California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • Road Trip! “Scrumptious California Tour” Shows Foodies The Salad Bowl Of The World

    Sacramento, Calif., (April 13, 2018) – Get your foodie passport ready to tour scrumptious California veggie country! With over 970 thousand acres of harvested vegetables, melons, and strawberries, the just released USDA NASS Vegetables 2017 Summary places California at a whopping $7.85 billion in vegetable production – over half of the U.S. total of $13.8 billion. Where are all of these amazing crops grown? Let’s take a trip through some of the most delicious and prosperous rural regions in the Golden State.

    Touring the “salad bowl of the world” provides a fun and delicious way to experience California’s rural areas and produce. Check out the NASS Vegetables 2017 Summary for the data behind the California veggie tour.

    Just as the treasured garlic clove rests behind pale, papery covers, the small farming community of Gilroy waits to be discovered off the 101 and 152 travel corridors. Gilroy is centrally located at the southern gateway to Silicon Valley, about 30 miles south of San Jose. California produced over $322 million worth of fresh market garlic. Wowzers! Gilroy may not be in the largest garlic-producing county, but its farmers might claim to be the proudest. Look closer to discover an amazing world-class garlic community touting the internationally renowned Gilroy Garlic Festival and continual celebration of all things “garlicky.”

    The NASS Vegetables 2017 Summary positions California as a leading example of rural prosperity. The Golden State is the top producer of artichokes, head lettuce, leaf lettuce (yeah, it’s different from head lettuce), romaine, broccoli, spinach and more. Weather, alternating between a moist marine layer from the nearby ocean and cool sunny days, provides the perfect climate to grow everyone’s favorite smoothie superfoods in its verdant valleys.

    ‘Lettuce’ head over the 152 to Highway 101 for more tasty fun in Monterey County, an area often referred to as the “Salad Bowl of the World.” First stop is a Fibonacci favorite, the butter-loving artichoke (it grows according to the mathematical sequence discovered by – you guessed it – Fibonacci). Northern Monterey County features the U.S. artichoke capital in the prosperous rural town of Castroville. From bold artichoke sculptures to daring recipes, the annual Artichoke Festival celebrates California’s official state vegetable. According to the Vegetables Summary, California is the sole U.S. producer of artichokes, with production valued at more than $65.5 million in 2017.

    Monterey County boasts some of the most beautiful farmland east of Highway 1. Literary aficionados may know Salinas for the annual Steinbeck Festival (you may have heard of John, great American author and all that), but did you know the Salinas Valley is also recognized as one of the top leafy green producing areas in California? Some of your favorite green superfoods grew up the Salinas Valley of Monterey County. California produced over $850 million of the nation’s $926 million broccoli crop and more than half, $242 million, of the nation’s $401 million spinach crop. What a vegetable delight!

    Scrumptious strawberries make salads, cakes, and even the annual NASS Vegetables Summary more delicious. Take Highway 101 down the coast to Ventura County in May for the California Strawberry Festival held in Oxnard. The festival celebrates the $3.1 billion California strawberry industry (out of the U.S. total of $3.5 billion).

    As you complete your culinary loop back north, consider a drive up Highway 5 or 99. This is the famous Central Valley, where California farmers work hard to feed the country and the world the best foods. If it’s tomato harvesting season, don’t be surprised to see a few tomatoes strewn along the roadside. Sometimes they fall out of the steady stream of overflowing trucks on their way to the processing plants. The Vegetables Summary suggests everyone loves tomatoes – it’s a billion-dollar crop for California and the United States.

    No matter which direction you drive in California, you will see a great variety of vegetable crops and a range growing conditions and seasons. You may see small organic farms supporting the burgeoning farm to fork movement. Down the road, you may come across larger farms that grow vegetables that end up on people’s plates across America and the world. No matter which way you turn, you will be amazed at what California farmers can grow and thankful for their bounty.

