- Author: Saoimanu Sope
Tail length, fur color, eye size, ear shape and nose structure are some of the characteristics highlighted during the “Rodent Speed Dating ID” activity at West Coast Rodent Academy (WCRA). If you thought you would find rats at WCRA, you wouldn't be wrong. The medium-sized rodents are the main attraction in teaching participants how to accurately identify different rodent species. Rotating from one table to the next, participants get to examine the taxidermic creatures and assess their bodies up close.
The unique urban rodent management workshop – co-hosted by the University of California Cooperative Extension, Target Specialty Products and Veseris – is in its eighth year, and continues to help pest management professionals better understand rodent ecology and integrated pest management including rodent disease, trapping, monitoring and much more.
From Oct. 9–11, 45 participants gathered at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center (SCREC) in Irvine and learned from industry experts including Niamh Quinn, UCCE human-wildlife interactions advisor for Orange, San Diego and Los Angeles counties.
“West Coast Rodent Academy is a great example of the research-extension continuum. Every year we are able to bring brand-new research to our participants,” said Quinn.
Participants in attendance have professional experience ranging from zero to 40 years. Paige Reyes, who is less than a month into her role as a pesticide applicator, attended WCRA thanks to a scholarship.
On the first day of the workshop series, participants learned all about commensal rodents, or rats and mice that inhabit spaces frequented by human activity, including roof rats, Norway rats and house mice. Lectures focus on the biology, behavior, identification, trapping and excluding of such rodents.
“I had no idea how prolific some of these rodents are,” said Lance Swift, director of Maintenance, Operations and Transportation for Princeton Joint Unified School District in the greater Sacramento area. Swift has been a licensed qualified pesticide applicator for 19 years but was a first timer at WCRA.
“I live in an ag community, so I mostly deal with field mice and burrowing pests. What I really love about this training experience compared to others I've participated in is how specific they are. I'm learning a lot,” said Swift, who also received a scholarship.
On day two, participants were assigned to groups for a series of exclusion activities that required every member to secure potential entry points using materials like mesh, caulk and mineral wool. To hype participants up and establish a sense of team spirit, groups were given punny names such as “Final Pestination,” “The Great Ratsby,” “Do the Rat Thing,” and “Rats All Folks,” to name a few.
Josue Campos, who has been working in pest management for the last 22 years, said he appreciates the detailed teaching on the biology of rats during WCRA. After completing the exclusion activities with his group, the Bay Area entrepreneur said he's excited to share the skills and knowledge he gained with his colleagues back home.
“The industry has evolved, and we need to stay up to date. Coming here and learning about what doesn't work anymore and what we need to start doing is helpful,” he said. Campos has been working for a small pest-management business in San Jose, but recently started his own company called Go For It Pest Solutions.
“For mom-and-pop shops, like the business I work for, we don't always hear about opportunities like this. But when we do, we get access to good information that we can pass on to the next generation of industry leaders,” said Campos, adding that he waited a year to finally participate in WCRA. “It was worth the wait!” he said.
Later in the day, participants focused on rodenticides and research explained by Quinn. She talked about her research funded by the Department of Pesticide Regulation on monitoring rodenticide exposure in live carnivores as well as her California Department of Food and Agriculture-funded research on rodenticide resistance.
For their final activity, participants were presented a fictional rodent management issue centered on a structure at SCREC. The challenge puts the participants' new knowledge to the test and concludes with them pitching proposed solutions to three judges who represent different audiences. One judge focuses on innovation, another on technical accuracy and the third on customer satisfaction.
On the last day, participants engaged in conversations about regulation compliance and industry updates. They also learned strategies on how to communicate with the public about the nature of pest management.
To learn more about West Coast Rodent Academy, visit https://ucanr.edu/sites/WCRA/.
- Author: Michael Hsu
Document includes refreshed vision and mission, outlines challenges where UC ANR can make impact
Vice President Glenda Humiston and the Strategic Visioning Committee are pleased to announce the release of the UC ANR Strategic Vision 2040, which will guide our work, structure and resource allocation to optimize and align our research, programs and partnerships over the next 15 years.
The document is the result of a 15-month process, during which the committee synthesized thousands of comments and feedback from hundreds of UC ANR employees and community members, including agency staff, elected officials, nonprofit groups, California Tribes, industry partners, farmers and producers.
