Mary Blackburn, left, UCCE advisor in Alameda County, shops at a farmers market.

Strategic Initiative conferences - http://ucanr.edu/sites/SIconferences

• Sept. 26-29: Healthy Families and Communities (HFC) Strategic Initiative Conference. Multiple workgroups and program teams are meeting during the HFC conference.
• Nov. 16: Joint Strategic Initiatives Conference for Sustainable and Natural Ecosystems (SNE) and Endemic & Invasive Pests & Diseases (EIPD). Registration is also open for the in-service restoration training, Do No Harm Workshop, which will be held on Nov. 15.

Program Team (PT) meetings - http://ucanr.edu/sites/programteams

• Sept. 16 Forest and Rangeland PT
• Oct. 12-13 Research to Policy Training and PT
• Nov. 30-Dec. 1 Meat Production PT (Registration opening soon. Check the Program Teams website for registration.)
• Dec. 5-6 Vegetable Crops PT

2017 Strategic Initiative events being planned

The Water and Sustainable Food Systems strategic initiatives are in the process of planning a co-hosted conference in the spring. The Sustainable Food Systems Strategic Initiative is also planning a conference for the fall. More information will be shared as details are firmed up.

For more information about logistics for ANR Strategic Initiative and Program Team events, contact the Program Support Unit at anrprogramsupport@ucanr.edu.

For more information about ANR's Strategic Initiatives, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/StrategicInitiatives.

The UC ANR Research to Policy Training and Program Team Meeting will be held Oct. 12-13 at UC Davis ARC and UC Davis Plant Sciences. Anyone (including ANR and non-ANR personnel) who wishes to participate in the program teams that will be meeting should attend.

Wednesday, Oct. 12:
Research to Policy Program Team In-Service Training: “Pathways to Successful Engagement in Agricultural, Natural Resources, and Food Issues”

The in-service training will bring together people working on agricultural, natural resources and food issues and focus on how to use research to effectively engage in public policy. The following are some highlights:

• Two leading, diverse experts in the role of science in policymaking will provide keynote presentations.
• A science panel comprised of UC researchers who have successfully engaged in the public policy arena will share “lessons learned.”
• A policy panel comprised of state agency and Senate/Assembly members will discuss how they use research.
• Workshop modules on UC policy engagement, science communication and policymaking will be presented.

The training modules will enable participants to build a toolkit for successful policy engagement that incorporates both technical skills as well as analytical frameworks.

Thursday, Oct. 13:
First meeting of the Research to Policy Program Team

On Thursday, we will continue the momentum by discussing collaborative opportunities, future training needs and next steps at the first Research to Policy UC ANR Program Team meeting.

More details on agenda and registration will be posted on the UC ANR Program Team website as it becomes available.

If you would like to join the Research to Policy listserv on Collaborative Tools, email UC ANR Program Support Unit.

For more information about the program, contact Clare Gupta or Leslie Roche. For logistics, contact the  UC ANR Program Support Unit, Lauren McNees at (530) 750-1257 or Sherry Cooper (530)750-1256.

The UC ANR Pest Management Program Team will meet June 13-15, 2016, at the UC ANR Building at 2801 Second Street in Davis.

The Pest Management Program Team meeting agenda is at http://bit.ly/1SKyTp1. To register and request travel funds online, go to http://ucanr.edu/sites/programteams.

Planned workgroup meetings:
Spray Application Technology: Tuesday, June 14, 1 p.m. -5 p.m.
Plant Pathology: TBD

Workgroup chairs and other program team leaders who are interested in holding meetings in conjunction with this June meeting should complete a brief online form.  Meeting space will be released by May 20 so please submit requests before that day to ensure availability.

If you have questions or need more information, contact UC ANR Program Support Unit.

Registration is now open for five program team meetings planned for this spring. More information on these meetings and program teams is online at http://ucanr.edu/sites/programteams/.

• March 8, Dairy Production and Food Safety, Embassy Suites, Monterey (held jointly with the first Golden State Dairy Conference).
• March 17-18, Pomology (formerly called PECC) Foundation Plant Services Pete Christensen Conference Room, Davis
• March 21-22, Youth Development and Healthy Behaviors Joint Meeting, San Joaquin Valley Room, 2801 Second St., Davis. The Diversity Workgroup is planning to meet on March 23-24
• March 22-23, Agronomic Crops, San Joaquin Valley Room, 2801 Second St., Davis. Precision Ag Workgroup is also planning to meet on the afternoon of March 23.
• April 11-12, Agricultural Production Systems, Putah Creek Lodge, Davis
• Date pending, Pest Management

Who should attend: Anyone (including ANR and non-ANR personnel) who wishes to be a part of any of the program teams that will be meeting. ANR will fund the travel of ANR academics and program representatives (be sure to obtain approval from your supervisor or program lead). 

Workgroup chairs: If a program team that your workgroup is affiliated with is meeting and you'd like to convene your workgroup, complete a brief online form and UC ANR Program Support will make the arrangements for you. 

Program team leaders: If you would like to convene your program team, please complete a brief online form. The Program Support Unit will respond to you as soon as possible.

Travel funds: Travel funds are available for ANR personnel. Please be prepared to estimate your travel expenses when you register. Travel approvals will be sent to you within one week of registration.

For further information, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/programteams. The agenda and logistics are located on each meeting's page. Email anrprogramsupport@ucanr.edu for assistance or questions.