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (April 13, 2018) – Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner released the current status today of Major crops in the most valued county in the California Ag portfolio. They report that Corn is still being planted as weather and soil conditions allow. Some fields are emerging. Winter wheat and oats enjoyed the latest rains, growth is excellent. Alfalfa is maturing and nearing harvest. Ground preparation is continuing for spring forage and row crops.

    Vineyards are leafing-out and some are in the early stages of flowering. Stone fruit orchards are continuing to leaf-out as the bloom period comes to an end. New orchards are being planted. Cherries are sizing and some are starting to show color. Pomegranates and persimmons are continuing to leaf-out. Walnuts and pistachios are starting to bloom. Pistachio nuts are being exported to China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Spain, Thailand, and Turkey. This season’s almonds are developing nicely. Almonds are being shipped to India, Israel, Japan, Korea, South Africa and Sweden. Pecans are being exported to China and Israel. Kiwifruit from storage are being shipped to Mexico.

    Petal fall is occurring in some citrus groves in District 1. The harvest of late variety navel oranges continues, and fruit are showing some grading issues. Navel oranges are being exported to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Citrus packing houses are starting to pack Valencia oranges. Valencia oranges are being shipped to China, Japan, and Korea. Seedless tangerine groves remain netted for the bloom. Lemons continue to be harvested and packed for the domestic market. Some citrus trees are being planted. Bee keepers are maintaining hives in citrus and olives groves.

    Squash and cucumber seedlings continue to grow in the fields. Greenhouse vegetables continue to be harvested. Strawberry and plantings are progressing well, with bloom and maturing. This week’s warm weather will be a benefit. Additional summer vegetable fields are now being prepared for planting.

    Rain is a boost for rangeland quality. The fed cattle market held relatively steady this week.

    Retail nurseries are stocking up on both perennial and annual plants for the spring season. Some mature olive trees are being dug for landscape purposes.

    Citrus Bloom was declared in District 2, beginning at 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning, April 8, 2018.

  • Mandarin Drought Tips Featured in Final Video of Drought Series

    Oakland, Calif., (April 12, 2018) – Because periodic droughts will always be a part of life in California, the UC California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR) produced a series of videos to maintain drought awareness and planning, even in years when water is more abundant.

    The first of the three videos premiered Feb. 2 on the UCTV Sustainable California channel. The second video was launched March 2 on Sustainable California. View the trailer here.

    The videos are inspired by a collection of 19 drought tips produced by CIWR in collaboration with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources researchers during the drought of 2010-16. The tips cover a broad spectrum of California crops, from alfalfa to walnuts. Topics also include salt management, use of graywater in urban landscapes, and the use of shallow groundwater for crop production. Three topics – alfalfa, almonds and citrus – are featured in the three-episode CIWR video series.

    The drought tips collection and the drought tip videos were sponsored by the California Department of Water Resources. Following is the schedule for the video releases:

    The CIWR drought tip series opens with Cannon Michael of Bowles Farming in Los Banos. The alfalfa grower works with UCCE specialist Dan Putnam. “There’s a lot of misunderstanding about alfalfa as a crop,” Michael said. “It does take water to grow it, as with anything, but you get multiple harvests of it every year.”

    The second episode features almond producer Raj of Meena farms. He works with David Doll, UCCE advisor in Merced County. “One positive of this drought,” Meena said, “is that it has forced us all to be more efficient in how we use our water.”

    The series finale features Lisa Brenneis of Churchill-Brenneis Orchard in the Ojai Valley of Ventura County. She worked with UCCE advisor Ben Faber to install a new water-efficient irrigation system. “Irrigation is the only job we really have to do,” Brenneis said, “and we have to get it as right as we can.”

    For a complete list of drought tips, see http://ucanr.edu/drought-tips.

  • A Reminder That It Only Takes One Person To Spread Invasive Pests

    Washington, D. C., (April 12, 2018) – Each year, harmful invasive plant pests and diseases cost the United States about $40 billion in crop losses, damage to forests and vulnerable ecosystems, and expensive eradication and control efforts. It only takes one person who moves one piece of infested firewood, one infected plant, or one piece of infested fruit to spread these invasive pests to a new area. That’s why USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has designated April as Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month. Spring is the perfect time to remind everyone of the simple steps they can take to prevent the spread of harmful invasive plant pests.