“The Strategic Vision 2040 represents a reaffirmation of UC ANR's commitment to serve as a catalyst for positive change – cultivating, co-creating and sharing science-based solutions on a wide range of issues,” Humiston said. “I want to personally thank the Strategic Visioning Committee and everyone who contributed to creating this truly grassroots document that shows where we can make a real difference for our state, nation and world.”
The visioning process produced a refreshed vision and mission for UC ANR:
Our Vision: UC ANR will be valued in every California community for meaningful engagement and making a positive impact in people's lives.
Our Mission: UC ANR cultivates thriving communities, sustainable agriculture, resilient ecosystems, and economic prosperity in California through development and sharing of equitable and collaborative science-based solutions that have national and global impact.
In addition, the extensive community input helped the committee identify seven distinct California challenges as priority areas in which UC ANR can make a significant impact.
On top of our core areas of Agriculture and Food Systems, Natural Ecosystems and Working Landscapes, and Thriving People and Communities, the Strategic Vision 2040 document lists four issues that overarch all our research and extension work: Climate Change; Innovation; Regulations, Policy and Compliance; and Systemic Inequities.
The Strategic Vision 2040 document is not intended to be a full strategic plan. This week, a new committee kicked off a series of meetings to develop UC ANR's 2025-2030 Strategic Framework with specific goals, objectives, metrics and deliverables designed to operationalize the Vision.
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
The first UC ANR Leadership Academy has been launched with a cohort of 20 ANR members. The program, which is being conducted in collaboration with Coro Northern California, held the first of its 10 sessions in August and just finished the sixth session. The participants will graduate during the final session on Feb. 25 at UC ANR's Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
“We hope this academy will provide UC ANR academics and staff with critical leadership tools to apply in their current roles, grow in leadership roles, or move up in the organization,” said Daniel Obrist, vice provost for academic personnel and development, who worked with Linda Marie Manton, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension advisor and former executive director for Staff Personnel, and Coro to develop the training.
"The UC ANR-Coro Leadership Academy's experiential learning program empowers participants to grow their leadership skills through dynamic, hands-on learning that equips them to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in their fields,” said Grace Turkis of Coro, who is facilitating the training. “By engaging in real-world, applied experiences, participants deepen their capacity to lead with resilience, creativity and a commitment to impactful change."
In the academy, participants engage in role-play exercises, pairs discussions, small group discussions, large group discussions, peer coaching and group activities.
"Coro's leadership tools help participants grow through a framework designed to lead inward, outward and forward,” said Turkis. “By fostering self-awareness, critical thinking and inclusion, Coro supports leaders in strengthening their communication skills and building collaborative influence. This approach equips them to navigate complex challenges with purpose and resilience.”
The concepts of leading inward, outward and forward can include deepening self-awareness (e.g., exploring one's values), critical thinking (e.g., challenging oneself to consider where our assumptions come from), inclusion (e.g., being cognizant of one's agency and circle of influence when leading), communication (e.g., being able to tell a narrative about one's value-add), influence (e.g., understanding people's drivers to enact change), and collaboration (e.g., working with people who have different styles and preferences to put the best thinking forward).
We asked a few participants for their thoughts about the training.
Why did you decide to participate in the ANR Leadership Academy?
Steven Worker, 4-H youth development advisor: I decided to participate in the ANR Leadership Academy to enhance my leadership abilities related to my role as the Strategic Initiative Leader for Healthy Families and Communities. I believe this program will help me in three key areas: bringing together academics in the HFC space, improving my ability to lead without formal power, and becoming a stronger advocate in meetings and collaborative efforts. This opportunity will also allow me to build relationships with emerging leaders who will shape the future of ANR in the coming decades.
Devii Rao, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor:I was hired on as a livestock and natural resources advisor in 2015. Over the past nine years since I've been with UC ANR, I've been asked to be county director once and interim county director three times, covering a total of more than five years. In addition, as I've grown in my career as an advisor, I have taken on the role of being the chair of committees both inside and outside of UC ANR. I anticipate continuing to take on leadership roles with increased complexity. I've never thought of myself as a leader and have never had any formal leadership training. So when I heard about the UC ANR Leadership Academy, I jumped at the chance to learn how to more clearly think about leadership, what it means, and how to make better decisions as a leader.
