- Author: Emma Sandoval
- Author: Chutima Ganthavorn
The time has come again for Tomas Rivera Middle School's spring run. The 2nd Annual Color Run took place on March 11, 2017, with this year's theme focused on MyPlate colors. Students, teachers, and parents ran a 2 mile race to raise money for the March of Dimes Foundation. Throughout the race, runners turned the different colors of MyPlate (orange, red, green, blue and purple). UC CalFresh participated in this fun-filled festival by having a Rethink Your Drink booth, and creating an obstacle course to promote physical activity among youth. Nutrition educators Jacqueline Lopez and Emma Sandoval, with the help of California Baptist University intern, Anna Cai, talked to parents and students about the importance of drinking water and eating healthy. To let the students and families see how eating healthy can be easy and tasty, UC CalFresh Educators provided a tasting of fresh and fruity slaw from the Kids Get Cookin' cookbook. The obstacle course incorporated a MyPlate race for families with a chance to win a pencil or a wrist band. The spring run was a success in engaging families in learning about healthy eating and healthy living. Emma has been working with a PE teacher at Tomas Rivera to implement EatFit curriculum since FY2015. Our participation in the spring run was a great opportunity to raise health awareness for the whole school.
- Author: Sonia Rios
UC Cooperative Extension will hold workshops in Temecula Feb. 1 and 2 to help California agricultural employers facing many challenges including labor shortages, wage & hour laws, joint liability, worker safety, workers comp insurance, and immigration issues and policies.
“Agricultural employers and managers are better prepared to face uncertainty in labor markets with up-to-date information and strategies for dealing with people management, and legal and regulatory issues,” said Ramiro Lobo, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor in San Diego County and workshop organizer. Additional program partners are the California Farm Labor Contractor Association, Zenith Insurance Company and Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyards.
“Management and Supervision of Personnel for Agricultural Operations,” will be offered in Spanish on Feb. 2. The program, intended for agricultural employers/managers and first-line supervisors, provides information on effective supervision and management in times of labor shortage, updates on labor laws and regulations, positive and clear communications, and preventing sexual harassment and bullying.
“Properly managing personnel is critical because of the scarcity of labor,” Lobo said. “We will provide strategies to retain employees by making the workplace more attractive.”
Advance registration is available with a credit card at http://ucanr.edu/2017aglaborseminar. Registration for the Feb. 1 workshop is $80 per person before Jan. 20, and $100 after or at the door, if space allows. Registration for the Feb. 2 workshop is $60 per person before Jan. 20, and $80 after or at the door, if space allows. A registration discount is available for participants to attend both events. For both events, registration is $120 before Jan. 20, and $140 after or at the door, if space allows.
For more information visit the event website at http://ucanr.edu/2017farmlaborseminar
7:00 am Registration and Continental Breakfast
7:50 am Welcome, Introductions, Acknowledgements, and Overview
8:00 am A Review of Labor Management Issues in Southern California – Panel Discussion Mike Mellano, Mellano and Company Greg Pennyroyal, Wilson Creek Winery & Winery Eric Larson, San Diego County Farm Bureau
9:00 am Wage & Hour, Labor Laws Update: Tony Raimondo, Raimondo & Associates
10:00 am BREAK
10:30 am Managing Joint Liability under AB 1897 - Bryan Little, California Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Employer Labor Service
11:15 am The Basics for Legal and Effective Hiring & Orientation for Agricultural Labor - Lupe Sandoval - California Farm Labor Contractor Association
12:00 noon
LUNCH 1:00 pm Effective Management of Work Injuries - Chris Boehme, Zenith Insurance Company
1:45 pm Keeping Workers Safe, and Cal OSHA Happy - Bill Krycia, Cal OSHA
2:30 pm BREAK
2:45 pm Selection and Development of Front-Line Supervisors - Lupe Sandoval, California Farm Labor Contractor Association
3:30 pm The H2A Visa Program & What You Need to Know - Jeanne M. Malitz, Malitz Law, Inc.
4:15 pm Labor Shortages – Assorted Strategies – Jeanne Malitz, Malitz Law, Inc., Lupe Sandoval, California Farm Labor Contractor Association and Ramiro Lobo, UCCE San Diego County
5:00 pm Conference Evaluation, Adjourn to Optional Wine Tasting hosted by Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyards!!
- Author: Sonia Rios
Presented by UC Cooperative Extension & USDA-ARS, US Salinity Lab
When: December 15, 2016
Where: USDA-ARS U.S. Salinity Laboratory - Loctated on UCR Campus 450 W. Big Springs Road, Riverside, CA 92507 https://campusmap.ucr.edu/
Time: Registration, light breakfast & coffee will be served at 8:00 AM, program from 8:30 – Noon
Cost: FREE Please register at : http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=19550
Moderator: Sonia Rios, Subtropical Horticulture Farm Advisor, UCCE Riverside/San Diego Co.
Agenda:
8:30 AM – Welcome, Donald Suarez, U.S. Salinity Laboratory, Director
8:35 AM – “Management of avocado production in southern California” - Peggy Mauk Ph.D., Dir. of Agricultural 
9:05 AM – “Avocado salinity management: Response of different rootstocks”- Donald Suarez Ph.D., USDA-ARS Salinity Laboratory Director
9:25 AM - “Grape Management in southern California - Carmen Gispert Ph. D. Area Viticulture Advisor, UCCE Riverside
9:55 AM – “Wine Grape production under saline conditions” - Donald Suarez Ph.D. USDA-ARS Salinity Laboratory Director.
