- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Holtz receives Almond Technical Achievement Award 
Brent Holtz, UC Cooperative Extension orchard systems advisor, received the 2024 Almond Board of California's Almond Technical Achievement Award on Dec. 11 at the Almond Conference, held at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento.
Recognized as the "Grandfather of Whole Orchard Recycling," Holtz has revolutionized how almond growers approach orchard sustainability. As an alternative to field burning, the farm advisor for San Joaquin County researched shredding orchard prunings, finding multiple benefits. He has championed whole orchard recycling as a method to improve soil health by recycling entire orchards back into the soil before replanting.
Williams honored for lifetime achievement
Williams showed that vineyard water use (ETc) can be reliably estimated by multiplying reference evapotranspiration (ETo) by a crop coefficient. Reference ET can be obtained from private or public weather stations, such as the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS). The crop-coefficient (Kc) accounts for crop characteristics that differ from the reference crop, including the type of plant, growth stage and canopy architecture, and is usually determined experimentally.
Read more about Williams's research at https://www.growingproduce.com/fruits/grapes/learning-more-about-optimal-grape-growing-made-in-the-shade.
Linquist named Soil Science Society of America fellow 
The Soil Science Society of America named Bruce Linquist, a UC Cooperative Extension specialist in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, a fellow of the society. The honor recognizes Linquist's leadership and research excellence in cultivation techniques that reduce water use and farmers' expenses in the water-intensive crop of rice. He was recognized at the society's international annual meeting on Nov. 11 in San Antonio, Texas.
Linquist studies sustainability of rice systems, including nutrient management and fertility, the quality of water leaving rice fields and greenhouse gas emissions.
One of Linquist's areas of focus is the benefits of reducing or eliminating the tilling of land. While tilling is a common practice, reduced tillage helps preserve the soil's natural structure, conserves organic matter, boosts beneficial organisms in the soil and makes it more resistant to erosion -- plus, it reduces soil compaction by farm equipment. In addition to reducing tillage costs, farmers can also use less water, an increasingly valuable resource.
“In the near future, I hope to explore no-till in rice systems as an opportunity to reduce water use and input costs,” Linquist said. “I am happy that the work from my lab and of many students is being developed into a recognized climate-smart practice for California rice farmers that could help them with their bottom line.”
Read more about Linquist's work at https://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/news/linquist-sssa-fellow.
Spinelli honored with nursery research award
Gerardo “Gerry” Spinelli, UCCE production horticulture advisor for San Diego County, was recognized bythe Plant California Alliance at the UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance Nursery Conference in Watsonville in October. Spinelli received the 2023 Research Award for his outstanding contributions to the California nursery industry.
His research focuses on water and nitrogen management in horticultural container production, hydroponics and greenhouses. He works with nursery growers to improve the efficiency of irrigation water application, water distribution uniformity and correct scheduling of irrigation events, along with irrigation runoff, storm water management, nitrate and sediment management and erosion control.
Learn more about Spinelli's research and extension program at https://bit.ly/3YReQ0j.
Niederholzer named Certified Crop Adviser of the Year 
Franz Niederholzer, UC Cooperative Extension orchard systems advisor for Colusa, Sutter and Yuba counties, was named this year's Certified Crop Adviser of the Year by the Western Region Certified Crop Advisers. He received the award at the 2024 Crop Consultant Conference, hosted by JCS Marketing Inc. and Western Region Certified Crop Advisers on Sept. 25 and 26 in Visalia.
“It was a surprise and an honor to get that award from a great organization,” said Niederholzer, who specializes in prunes, almonds, pears, apples, cherries, olives, plums, citrus and pomegranates, and studies orchard mineral nutrition, rootstock evaluation, crop load management and airblast spray coverage and drift.
The Certified Crop Adviser of the Year award recognizes a certified crop adviser in the western region of the U.S. who has shown dedicated and exceptional performance as an adviser. The ideal candidate leads others to promote agricultural practices that benefit the farmers and environment in the western region.
Niederholzer served as a member of the WRCCA Board of Directors from 2006 to 2022. While on the board, he served on the WRCCA Testing and Continuing Education Committee, including 10 years as committee chair.