John Bailey, director of UC Hopland Research and Extension Center: Having been in a leadership position at UCANR for over seven years, first as the HREC Superintendent and then as the first administrative (as opposed to academic) REC Director, this was the first official leadership training opened to me. Operating in the complex situation of our large institution, and focusing on issues in agriculture and natural resources that have stakeholders with dramatically different perspectives, I was feeling the need to improve my leadership skill sets. While I have been in leadership positions in private industry and nonprofits, the UC is a very different environment with large flows of information, complex and nuanced conversations, and a complicated set of rules and relationships in which we operate, I wanted to learn a skill set that UC leadership felt was worthwhile and focused on developing the type of leaders needed for our organization.
Aliasghar Montazar, UCCE irrigation and water management advisor: I have been an irrigation and water management advisor in southern California since 2017. Over these past years within UC ANR, I've held several leadership roles, including the president of the Academic Assembly Council and chairing various committees both within ANR and across different campuses. Prior to joining UC, I held the position of chairing the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering at my former university.
Although I've held several leadership roles throughout my academic career, I have never had the opportunity to participate in a leadership academy or undergo formal training. I often find myself questioning how my leadership and decision-making might have evolved over the years if I had pursued that kind of education. This leadership academy arrived at an ideal moment for me, offering the chance to learn from both my peers and the program itself to enhance my leadership skills. It also challenges me to seek answers to crucial questions that could significantly boost my future performance.
Sarah-Mae Nelson, UC Climate Stewards Initiative academic coordinator: I was hired in 2019 by the UC Environmental Stewards program to be the Climate Stewards Academic Coordinator – developing and leading a statewide climate change education, outreach and service course. Since launching the class in September 2020, we have certified over 1,000 Stewards across California and have begun extending our reach as the Climate Stewards course is being taken up by other states. As my programmatic leadership role expands, I wanted to connect with other leaders within UC ANR to increase collaboration and grow the impact of our climate-centered course.
What do you think of it so far?
Worker: So far, I think the Leadership Academy is a great opportunity to grow professionally. It feels relevant, especially with everything I'm working on across healthy families and communities as connected with the new ANR Vision 2040. The Coro facilitator, Grace, is knowledgeable, patient, and skillful in helping me – and all of us – gain practical insights and some deeper reflection on how to navigate challenges in leadership roles.
Rao: So far, I've been really pleased with the Leadership Academy. It has been great meeting colleagues I would never have met otherwise. I've benefited from learning about others who have similar challenges to me and who I may be able to connect with outside of the leadership academy to brainstorm solutions. Participating is giving me space and time to focus on a leadership project that I'm excited about and would not have known how to begin without the support of the Leadership Academy. I have also learned about specific tools that can help me understand why I think the way I do and help me re-focus in a way that will be more productive.
Bailey: This is a very worthwhile training academy. I appreciate the mixture of both the solid skills and tools being taught and the network of other people within ANR that operate in different fields or areas. The facilitators/trainers seem to be skilled in both the specific topics and in guiding a diverse group through various conversations. The tools we are being taught are a mixture of practical skills like developing effective meeting agendas as well as mental tools that can help a person in a leadership position to ensure their decisions are well founded in both facts and a variety of qualitative information. I also like that the program allows opportunities to use the tools and professional network to focus on real issues confronting the participants.
Montazar: We are currently midway through the program, and I've thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the leadership academy. The diverse group of colleagues creates a supportive and enriching environment, allowing us to learn from one another. I've already gained several valuable tools and eagerly anticipate discovering more that will enhance my future leadership capabilities.
Nelson: It's been wonderful to connect with other growing leaders within UC ANR – many of whom have years more experience within UC than myself. I also had the opportunity to participate in the UC Women's Initiative a few years ago, and this has been a great chance to build on and further apply the tools I learned through that training.
For colleagues considering participating in the next academy, what should they know about it?
Worker: The ANR-Coro Leadership Academy uses an experiential approach to leadership development. Participants engage in interactive learning through group challenges, interviews, and discussions. The program focuses on deepening self-awareness, improving interpersonal communication, and enhancing the ability to analyze and address complex organizational issues. Building connection to colleagues has been valuable, creating a cohort of emerging ANR leaders. The Academy's Coro approach uses an Inward, Outward, Forward framework that supports participants in reflecting on their own leadership style, engage with diverse perspectives, and move forward on initiatives that contribute to shaping the future of UC ANR. The combination of in-person and virtual sessions allowed for a dynamic learning experience.