    The USDA believes that Huanglongbing (HLB, or citrus greening) was spread from Florida to California by one person who likely mailed an infected plant to that State. HLB was first detected in Florida in 2005 and has since spread rapidly. A concerted effort by USDA, states (including California), and the citrus industry is underway to find new strategies in the fight against HLB.

    The good news is that individuals can also stop the spread of invasive pests by looking for and reporting suspicious insects or signs of damage (Report a pest in California). For example, USDA detected Asian longhorned beetle in Boston in 2010 when a single groundskeeper with a keen eye noticed and reported an unusual dime-sized hole in a tree. That one call provided early warning to jumpstart an eradication effort that quickly eliminated this destructive pest from that city.

    Here’s what you can do to help keep invasive pests from spreading as spring gets underway and all year round:

    • Spring is a busy time for buying plants. Buy yours from reputable nurseries or online businesses. Ask if they comply with federal and state quarantine restrictions to ensure their plants are pest-free.
    • Planning to travel? Whether it’s between states or to another country, check with your local USDA office before you bring back fruits, vegetables or plants so you know what’s allowed. And when returning from abroad, always declare all agricultural items to U.S. Customs and Border Protection so they can make sure items are free of harmful pests or diseases.
    • When enjoying the great outdoors, don’t move untreated firewood. Instead, buy or responsibly gather firewood near the place you’ll burn it. Or, take certified, heat-treated firewood on your trip with you.
    • If you live in an area under state or federal quarantine for an invasive pest, don’t move produce or plants off your property. Call your local USDA office to find out how to safely dispose of yard debris like trees and branches. Also, allow authorized agricultural workers access to your property for pest or disease surveys.
    • Make sure to clean outdoor items before moving them. Wash dirt from outdoor gear and tires before traveling long distances to or from fishing, hunting or camping trips. If relocating to a new home, clean lawn furniture and other outdoor items before placing them in a moving van or storage pod.

     

    To learn more, visit www.HungryPests.com or join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter. The website includes photos and descriptions of 19 invasive pests that can be moved easily by people, an online federal quarantine tracker by state, and phone numbers for reporting signs of invasive pests.

  • Autumn Wildfire Set UP Research on ‘Smoke Taint’ in Wine

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (April 12, 2018) – With the value of wine riding on a delicate balance of aroma and flavor, the impact of winegrapes’ exposure to smoke from a wildfire could have significant economic consequences. Last fall’s Northern California wildfires sent smoke wafting over an experimental vineyard in Napa Valley, giving scientists the opportunity to study the interplay of smoke and wine quality, reported Jeff Quackenbush in the North Bay Business Journal.

    “The moment the smoke started, my phone started ringing off the hook,” said Anita Olberholster, UC Cooperative Extension viticulture and enology specialist. “I quickly realized how thin the data is I need to base recommendations on.”

    The fires near the UC Davis vineyard provided the perfect experimental platform. Olberholster and her research team sprang into action to start a research project on the fly. Remaining grapes on smoke-exposed vines were picked, loads of commercially grown grapes deemed too questionable for commercial wineries were accepted. Over the past five months, small batches of wine were made from the grapes.

    “They all have different levels of smoky character,” Olberholster said. “Some on the nose are actually quite pleasant and not smoky, but the aftertaste is the problem. All of them, even if in small amounts, had that ‘old smoke,’ ‘ashtray,’ ‘new smoke’ aftertaste. It all depends on how sensitive you’re going to be at it.”

    The scientists are now looking for a process that will remove the smoky compounds, as little as possible of anything else.