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Niederholzer named Certified Crop Adviser of the Year in Western Region 
The award recognizes a certified crop adviser who has shown exceptional dedication and leadership that has made an impact in the organization and industry.
Niederholzer, who became a UCCE advisor in 2002, works with prunes, almonds, pears, apple, cherry, olive, plum, citrus, and pomegranate in Colusa, Sutter and Yuba counties. His studies include orchard mineral nutrition, rootstock evaluation, cropload management, and airblast spray coverage and drift.
“It was a surprise and an honor to get that award from a great organization,” he said.
The award for Certified Crop Adviser of the Year in the Western Region acknowledges a member's exemplary dedication and contributions to agriculture as a Certified Crop Adviser. This individual also actively encourages and leads others to advocate for agricultural practices that are advantageous for both farmers and the environment.
Niederholzer was a member of the WRCCA Board of Directors from 2006-2022. While on the Board, he served on the WRCCA Testing and Continuing Education Committee, including 10 years as committee chair. His efforts included spearheading an esteemed CCA Exam Preparation course.
Supervisors recognize Macon's contribution to local agriculture 
The Nevada County Board of Supervisors recognized Dan Macon as a well-respected and important pillar of the county's agricultural community.
At its board meeting on Sept. 24, the supervisors presented Macon with a Certificate of Recognition for his many years of dedication and excellent service to Nevada County agriculture.
In 2017, Macon became the livestock and natural resources advisor for Placer, Nevada, Sutter and Yuba counties. Since 2020, Macon has served as UCCE county director for Placer and Nevada counties and livestock and natural resources advisor.
“I'm truly humbled by the recognition,” said Macon. “Cooperative Extension can't exist without strong county and community partnerships, and my family and I have been so fortunate to be part of the Nevada County agriculture community for so many years.”
In addition to being a UCCE advisor and county director, he has operated Flying Mule Farm, raising a small-scale commercial flock of sheep near Auburn. Macon, whose wife Sami passed away last year, is in the process of transferring to UCCE in Calaveras County to live closer to family and help care for his ailing mother.
“Dan's leadership has made a lasting impact on Nevada County,” said Nevada County Agricultural Commissioner Chris de Nijs. “His work not only strengthened our local agriculture both from a land management and economic perspective, but also set a benchmark for excellence and resiliency in the field. He will continue to be a pillar of the ag community, and I with him the best of luck in his new adventures!”
Legislators honor NPI's 10-year anniversary with resolution
California Senator Nancy Skinner and Assemblymember Mia Bonta honored the Nutrition Policy Institute with a joint California Legislature members resolution to recognize its decade of positive impact.
Founded on Feb. 18, 2014, within UC ANR, NPI's research has informed policies such as free school meals for over 6 million students and funding for school kitchen equipment. NPI's work led to increased recess for students, enhanced funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (commonly known as WIC), healthier beverage policies in childcare, and food security initiatives at UC campuses.
Based on NPI research, efforts also have been made to expand Farm to Corrections food programs and improve CalFresh Healthy Living interventions, enhancing fitness and diet-related outcomes for children. As a trusted resource for legislators and policymakers, NPI provides science-based policy recommendations, contributing significantly to public health in California.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Carvalho named UCCE feedlot management specialist
Pedro Carvalho joined UC ANR as a UC Cooperative Extension feedlot management specialist in the UC Davis Department of Animal Science, located in Imperial County, on Aug. 1, 2020.
Carvalho grew up on his family's cattle and crop farm in the state of Goias in Brazil. In 2012, while an undergraduate, he came to the United States to work as an intern in the beef cattle reproduction and nutrition labs at The Ohio State University. After earning a bachelor's degree in animal science at Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil, he completed a master's degree at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
He recently earned his Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University, where he conducted research projects to enhance the efficiency of Holstein steers in the feedlot.