10:10 AM - Break- light refreshments & snacks
10:30 – Noon - “Introducing Passion Fruit as a New Crop to Southern California- Cultural aspects and salinity effects” & Field Tour - Jorge Ferreira, Ph.D., Research Plant Physiologist, USDA-ARS, US Salinity Lab
For more information, please Contact: Sonia Rios, UCCE Subtropical Farm Advisor: sirios@ucanr.edu
OR
Donald Suarez, USDA Salinity Laboratory Director: donald.suarez@ars.usda.gov, 951-369-4815
- Author: Sonia Rios
The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has teamed up with the USDA to host a first-of-its-kind conference in Spanish tailored for Spanish-speaking farmers and ranchers statewide. The Growing Together conference will be held on Tuesday Nov. 15, 2016, in Monterey, Calif. Conference Video “Hispanic farmers and ranchers are a dynamic growing demographic in California and this conference aims to help Spanish-speaking farmers share, learn and grow in their native
language,” said Carlos Suarez, NRCS state conservationist.
The conference is open to all farmers and ranchers, yet is uniquely tailored towards Spanish speaking growers. The program will be translated into English, with translation headsets. Conducting the conference in Spanish will provide an enriched learning experience. The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Monterey, located at 1 Old Golf Course Rd, Monterey CA 93940. The conference is free to all attendees and will include breakfast, lunch and light appetizers. Please contact Victor Hernandez at (530) 792-5628 or Thea Rittenhouse (530) 792-7338 with any questions pertaining to the conference. Attendees must register in advance, as space is limited. Please visit https://latinofarmerconference.ncat.org/registro.php to register.
Three different workshops will follow an opening keynote address https://latinofarmerconference.ncat.org/workshops.php. The courses will be held in two 90-minute blocks. Some of the speakers will be UC ANR Farm Advisors and Specialist. This allows each attendee to choose two different subjects of interest throughout the day. The workshops topics will cover: Access to Capital and USDA Resources; Soil Health; Efficient Use of Water; Bee Keeping and Marketing. The conference will conclude with a farmer panel representing a diverse cross section of California agriculture. NCAT, a nonprofit, has been promoting sustainable living for over 35 years. In recent years, their agriculture work has focused on small-scale intensive farming, urban farming, and local foods; assistance to small farmers and beginning and new farmers.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is the lead USDA partner in this conference. NRCS has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private landowners and managers conserve their soil, water and other natural resources since 1935. For more information on NRCS, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov.
- Author: Sonia Rios
El Centro Nacional para la Tecnología Apropiada (NCAT por sus siglas en inglés) se ha asociado con el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos para desenvolver una conferencia en español adaptada para los agricultores y ganaderos de habla Hispana en todo el estado. La conferencia Juntos Creciendo se llevará a cabo el Martes 15 de Noviembre 2016, en
Monterey, Calif. Video de la Conferencia"Los agricultores y ganaderos Hispanos son un demográfico dinámico que va creciendo en California y esta conferencia tiene como objetivo ayudar a los agricultores de habla Hispana para compartir, aprender y crecer en su idioma natal", dijo Carlos Suárez, conservacionista del estado del NRCS.
La conferencia está abierta a todos los agricultores y ganaderos, pero se adapta de forma única a los productores de habla Hispana. El programa será traducido al inglés, con auriculares de traducciónhttps://latinofarmerconference.ncat.org/esp_conference.php. La realización de la conferencia en español ofrecerá una experiencia de aprendizaje enriquecido.
La conferencia se llevará a cabo de 08 a.m. a 5 p.m. en el Hyatt Regency Monterey, ubicado en 1 Old Golf Course Rd, Monterey CA 93940. La conferencia es gratuita para todos los asistentes y contará con el desayuno, el almuerzo y aperitivos ligeros. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Víctor Hernández al (530) 792-5628 o Thea Rittenhouse (530) 792-7338 con cualquier pregunta referente a la conferencia. Los asistentes deben registrarse con anticipación, ya que el espacio es limitado. Por favor, visite https://latinofarmerconference.ncat.org/registro.php para registrar.
Tres talleres diferentes seguirán un discurso de apertura (https://latinofarmerconference.ncat.org/workshops_esp.php). Los cursos se llevarán a cabo en dos bloques de 90 minutos. Esto permite que cada asistente pueda elegir dos talleres diferentes de interés durante todo el día. Los talleres son: Acceso a la financiación y recursos del USDA; Salud de los suelos; Uso eficiente del agua; Mantenimiento de abejas; y El mercadotecnia. La conferencia concluirá con un panel de agricultores representado la diversidad de agricultura enCalifornia.
NCAT, una organización no lucrativa, ha estado promoviendo una vida sostenible por más de 35 años. En los últimos años, su trabajo se ha centrado en la agricultura pequeña e intensiva, la agricultura urbana y los alimentos locales; asistencia a los agricultores de nivel pequeño aprendices y los nuevos agricultores.
El Servicio de Conservación de Recursos Naturales del USDA es el socio USDA principal en esta conferencia. El NRCS ha proporcionado liderazgo en un esfuerzo conjunto para ayudar a los mayordomos y propietarios privados de los Estados Unidos de América a conservar su suelo, el agua y otros recursos naturales desde 1935. Para mayor información del NRCS, visite www.nrcs.usda.gov o https://latinofarmerconference.ncat.org/index.php
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g.,Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's Target Center at (202) 720‐2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877‐8339. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