  • Irrigation Districts’ Court Victory Reestablishes Certainty for Irrigation Water

    By Lauren D. Bernadett & Michael E. Vergara

    California’s recent drought challenged practically everyone in the state, and those challenges were most acutely felt by farmers and the agricultural industry. While the state and local districts made several significant law and policy changes during the drought, one decision that caused great concern and had significant effects for water providers and users was the State Water Resources Control Board’s (Water Board) issuance of curtailment notices to many water right holders. A recent court victory for several irrigation districts and water agencies (Public Agencies) helped maintain future certainty for water users and right holders.

    The Water Board is the state administrative agency tasked with managing the state’s water resources and regulating its tiered water rights. Although the Water Board disputed the nature of the curtailment notices it issued to water right holders in 2015, the notices clearly instructed right holders to stop diverting water immediately and report to the Water Board when diversions ceased.

    Many of the Public Agencies who received the curtailment notices were initially baffled by the notices. They essentially gave Public Agencies two choices: (1) accept, without a hearing, the Water Board’s stated basis for the directive to stop diverting water, which would harm residential, commercial and agricultural customers; or (2) defy the notice and risk substantial administrative penalties for every day of diversion. Some Public Agencies decided to continue diverting. Some stopped diverting and purchased water from other sources, if available. Others complied and ceased diversions entirely.

    Neither the Public Agencies, nor the water users to whom they supply water, were given the opportunity to conduct a hearing and review the Water Board’s determinations or findings allegedly supporting the directive to cease diverting water immediately. Public input, including the opportunity for the public and regulated community to be heard regarding administrative decisions, is a fundamental tenant of American due process and was completely lacking in the Water Board’s decision to issue the curtailment notices. Instead, the putative evidence supporting the notices was untested, even though the curtailments greatly affected businesses and livelihoods throughout the state.

    Responding to the notices, several Public Agencies filed separate civil lawsuits against the Water Board in different state courts. Shortly after the lawsuits were filed, however, the Water Board initiated administrative enforcement proceedings against two Public Agencies that were pursuing litigation against the Water Board for issuing the curtailment notices—Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) and the West Side Irrigation District (WSID).

    In the administrative proceedings, several Public Agencies joined BBID and WSID to defend against the Water Board’s allegations that they illegally diverted water after the curtailment notices were issued. In support of the Public Agencies, several farmers from districts that had been curtailed attended the administrative hearing at the Water Board’s office in Sacramento, and they provided heartfelt testimony regarding the devastating impact of the curtailments on their operations, their employees and the communities they serve. After three days, the State Board’s Enforcement Team completed their case in chief, and BBID and WSID moved to dismiss the enforcement action. After considering the motion to dismiss, the Water Board determined that its own staff members failed to present sufficient evidence to carry its prosecutorial burden of proof and dismissed the administrative proceedings.

    This dismissal (an exceedingly rare event before the Water Board) was a tremendous victory for the Public Agencies. Had the Public Agencies lost at this administrative proceeding, BBID would have been subject to a fine of approximately $1.5 million (which was reduced from the $5 million threatened in the Water Board’s Administrative Civil Liability Complaint), and WSID would have been subject to a cease and desist order regarding their water diversions. Prevailing at the administrative level helped maintain some certainty for the water community, but several issues remained for litigation, including whether the Water Board could issue the same curtailments in the future. If so, did it have to give the recipient of the notice an opportunity to be heard?

    To answer these questions, the Public Agencies’ lawsuits against the Water Board were consolidated into one case and were set for trial in January 2018. The allegations against the Water Board were numerous and some were dependent on the outcome of others, so the parties agreed to separate the trial into three phases.

    To date, only the first phase has been tried, but it addressed the most immediate issues impacting water users and right holders.

    The threshold issue in the case is whether the Water Board has jurisdiction under a specific state statute to issue curtailment notices to riparian and pre-1914 appropriative water right holders, the most senior water right holders in the state. The court decided that the Water Board does not have that authority under the circumstances of the case. As a state agency, the Water Board’s actions must be within the scope of authority granted to it by the Legislature. Because the Water Board’s issuance of the curtailment notice was not supported by any state law, it did not have the authority to curtail riparian and pre-1914 water right holders.