Rao: For colleagues considering participating in the next academy, I say, “Do it!” It has been a great experience so far, with lots of opportunities to practice practical skills that will help me grow as a person and as a leader. It's fun, too!
Bailey: This is a valuable academy. You will learn practical skills for your work in ANR, do work on actual projects of your choosing, and develop relationships with people from across ANR with whom you might not interact otherwise.
While the in-person start to the Academy was a wonderful introduction to the program and people, and I look forward to the final session which will also be in-person, I do find the five- or six-hour Zoom meetings to be tiring. It makes developing relationships with other participants a little more difficult than in an in-person session and it can be difficult to maintain the same level of attention in the afternoon hours. However, overall, I really like it and feel like I am building my skills and network.
Montazar: I encourage my colleagues to consider participating in the next academy, even if they aren't currently pursuing a leadership role. My own journey into leadership has been serendipitous, shaped by unexpected opportunities rather than prior aspirations. The opportunities could arise unexpectedly and we need to be prepared with leadership skills in both professional and personal settings.
Nelson: The academy is a fabulous way to connect more deeply with UC ANR colleagues while learning ways to improve your leadership skills and have a chance to apply that learning through real-time, in-class activities. It's a big-time commitment over five months, so make sure to prepare your calendar adequately. :)
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
- Author: Mike Hsu
In October, Vice President Glenda Humiston, Associate Vice President Brent Hales, and Research and Extension Center directors Ashraf El-kereamy and Atef Swelam attended three global food and agriculture events in Italy, met with key leaders of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO), and signed important research agreements in Jordan.
Growing partnerships in the region and exchanging knowledge and innovations can aid California producers in adapting to changes and volatility in the state's renowned Mediterranean climate. Because they must address many of the same challenges facing their counterparts in Europe and the Middle East, joint research and collaborating on solutions would benefit all.
In Rome, the UCANR leaders met UN-FAO Director General Qu Dongyu, Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol and the directors of the technical departments in the UN-FAO headquarters. They discussed potential collaborations on enhancing the agrifood system, conserving natural resources, fostering food security and building the resilience of agriculture-based communities.
The delegation also met with Ellen Luger, the Minister Counselor of Agriculture, and Giulia Soffiantini, agricultural specialist, both for the US Mission to the UN Agencies, and discussed collaboration.
UC ANR leaders also met Executive Secretary Hildegard Lingnau of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAiR) and discussed the co-creation, access, transformation and use of agri-food knowledge. Humiston and Lingnau signed a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, that will connect UC ANR with GFAiR's global network of research organizations to help bring to California new knowledge and technologies from different parts of the world. At the same time, other regions can benefit from UC ANR research and innovations.
In conjunction with the World Food Forum andGFAiR, the UCANR delegation held an interactive event to showcase UCANR's Cooperative Extension and Research and Extension Center models.Humiston presented UCANR's vision, mission and structure, explaining howUCCE scientists engage stakeholders, working hand-in-hand with them on research at the farm level and getting feedback to upgrade, update and adapt.
Swelam and El-kereamy also explained how RECs can be hubs for training on topics such as irrigation water management, soil health and salinity control, pest and disease management, orchard systems, conservation agriculture,postharvest practices and more.
ANR leadership and academics Khaled Bali and MohammadYaghmour then traveled to Amman, Jordan, where they met with University of Jordan President Nathir Obeidat, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Ayed Al-Abdallat and the Executive Secretary of the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA) RidaShibli.
Humiston and Hales signed agreements for scholar exchanges and opportunities to conduct joint research on a host of critical topics, such as optimizing agricultural practices in the water-scarce environments we have in common. In addition to meeting with Nabil Assaf, FAO representative in Jordan, and his assistant Wafaa Ramadena, UC ANR leadership met with the Ministry of Agriculture of Jordan to share insights on UC ANR's unique research-extension-education model.
The mission concluded with an irrigation water management for orchard systems workshop sponsored by the FAO office in Jordan and organized by Khaled Bali, UCCE irrigation water management specialist, and Mohammad Yaghmour, UCCE orchard systems advisor. The workshop was well-attended by 65 participants, including farmers, students, academics, research and extension staff, and representatives from funding agencies.
