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News for UC Agriculture & Natural Resources employees.
Congressman helps Merced 4-H promote science
Published on: November 7, 2008
U.S. Congressman Dennis Cardoza joined Merced County 4-H members to conduct the 4-H National Science Experiment during the annual “Lights on Afterschool” event Oct. 16 in Merced.

The event was part of a national 4-H effort to promote the importance of science education. At the invitation of Richard Mahacek, UC Cooperative Extension 4-H advisor in Stanislaus County, Cardoza and the youth examined the properties of water-absorbing polymers or hydrogels, which can be used for agriculture, erosion control, soil management and environmental clean-ups.

Steve Nation particiapated and took photos.

Cardoza and 4-H'ers experiment with polymers
Cardoza and 4-H'ers experiment with polymers
Tags: 4-H (7)
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UC strawberries go to the Olympics
Published on: August 6, 2008
California strawberries are making their debut in China during the Beijing Olympics. Watsonville-based California Giant Berry Farms and Driscoll’s were both selected to ship fresh strawberries to China for the Olympic Games
 
California Giant grows the Albion variety, which was developed at the UC Davis Watsonville Strawberry Research Facility.
 
The deep red berry with its sweet aroma and flavor has become extremely popular since it was commercially introduced in 2006.
 
California strawberries are normally banned, but China made arrangements to temporarily allow the strawberries after Olympic athletes listed strawberries as the No. 3 fruit they would like to eat during the Summer Games, according to an Aug. 6 story in the San Jose Mercury News.
 
Eurosemillas, SA, the Spanish company that holds the master licensee responsibilities for UC strawberry cultivars in most countries including China, facilitated the deal, according to Doug Shaw, UC Davis strawberry breeder. “These people really know how to get things done, and should be recognized for their contribution to UC,” Shaw said in an e-mail.
 
UC’s Strawberry Licensing program started in California in 1978 and internationally in 1982. UC has patented 33 strawberry cultivars including Albion. Worldwide, UC varieties account for 50 percent to 60 percent of strawberry production
 
California Giant grower Daren Gee (with back to camera) talks about his cooperation with UC's Doug Shaw (in hat) in evaluating strawberry varieties.
Watsonville Strawberry Research Facility
California Giant grower Daren Gee (with back to camera) talks about his cooperation with UC's Doug Shaw (in hat) in evaluating strawberry varieties.

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Duran travels to China for daughter’s Olympic debut
Published on: July 14, 2008
Janie Duran, office manager for the UC Kearney Research and Extension Center, is packing her bags for a trip to Beijing, China, where she will watch her daughter Andrea, 24, compete for the pinnacle of women’s softball achievement - Olympic gold.
 
Andrea was a softball standout at Selma High School, where her uniform number 2 has been retired. The third-baseman played softball for UCLA and was instrumental in the team’s 2003 and 2004 College World Series victories. Her senior season she led the team in batting average, hits, triples and runs batted in. Andrea graduated with a degree in sociology in 2007.
 
“It’s been very exciting for our family,” said Janie Duran, who checks in with her daughter daily. “We’ve been traveling the country and the world is going through this experience with her.”
 
Andrea and the rest of the 2008 USA Women’s Softball Olympic Team have spent the summer on a 60-city bus tour playing exhibition games with all-star teams all over the United States in preparation for the Olympic competition.
 
Duran says she doesn’t worry about her daughter playing under pressure as the team strives to defend three consecutive women’s softball Olympic gold medals.
 
“She has played at this level before. Plus, she’s very good academically. She’s learned how to handle the pressure,” Duran said. –  Jeannette Warnert
 
AndreaDuran
AndreaDuran
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UC strawberry variety touted
Published on: May 31, 2007

In the May 2 issue of AgAlert, strawberry grower Daren Gee attributes the growth in Santa Maria strawberry acreage to UC's introduction of its Albion variety.

"Albion is probably the most consumer-friendly berry that has ever been produced by the university," Gee said. "It not only has that deep red color, but it also has a flavor to match. It ships extremely well, so these are some elements of berries that are very helpful to the consumer--especially when I can actually leave the fruit in the field several days longer to get that sugar level and sweetness up, and still have the ability to ship it to them."

President Dynes met Gee and UC Davis breeder Doug Shaw at the UC strawberry breeding facility in Watsonville on March 23.

Grower Daren Gee with back to camera
Grower Daren Gee with back to camera
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Regulations drive ANR cooperator out of business
Published on: May 30, 2007

In October 2004, we took President Dynes to Silacci Dairy in Sonoma County, where advisor Stephanie Larson and former advisor Dayna Ghirardelli talked about their water quality projects at the dairy.

I read in the May 23 issue of AgAlert that the Silacci family had to shut down the dairy. They had used 50,000 old tires to stabilize a hillside 50 years ago. But a change in the law in 1989 made it illegal for anyone besides a tire facility to stockpile more than 500 tires. The state paid for removing the tires, but the Silaccis had to pay for restoring the hillside and preventing erosion. They couldn't afford it.

Rich Silacci, who succeeded his father and grandfather in the dairy business, is now moving his family to take a job in San Luis Obispo.

Dynes pets calves
Dynes pets calves
Stephanie and Dayna
Stephanie and Dayna
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