe and nutritious food for us all.”

    Community involvement encouraged

    The World Food Center is currently seeking campus and community input to assist in developing new programming and initiatives. The center is developing a strategic plan to implement these ideas while creating networks for greater impact at UC Davis and beyond. Leaders are also planning joint events to foster interaction between the academic and business communities in the region.

    The World Food Center will host its first public events of the year in the coming months. The local community is invited to attend two Food For Thought Showcases in the UC Davis Mondavi Center on May 7 and June 4, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. These events will congregate dozens of UC Davis research centers shaping the future of food to showcase their work to the greater Davis community. The event is free and open to all, and guests are asked to RSVP here.

  • Encourage Students to Apply for TCFB’s Youth Leadership Program!

    Tulare, Calif., (April 20, 2018) – Tulare County Farm Bureau is seeking applications for the 2018-2019 Youth Leadership Class. The deadline to apply is May 1for this all expense paid eight-month program. TCFB’s Youth Leadership Program is designed to open doors to new experiences for students while providing personal, educational and leadership opportunities within their community and the agriculture industry.

    It is Farm Bureau’s goal to provide this leadership program to students with leadership potential, with an emphasis on those who have not had an opportunity to participate in similar programs. This program is open only to students who will be juniors in the 2018-2019 academic year. The schedule of activities begins in September 2018 and will end in May 2019. Please encourage students to apply! Students may fill out and submit an online application at www.tulcofb.org. We have eliminated paper applications this year.

    Throughout the year, the selected class will experience a team building exercise with an overnight trip to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo; a community service activity with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department; a county-wide tour of Tulare County’s agriculture industry; an agricultural careers panel; and a local government seminar with the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. This year, the program culminated with a legislative workshop and an overnight trip to Sacramento to meet with our elected officials, and take part in the California Farm Bureau Leaders Conference.  During the trip, the students also toured the UC Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

    This is a unique and enriching opportunity for students and we encourage you to identify one or more students from your school for this annual leadership program.  Our goal is to have two students from each high school in the county.  We urge you to assist us in making this program available to your students.  Please note that the individual(s) do not have to have any connection with agriculture or Farm Bureau, but should be students with potential leadership qualities and be able to take full advantage of this program.  Students are however required to attend school or reside in Tulare County to be considered for the program.

  • UC Davis Students Breed Beans for Organic Farming

    Davis, Calif., (April 19, 2018) – Graduate students at the University of California, Davis, have begun field tests on very rare commodities: high-yield, disease-resistant bean varieties that can thrive on organic farms.

    “Most crops — about 95 percent — have been bred for conventional farming and can be difficult to grow in organic systems,” said Travis Parker, a Ph.D. student in plant biology who is leading the project. “These new bean varieties could make a big difference in performance and profitability of organic legumes like pinto, black and kidney beans, as well as heirloom-like varieties with high culinary quality.”

    Parker is working with a team of student breeders under the guidance of Professor Paul Gepts, a bean geneticist with the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences. The bean project is part of a larger plant-breeding effort at UC Davis to develop new varieties of tomatoes, peppers, beans and other vegetable crops that can flourish in both organic and conventional systems.

    Why breeding matters – To create a winning variety, breeders cross plants with desired traits and select the best offspring over multiple generations. It takes several years of plot testing to give birth to a variety good enough to name and sell.

    With each new generation of crops, breeders pick plants that perform well in the system in which they are being raised. That’s usually conventional farming, which is the most common system. Conventional agriculture uses some applications that organic farmers don’t use, such as synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. As a result, those crops can be tricky for organic farmers to grow because they are not especially well suited to organic production.

    Parker’s team recently received a $25,000 grant from Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that funds innovative projects in agriculture. The grant will support the team’s ongoing efforts to identify the genetic basis of important traits, develop tools to accelerate the time it takes to measure traits as plants grow in the field and — ultimately — release new varieties specifically bred for high performance on organic farms.

    “We have begun trials on virus-resistant lines in fields on campus and on farms in California,” Parker said. “We hope to have varieties available for commercial production soon after 2020.”

    The beauty (and challenge) of beans – Legumes are nutritious and especially important to sustainable agriculture. They contain symbiotic bacteria in their roots that produce nitrogen compounds, which feed the crop and enrich the soil even after harvest.

    “That’s why beans are so useful in rotation with other crops,” Parker said. “Plus, dry beans have a long shelf life so farmers can store them and sell them according to market conditions.”

    But conventionally bred beans can present a challenge for organic farmers. With limited use of herbicides, organic farmers have a tough time controlling the weeds that battle young crops for water, sun and food.

    To address that, Parker and his team are breeding fast-growing plants that can outcompete weeds. The new varieties will grow tall enough to shade out weeds without tipping over to make it easier for farmers to use tractors to mechanically control weeds.

    More crops in the works   – The bean project is part of a larger effort UC Davis launches in 2015. Funded by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the UC Davis Plant Breeding Center is working with the Organic Seed Alliance and organic growers in California to set priorities and develop new crop varieties.

    Students are leading the project as part of the center’s innovative efforts to train a new generation of plant breeders.

    “We want to give our plant-breeding students experience with real cultivar development that results in products that growers and seed producers want,” said Professor Charlie Brummer, director of the UC Davis Plant Breeding Center. “This project lets us put those pieces together in a very meaningful and exciting way.”