“Our mission really underscored for me the complex, interconnected nature of so many challenges related to agriculture and natural resources, as well as the need to seek out the latest research and best practices from across the globe,” Humiston said. “While UC ANR certainly has much to share about our innovations and Cooperative Extension model, we have just as much to learn from our international partners – which will ultimately benefit communities here at home.”
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
UC ANR team receives Excellence in Extension Evaluation Training Team Award
UC ANR's evaluation team received the Excellence in Extension Evaluation Training Team Award from the Extension Education Evaluation Topical Interest Group at the October 2024 American Evaluation Association Conference.
The team included Kit Alviz, Christina Becker, Jen Sedell and Katherine Webb-Martinez from Program Planning and Evaluation; Vikram Koundinya, UCCE evaluation specialist; Roshan Nayak, former UC 4-H evaluation coordinator; and David White in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. This interdisciplinary team represents various units and position types, spanning administration and academics, which helps foster evaluative thinking and ensure consistency in definitions and expectations across the organization.
The award recognizes how their distinct trainings in the UCCE Program Development and Evaluation Capacity Building Training Series has grown from three in 2017 to 11 in 2024, delivering over 60 statewide evaluation trainings to more than 1,000 attendees.
They also provide one-on-one technical assistance with UCCE individuals, program teams, and statewide programs and institutes. Their approach focuses on practical approaches to evaluation for academics and program staff working in the field, integrating lecture with activities.
The team also furthers extension evaluation and capacity building outside of UCCE. For example, they have provided trainings with the national Extension Foundation, Washington State University Extension, Western Extension Leadership Development, and Oregon State University, as well as research papers. The UCCE Program Evaluation web pages share extension-relevant resources andUCCE examples.
Rao wins CalCAN researcher leadership award
This award recognizes Rao's leadership and contributions to climate and agriculture science, policy and practice. Her applied research at the nexus of livestock grazing, wildfire and climate change has filled critical research gaps, fostered regional collaborations like the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association, and influenced local and state climate policies. Rao joined CalCAN's Science Advisory Council in 2019 and provides expertise on legislation to advance prescribed grazing and prescribed fire. She has collaborated on studies on grazing to reduce wildfire fuels, created a website for oak research and led the development of prescribed burn associations.
This award is given to individuals who have collaborated with CalCAN on advancing sustainable agriculture and climate policy, and who demonstrate leadership and innovation on climate change related policy and practices.
Rao received the award at the Climate & Agriculture Summit at UC Davis on Oct. 30.
SJV Winegrowers Association to honor Williams' career Nov. 8
Williams is well-recognized by the grape industry for his remarkable work in irrigation and fertilizer management as a professor and plant physiologist in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis. Stationed at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in the San Joaquin Valley – the nation's epicenter of raisin, wine and table grape production – Williams helped growers determine nitrogen and potassium needs for all grape types and application timing.
His research guided wine grape growers in refining their deficit irrigation practices for improved wine quality and helped raisin and table grape growers understand the vines' water needs to maximize berry size and production.
"Professor Williams is best known for developing irrigation models for raisin, table and wine grapes. His pioneering work in the field has been verified and accepted around the world and underpinned ongoing technological developments that are making it easier than ever for growers to save water while optimizing yield and quality,” said Matthew Fidelibus, UCCE viticulture specialist and San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association viticultural advisor.
Over the course of his 36-year career, Williams has published over a hundred papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, co-authored several books, and delivered hundreds of talks on these subjects, proving a valuable asset to both viticultural research and extension.
Williams retired in 2018, but his work continues to bear much fruit.
“Growing grapes is difficult enough, but thanks to Professor Williams, we have been able to increase our quality and consistency with better technology,” commented Aarin Wilson, president of the San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association.
“Larry Williams has played an oversized role in educating growers around the Valley (and world), and the Association is very proud to add his name to the august group of recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Peter Vallis, executive director of the San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association.
Previous recipients of this award include Kent Daane and Nat DiBuduo (2023), Deborah Golino and Andy Walker (2022), Jim Unti (2021), John Monnich (2020), Ron Brase (2019), Robert Markarian (2018), Walt Bentley, Doug Gubler & Ken Yonan (2016), Frank Saviez and Don Stanley (2015), Jim Duarte and George Leavitt (2014),Jack Farrior and Marko Zaninovich (2013), Pete Christensen, Ron Metzler and Gary Wilson (2012), Paul Dismukes and Luther Khachigian (2011), Frank Logoluso, Bob Loquaci and Frank Pantaleo (2010), Bob McInturf, Mike Nury and Vince Petrucci (2009), and Angelo Papagni (2007).
