Subsurface drip irrigation is growing more and more common in field crops, but what about in the orchard? The UC Cooperative Extension has been experimenting on this for a few years now in a stone fruit orchard at the Kearney Ag Center, and the results are very positive. Watch California Ag Network’s interview with Becky Phene as she explores the benefits of converting to subsurface drip, and read more about it in California Fresh Fruit Magazine.
Want to learn about the recent advances in prune research and how they impact your prune management practices? Attend the UC Cooperative Extension’s upcoming meeting on Tuesday, September 26th at the Ord Bend Community Hall (3241 CA-45, Glenn, CA) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The meeting will feature UC Davis Plant Pathologist Themis Michailides, who will talk about cytospora canker; UC Davis Plant Pathologist Bob Johnson, who will talk about wood rot fungi; and UCCE Farm Advisor Emeritus Rich Buchner, who will talk about his prune rootstock trial research. The meeting will follow with a Question and Answer session to help growers and PCAs plan to apply research results ahead of the pruning season. Registration is $25 online here or for $35 at the door, and includes lunch.
Davis, Calif., (April 5, 2016) – The Agricultural Sustainability Institute (ASI) at UC Davis has announced that David Lewis, UC Cooperative Extension watershed advisor for California’s north bay
and UC Davis alumnus, is this year’s recipient of the Eric Bradford and Charlie Rominger Agricultural Sustainability Leadership Award.
For 17 years, Lewis has served as a UC Cooperative Extension advisor, helping farmers, ranchers, conservationists, and other stakeholders solve challenging and contentious issues surrounding the health of their watersheds.
The Bradford Rominger award honors individuals who exhibit the leadership, work ethic and integrity epitomized by the late Eric Bradford, a livestock geneticist who gave 50 years of service to UC Davis, and the late Charlie Rominger, a fifth-generation Yolo County farmer and land preservationist.
“David epitomizes the very fiber of character that this award celebrates,” says Kenneth Tate, Russell L. Rustici Endowed Chair in Rangeland Watershed Science at UC Davis and 2012 Bradford Rominger award recipient.
After starting his work in sustainability with the Peace Corps in Africa and completing a master’s degree in international agricultural development at UC Davis, Lewis joined UC Cooperative Extension as its first watershed advisor.
Tate praises Lewis’ ability to “put his quiet, honest, credible manner to good work” to help build trust and understanding so communities can have frank discussions about the challenges facing their watersheds.
Lewis’ accomplishments include helping to reduce the dairy pollution hurting the oyster beds of Tomales Bay and helping ranchers reduce erosion on their property, letting them play a key role in conserving critical coho salmon habitat and protecting the water quality of north coast rivers.
“I help my communities work towards a shared goal,” says Lewis, reflecting on his role as a leader.
“Marin County and places like it have placed a value on open working landscapes, and made land use policies 40 years ago to protect them. As we face new challenges, whether it’s a new invasive weed or where solar panels can go, we can always go back to that shared value.”
For Lewis, many of those successes stem from an eagerness to hear and understand the needs of community members, something he considers a privilege of his job.
“When talking with people at their kitchen tables or at the gates at their ranches, I get to feel the deep knowledge and connection people have with the landscape, hear their family histories and desires to innovate and do something different. And I appreciate that I’ve got a small role in it somewhere.”
Lewis will be presented the award at the Shepherds of Sustainability: Celebrating Leadership in Watersheds, Rangeland, and Livestock Sustainability event April 19 in Davis. The event is free and open to the public. Students are strongly encouraged to attend.
The Shepherds of Sustainability event will include an award ceremony and talks by David Lewis and keynote speaker Anya Fernald, CEO of Belcampo — a collection of organic ranches, butcher shops, and restaurants in California and an agritourism venture in Belize — on the topic of expanding awareness and access to sustainable foods. Fernald was recently recognized in Food & Wine’s “40 under 40” list and featured in profiles in The New York Times and The New Yorker, and has served as a regular judge on Iron Chef America.
More Information on the event and award can be found on the Agricultural Sustainability Institute’s website.
Shepherds of Sustainability: Celebrating Leadership in Watersheds, Rangeland, and Livestock Sustainability event & Bradford Rominger award ceremony
Wednesday, April 19 International House Davis, 10 College Park, Davis
| 4:00 p.m.: | Student only discussion with David Lewis and Anya Fernald on leadership in agricultural sustainability |
| 5:30 p.m.: | Award ceremony and talk by Anya Fernald on the topic of expanding awareness and access to sustainable foods |
| 7:00 p.m.: | Reception |
[wpdevart_youtube]4rlsER1qhgY[/wpdevart_youtube]
Madera & Merced Counties have a new UC Cooperative Extension orchard systems farm advisor on the block. We are happy to introduce Phoebe Gordon to the nut & tree fruit industry here. Check out her brief introductory video, and be sure to get in touch with her at the Madera extension office.
[wpdevart_youtube]HgevbElHZCA[/wpdevart_youtube]
At the San Joaquin Valley Grape Symposium held by the UC Cooperative Extension, Andy Walker from UC Davis addressed Central Valley grape growers on the progress of developing new grapevine rootstocks with combined resistance to drought, high salinity and nematode pressures. Watch this video and read American Vineyard Magazine for more information.
[wpdevart_youtube]U9t9vBTdLHo[/wpdevart_youtube]
At a recent Vegetable Crop Pest Seminar held by the UC Cooperative Extension in Five Points, Farm Advisor Tom Turini addressed tomato growers on dealing with the increasing populations of Consperse stink bug in the field and the damage it can cause. Watch his brief interview and read more in the coming issue of Vegetables West Magazine.
[wpdevart_youtube]dbkDGhQg-iA[/wpdevart_youtube]
Another great seminar for growers & crop advisors: Mohammad Yaghmour from the UC Cooperative Extension talked about bacteria, viruses, phytoplasmas & union disorders to look out for in the orchard. Watch this video and gain more details in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.