“My plan as an extensionist and researcher at the Desert Research and Extension Center is to first understand what the needs are from our feedlot operations in Imperial County,” Carvalho told Stacey Amparano, Farm Smart manager, who wrote a Q&A with him. “After that, I plan to implement and conduct actions (research projects and on-farm training) to help our beef producers and farmworkers. I really hope that I can bring value to our stakeholders by providing information on nutrition and management, as well as helping to train and improve the lives of the workers in feed yards of our state.”
Read the full text of Carvalho's Q&A with Stacey Amparano at https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=43442.
Carvalho is based at UC Desert Research and Extension Center and can be reached at pcarvalho@ucdavis.edu and (217) 418-0202.
Sorooshian honored by American Meteorological Society
Soroosh Sorooshian, distinguished professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Irvine and Director of the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing, will receive an award from the American Meteorological Society (AMS).
AMS named Sorooshian, who is the director of UC ANR's International Rosenberg Forum on Water Policy, the recipient of its 2021 Hydrological Sciences Medal “For ingenious, groundbreaking work on surface hydrology and the remote sensing of precipitation that has profoundly impacted the field of hydrometeorology.”
The award will be presented during the AMS annual meeting scheduled to be in New Orleans Jan. 10-14, 2021.
Sacramento Valley Orchards newsletter wins award
A group of UCCE farm advisors won an award for the educational contributions of their Sacramento Valley Orchard newsletter. The Extension Division of the American Society of Horticultural Science presented an Education Materials award in the Newsletter Category for the “2019 Quarterly Publication of Almond, Walnut and Prune Sacramento Valley Newsletters.”
Coauthors of the newsletters are UCCE advisors Franz Niederholzer, Katherine Jarvis-Shean, Luke Milliron, Allan Fulton, Janine Hasey, Joe Connell, Rick Buchner, Dani Lightle and Emily Symmes, and UC Davis graduate student Drew Wolter.
Amid increasing orchard acreage, and reduced University of California Cooperative Extension orchard advisor appointments, advisors in the eight counties of the Sacramento Valley formed collaborative newsletters to increase their impact.
Quarterly newsletters for almonds, walnuts, and prunes provide a compelling model to better serve the approximately 1 million acres of tree nuts and fruit crops in the valley.
The team has created a sustained connection with more than 5,000 newsletter recipients and together published over 50 articles in 2019 alone. These articles made an even greater impact through publication on their own SacValleyOrchards.com website and frequent reprints by agricultural news media.
NOW team wins ESA IPM Team Award
The Navel Orangeworm Mating Disruption Adoption Team will receive the 2020 IPM Team Award from the Plant-Insect Ecology Section of the Entomology Society of America.
The Navel Orangeworm Mating Disruption Adoption Team is composed of
- David Haviland, UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program
- Bradley Higbee, Trécé, Inc.
- Charles Burks, USDS-ARS Commodity Protection and Quality Research Unit, Parlier
- Jhalendra Rijal, UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program
- Emily Symmes, Suterra, LLC.
- Robert Curtis, former associate director of agricultural affairs for the Almond Board of California
- Stephanie Rill, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County
Normally the award is given in person at the ESA Annual Meeting in November, but there will be a virtual ceremony this year.
Diaz honored by state Sen. Morrell
Claudia Diaz, 4-H youth development advisor for Riverside and San Bernardino counties, recently received a prestigious award from state Senator Mike Morrell recognizing her work engaging underserved urban youth in environmental stewardship.
“She has also been instrumental in helping the Urban Conservation Corps develop greater capacity to engage youth of color in environmental education and stewardship, especially as it relates to resource development,” said Sandy Bonilla, founder of Urban Conservation Corps of the Inland Empire. “Her work engaging diverse children (Latinos, African-Americans, Native Americans) into the environmental movement is to be applauded.”
Aguiar honored by Riverside County Supervisors
In a ceremony held online due to COVID-19 constraints, Supervisor Manuel Perez presented Aguiar with a proclamation on behalf of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, saying, “It is signed by all the supervisors and it is in gratitude for all you have done, Jose. We appreciate you, Jose. We appreciate what you have done for the agricultural industry.”
See an excerpt of Perez's remarks at https://youtu.be/SyafbarGJNU.