    This portion of the decision is crucial to maintaining certainty in the water world. Most, if not all, senior water right holders depend on the predictability and consistency that comes with their senior water rights. Prior to the issuance of the curtailment notices, riparian and pre-1914 water right holders believed they understood the relationship between them, their rights and the Water Board. The issuance of the curtailment notices upset that predictability and undermined trust in the Water Board’s ability to manage water thoughtfully and in accordance with long-standing state law. The part of the court’s decision relating to the Water Board’s jurisdiction confirms for water users and right holders that the state’s actions during the 2015 curtailments were not in conformity with existing law.

    The second primary issue in the Public Agencies’ lawsuit is rooted in due process and questions whether the Water Board improperly deprived the Public Agencies of their opportunity to be heard prior to issuance of the curtailment notices directing immediate cessation of diversions. Again, the court sided with the Public Agencies and determined that the Water Board violated due process requirements and is required to provide those who receive curtailment notices with an opportunity to challenge the notices before imposing curtailments and issuing fines.

    Reinforcing fundamental due process rights is critical because these rights ensure that the government is responsive to its citizens first and foremost, rather than to an overreaching government agenda.

    Because only the first phase of the trial is complete, a final decision will not be issued until the remaining phases are complete. However, this early decision preserving established water rights law provides that, if the Water Board decides to curtail in the future, it must find a different method for implementing curtailments and must provide due process opportunities to water right holders.

     

    Lauren D. Bernadett is an associate with Somach Simmons & Dunn in Sacramento, CA. Bernadett is a natural resources lawyer who has counseled private and public clients through administrative processes and litigation in state and federal courts. She can be reached at lbernadett@somachlaw.com.

     

     

    Michael E. Vergara is a shareholder with Somach Simmons & Dunn in Sacramento. Vergara serves as outside litigation and general counsel to businesses and public entities that have environmental law issues. He can be reached at mvergara@somachlaw.com.

     

  • 2018 Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Nominees

    Sacramento, Calif., (April 11, 2018) – The Sand County Foundation, the California Farm Bureau Federation and Sustainable Conservation are accepting applications for the $10,000 California Leopold Conservation Award. The award publicly honors California farmers, ranchers, foresters and other private landowners who demonstrate outstanding stewardship and management of the state’s natural resources.

    “It is an honor to be a recipient of the Leopold Conservation Award and to be affiliated amongst the other alumni who share a passion for conservation and are committed to sustainable practices in agriculture,” said Jack Thomson of C. Jeff Thomson, International, the award’s 2017 recipient. “I strongly encourage those who care deeply about conservation and agriculture to apply for this award.”

    Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award inspires other landowners and provides a public forum where farmers and ranchers are recognized as conservation leaders. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”

    “Landowners learn best from one another, looking across fence lines, attending field days, and sharing stories of land stewards who have managed to achieve both conservation and profitability,” said Sand County Foundation President, Kevin McAleese. “The Leopold Conservation Award has much to contribute to this kind of peer learning.”

    “Collectively, we save California or, collectively, we lose it,” said Ashley Boren, Executive Director of Sustainable Conservation, which has co-sponsored the award since its launch in California more than a decade ago. “The Leopold Conservation Award celebrates those deserving, but often overlooked, landowner heroes doing their part every day to steward our environment and the quality of life for all Californians. From clean water, to healthy air, to thriving wildlife, the ‘we’re in this together’ spirit of these individuals and their families keeps California leading in solving big conservation challenges.”

     

    “Aldo Leopold was a pioneer in the concept of the ‘land ethic,’ a concept that resonates within California’s agricultural community,” said California Farm Bureau Federation President Jamie Johansson. “The daily practice of this ethic is demonstrated not only in the diversity of landscapes where our farms and ranches operate, but also in the diversity of crops that drive America’s most successful farm economy. The California Farm Bureau Federation is proud to partner with Sand County Foundation in awarding the Leopold Conservation Award to a California farm or ranch whose land ethic has developed creative and replicable ideas concerning the stewardship of the natural resources on its land while providing a sustainable economic stimulus that feeds our nation.”