Vallis will present this special award to Williams at 12:30 p.m. in the Industrial Education Building at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds during Malcolm Media's Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo on Nov. 8. The Expo runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to attend. The presentation will be accompanied with a tri-tip BBQ lunch and morning grower seminars offer continuing education credits. Growers and friends are welcome to arrive early and enjoy the full event. For more information, visit https://agexpo.biz.
UC Berkeley receives $13 million to advance seaweed use
The UC Berkeley Energy & Biosciences Institute (EBI) has received nearly $13 million to establish a center aimed at advancing the use of seaweed in the global supply chain.
Named the International Bioeconomy Macroalgae Center (IBMC) at UC Berkeley, the Center will address the need for foundational knowledge, technological approaches, supply chain designs, policy frameworks, community engagement, and educational materials for businesses and consumers to build sustainable macroalgal-based bioeconomies.
The IBMC will launch officially in January 2025. John Coates, EBI director and a professor in the Department of Plant & Microbial Biology will co-lead the center with David Zilberman, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Alexandra Hill, an assistant professor of Cooperative Extension in ARE, and Dan Okamoto, an assistant professor in the Department of Integrative Biology.
An overarching theme of the IBMC is stakeholder engagement and workforce education and training. This aspect will be led by Hill, who brings extensive workforce development experience, particularly in U.S. agriculture, and community outreach and engagement, working with U.S. farmers and ranchers, government representatives, farmworkers, environmental, and agricultural industry advocacy organizations.
Hill will oversee stakeholder engagement, outreach and workforce education and training. She will take the lead on organizing annual workshops, designing the center's website, assembling the advisory board and working groups, compile outreach and educational materials, and coordinating site and field visits for scientists, students and stakeholders.
The funding was announced by the National Science Foundation and partner agencies in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Finland, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United Kingdom as a part of the Global Centers competition. The program is awarding nearly $82 million to fund six centers that will advance the bioeconomy to solve global challenges.
Other Global Centers will focus on innovative recycling and waste management, increasing crop resilience and water use efficiency, approaches for using waste biomass for bioplastics, and paving the way for biofoundries to scale-up applications of biotechnology for societal benefit. All centers will integrate education and social sciences, public engagement and workforce development, paying close attention to impacts on communities.
In addition to the nearly $5 million grant from the NSF, IBMC will be supported by three partner countries, with additional commitments from the United Kingdom, Canada's Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council; and the ROK Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea.
Culumber student wins national FFA agriscience award
A Hanford High School student being mentored by Mae Culumber has won the Reserve National FFA Agriscience Fair Champion award.
In 2023, Culumber, UCCE nut crops advisor for Fresno and Kings counties, began working with Hanford High student Ayden Coelho on a project investigating the effects of whole orchard recycling on soil biodiversity and soil health.
Hanford High School science teacher Jason Ferreria has been integrating the FFA agriscience fair into his curriculum for the last few years. To facilitate the design and implementation of small science projects for his students, he requests the help of UC Cooperative Extension advisors and researchers from other institutions and within the agricultural industry. The students compete on a local, regional, state and national level.
Through this project, Ayden learned the basics of the scientific method, field experimental design, sample collection and data processing. Ayden used a rapid test kit MicroBIOMETER and a phone app to determine the fungal and bacterial microbial biomass within the soil when treated with either wood chips or an untreated control. He also looked at total nitrogen in the soil to understand how the soil nutrients respond to the treatment.
The MicroBIOMETER is an innovative tool that provides rapid, accurate results, which can be used in the field by researchers, students and farmers to assess soil health impacts from farming practices. Ayden's results showed a higher abundance of fungal microbes and higher total nitrogen in the soil treated with wood chips, results indicative of improved soil quality conditions over time. Ayden went all the way to the National FFA Agriscience Fair Championship in Washington D.C. last week, winning the Reserve National FFA Agriscience Fair Champion award in the division of Environmental Services and Natural Resources.
The high school junior told FFA that he plans to expand his project.
