Eight members of California Ag Solutions of Madera, CA were hosted at the longstanding NRI Project field in Five Points on Tuesday, June 27^th by Jeff Mitchell.

The group was keen to see how the garbanzo planting that they had helped with had turned out and also how the 2017 no-till sorghum is performing.  Monte Bottens, Matt and Silas Rossow, and Cary Crum of CAS took part along with three other members of the Madera headquarters crew.  The tour visit allowed everyone to view the rather dramatic and surprising growth of the no-till sorghum which seemed to be taller and more vigorous than this year's standard tillage systems. 

In addition, the group also visited this year's trial of no-till cotton that was established in standing rye cover crop using row unit-mounted DAWN ZRX's.  These implements roll standing cover crops and allow seeding all in the same operation.

Now is a very good time to visit the NRI Project field as there is much to see related to the performance of the no-till crops this season.

 

 

 

 

CASI's Betsy Karle, UCCE Glenn County, Marsha Campbell, UCCE Stanislaus County, and Jeff Mitchell, UC Davis Plant Sciences, met with UC ANR Associate Vice President, Wendy Powers, and Statewide Programs Director, Mark Bell in the ANR state offices in Davis, CA on June 20 to update them on the history, evolution, and accomplishments of our CASI Workgroup and the California Farm Demonstration Network, and to also invite them to become part of the Network's Steering Committee.  We are quite happy to report that on behalf of ANR, Wendy will become part of the Steering Committee and that when she is unable to participate in its meetings, that Mark will take her place.  This is very good news and will be an important addition not only to the Committee, but also to the eventual work of the statewide farm demonstration network.  Both Wendy and Mark have different sorts of experiences in their earlier careers that ought to be very useful to the Network and to the Steering Committee as it gears up to begin actual implementation of the activities that are now being developed.

 

 

 

 June 18, 2017

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

KSTE Talk 650 Sacramento (650-AM)

CASI's Jeff Mitchell will be featured on the Farm Hour with Fred Hoffman this Sunday from noon to 1 o'clock.  The recorded interview discussion topics range from recent no-till and cover crop work that CASI researchers and farmers have been engaged in as well as the California Farm Demonstration Network.

Here's the link: http://kste.iheart.com/media/play/27799859/

 

The segment runs from 24:38 to 40:40.

The iheart link only allows streaming, not downloading. However, you can download from other podcast aggregators, including ITunes ( https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ca-farms-still-contending-winter-rain-effects-china/id978878661?i=1000386604509&mt=2 ).

Fred Hoffman, The KSTE Farm Hour, Noon-1pm on Sundays, on Talk 650 KSTE-Sacramento (650-AM); Podcast available at the KSTE Website 

Two summary interviews of CASI's Jeff Mitchell by local Fresno, CA KMJ 580 AM Radio Producer Don York are available below. The two short files capture three of the major outcomes and benefits of soil management that were discussed at the June 6th soil health training that was held at the University of California's West Side Research and Extension Center in Five Points, CA.

Anyone who would like to visit the long-term study site in Five Points where reduced disturbance and cover crop production practices have been in use for 18 years is encouraged to contact UC's Jeff Mitchell at (559) 303-9689 or jpmitchell@ucdavis.edu to arrange a tour of the field site.

Please click on the links below to hear these interviews.