    Nominations must be postmarked by July 13 and mailed to California Leopold Conservation Award c/o Sustainable Conservation, 98 Battery Street, Suite 302, San Francisco, CA 94111. The award will be presented in December in San Diego, CA.

    The California Leopold Conservation Award is possible thanks to generous contributions from many organizations, including Farm Credit West, American AgCredit, The Harvey L. & Maud S. Sorensen Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and Leopold Conservation Award Alumni.

    For application information, please visit leopoldconservationaward.org.

    ABOUT THE LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD

    The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. The award consists of a crystal award depicting Aldo Leopold and $10,000. Sand County Foundation presents Leopold Conservation Awards in California, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

    ABOUT SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION – Sand County Foundation is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to working with private landowners to advance the use of ethical and scientifically sound land management practices that benefit people and the environment. sandcountyfoundation.org

     ABOUT CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION – The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 40,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 5.5 million Farm Bureau members. cfbf.com

    ABOUT SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION – Sustainable Conservation helps California thrive by uniting people to solve the toughest challenges facing the state’s land, air and water. Since 1993, it has brought together business, landowners and government to steward the resources that all Californians depend on in ways that make economic sense. Sustainable Conservation believes common ground is California’s most important resource. suscon.org

  • Second Annual Organic Grower Summit Coming to Monterey

    Monterey, Calif., (April 11, 2018) – The Organic Produce Network (OPN) and California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) are again teaming up to host the second annual Organic Grower Summit (OGS) on December 12 -13, 2018 at the renovated Monterey Convention Center in downtown Monterey, CA.

    OGS will bring together the entire organic growing and production chain as well as service providers and supply partners for two days of information, education and networking opportunities. Organic growers, producers and handlers from fresh produce, dairy, meat and grain sectors will have the opportunity to meet and engage with suppliers, service providers, packaging and technology companies, equipment manufacturers and other companies critical to their success.

    “Based on the success of last year’s inaugural Organic Growers Summit, CCOF growers look forward to this rare opportunity to network with each other and with other organic sector leaders and innovators,” says CCOF CEO Cathy Calfo. “Growers are key to meeting the demand for organic products and grower-driven events like OGS are important to their success.”

    OGS 2018 features an increase in show size to over 90 exhibitor booths and 1,000 attendees. New to OGS this year is a two-day format, with informative and educational sessions on core issues related to organic production, though-provoking and inspiring keynote speakers and an exhibition trade show floor on both days of the show.

    “There is a tremendous appetite for information and education as it relates to organic food production and we are once again thrilled to be partnering with the nation’s leading organic certification organization to bring together the various facets of the organic production community under one roof to exchange ideas and information that will make our industry stronger, “said Matt Seeley, cofounder of OPN.

    The event will be held at the Monterey Conference Center, with further information on educational session, keynote presenters and exhibiting opportunities available in the weeks to come.

    For more information, please visit organicgrowersummit.com

  • Barn to Yarn 2018

    Have you ever wondered where your wool sweater came from? Or just how to keep a 160lb sheep still enough to shear it? Join the Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) team and friends on Saturday, May 12th from 9am-2pm to get the answers to these and many more questions.

    Expert shearer Matt Gilbert will be offering demonstrations with a few of HREC’s flock of over 800 western whiteface sheep working as his models! Visitors will also have the chance to see different kinds of wool from the fine, soft merino to the long, coarse Navajo-churros and to learn how they are graded.

    Throughout the day children will be encouraged to try their hand at felting, spinning and dyeing wool! A spinning circle will be accompanied by storytelling, a place to relax and learn with a picnic.

    The day will provide opportunities for sheep farmers, fiber enthusiasts and families to get involved and learn more about every step of the process from sheep to sweater! Visitors will be welcomed to The Rod Shippey Building, and will have chance to picnic around the hall. “We can’t wait to welcome the community to our beautiful site and to raise awareness of just one of the areas of research and education that we conduct up here. Our sheep are not only vital for the UC Cooperative Extension sheep shearing school but also for research into best management practices for rangelands and animal science,” commented Hannah Bird, HREC community educator.

    Please register online in advance at: bit.ly/Barn2Yarn2018

    Admission is $10 for adults, children under 12 $5 (online registration or checks preferred). HREC asks visitors to leave their pets at home to protect the site and the sheep resident there. Bring your own picnic and all utensils; some light food will be available. Barn to Yarn will be held at the Rod Shippey Hall, 4070 University Road, Hopland, CA 95449 from 9am-3pm on May 12th. For more information contact Hannah Bird, (707) 744-1424, Ext. 105, hbird@ucanr.edu.

     

  • Mexican Dignitaries and UC 4-H Leadership Honored in the California State Senate

    Sacramento, Calif., (April 10, 2018) – Dignitaries from the Baja California department of agriculture were recognized along with representatives of the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources 4-H program by the California State Senate on April 2 for an agreement the two organizations forged last year to bring 4-H to children across the border.

    In presenting a resolution, Senator Ben Hueso, whose district includes the entire 156-mile border of California with Mexico, said the two countries share an agricultural legacy that has faced growing challenges in recent years, such as drought and climate change.

    “This requires California and Mexico to share resources by providing access to outstanding educational opportunities what will prepare leaders, scientists, educators, entrepreneurs and professionals with the knowledge and commitment to address these very important issues,” Sen. Hueso said to his colleagues in the State Senate.

    The resolution was presented on the California State Senate floor April 2.

    Sen. Hueso said education isn’t the only issue addressed by the 4-H-Mexico accord.

    “This is also a food scarcity issue, addressing food scarcity in our communities and in the world,” he said. “Both Imperial County and Baja California are very big players on the world stage for feeding people.”

    The first group of children in the Mexicali 4-H program learned where their food comes from. A second cohort will undertake a project related to science. The program is a model for establishment of similar 4-H experiences for youth in the rest of Baja California and Mexico.

    California State Senator Ben Hueso (far right) presented a resolution to Mexican dignitaries and UC ANR 4-H leadership. Pictured, left to right front row, are State Senator Jim Beall (15th District), Hortencia Medellin, Lupita Fabregas, Manuel Valladolid Seamanduras and Carlos Orozco. Back row, left to right, are Mark Bell, Claudia Diaz Carrasco and Shannon Horrillo.

    Sen. Hueso introduced the delegation from Mexico, led by Manuel Vallodolid Seamaduras, Secretary of Agriculture Development in the State of Baja California, Mexico (Secretaría de Desarrollo Agropecuario del Estado de México – SEDAGRO), and others in attendance to accept the resolution, including:

    • Hortencia Medellin Acosta, Director of Rural Entrepreneurship, Mexicali, Baja California
    • Carlos Orozco Riesgo, Member of the UC ANR 4-H Multicultural and Community Engagement Advisory Committee, former Undersecretary of SEDAGRO
    • Belem Avendaño Ruiz, Director of Inspection, health and safety SEDAGRO
    • Guillermo Gonzalez Rubio, Director, Livestock health department SEDAGRO
    • Agustin Manuel Velazquez Bustamante, Legal Advisor SEDAGRO
    • Mark Bell, Ph.D., Vice provost, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Shannon Horrillo, Ph.D., 4-H Youth Development statewide director
    • Lupita Fabregas, Ph.D., 4-H Youth Development assistant director for diversity and expansion
    • Claudia Diaz Carrasco, 4-H Youth Development advisor, Riverside and San Bernardino counties

    “I hope that California, the nation’s leading agriculture producing state, will continue to foster cooperation with Mexico and train future leaders through the launch of the 4-H Club in Mexicali,” Sen. Hueso said. “Please join me in welcoming them to the California State Senate and thanking them for their work in advocacy in helping educate the future.”