- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
UC President Michael Drake recently approved six new members for the UC President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The new commissioners are:
Manpreet Bains, Manseena Orchards partner, and her sister took over their parents' prune farm and started Manseena Orchards, growing prunes and walnuts. Bains serves on the Agricultural Council of California's board of directors and as an alumni liaison to the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Education Team. She earned a bachelor's degree in international studies with an emphasis in political science from Pepperdine University and a master's degree in international relations from the University of Chicago. 
Jaron Brandon, Tuolumne County supervisor for District 5, is a Tuolumne County native who grew up in his family's music store where he experienced the challenges that face small businesses. While earning his bachelor's degree in government and political science at UC Merced, he was elected president of the Associated Students – overseeing a $1.3 million budget. He later served internships in the California State Assembly, State Senate and U.S. Congress. Brandon worked for a Bay Area tech startup doing news editorial work and became the service's editor-in-chief for the U.S. before returning to Tuolumne County to join the family business. He was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2020. 
Matt Dias, president and chief executive officer of the California Forestry Association, graduated from Humboldt State University in 1999, then worked with the former Pacific Lumber Company through 2005. He then moved to Davenport, where he worked for Big Creek Lumber Company for over seven years. In 2012, Dias was appointed licensing officer for the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. In 2015, he was appointed executive officer for the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, a position he held until his appointment as president and CEO of Calforests in 2021. He is Registered Professional Forester #2773.
- Author: Mike Hsu
During a meeting of the President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources on June 23, UC President Michael Drake joined the virtual gathering to offer an update on the ongoing response to COVID-19.
Drake praised the diligence, resilience and continued productivity of the entire university community, and cited the systemwide 96-97% vaccination rate and judicious public health measures as reasons UC has been able to weather the worst of the pandemic.
While urging care and caution, he also expressed optimism for the future, pointing to the development and availability of better vaccines and treatments.
The PAC – comprising leaders from UC and the agricultural, natural resources and related human resources sectors – then heard from several commissioners about the importance of partnerships in achieving their shared goals.
Mary-Ann Warmerdam, senior vice president of government affairs for the Rural County Representatives of California, emphasized how essential collaborations are to advancing the interests of rural populations. Kathie Sowa, a senior vice president at Bank of America, highlighted the work of the A.P. Giannini Foundation, which supports research in the basic sciences and applied fields, and the Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy.
Carol Chandler of Chandler Farms in Fresno County discussed the crucial role of the state's universities in delivering innovative solutions to farmers for a wide range of challenges – from diseases to water issues. Chandler, a former UC regent and California State University trustee, stressed the need for more collaboration between the two systems.
President Drake concurred, voicing his belief that – along with community colleges across the state – the UC and CSU institutions are all part of “one system of higher education.” In particular, he mentioned financial assistance plans and certificate programs as just some of the ways to help more people attain more education.
- Author: Linda Forbes
On Dec. 10, the President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources met in the San Joaquin Valley, gathering in person for the first time since December 2019. The group followed strict COVID-19 safety protocols, but that did not interfere with the energy and excitement of the discussions and activities.
Commissioners, UC President Michael Drake and local dignitaries began the day-long event at Lindcove Research and Extension Center (LREC) in Exeter to learn about the latest citrus research, see the packline in action and sample many of the varieties of citrus made available during Lindcove's public citrus tasting on Dec. 11.
Lindcove's greenhouses, orchard and packline are used by researchers for a variety of studies, including developing new citrus rootstocks and scions, evaluating environmental effects on rootstock and scion combinations, screening seedless varieties of mandarins, detecting freeze damage of fruit, and analyzing chemical treatments for pests and postharvest diseases.
Lindcove REC director Ashraf El-kereamy gave an overview of the facilities and discussed research and breeding highlights, including LREC housing the first structure in California to grow Citrus Under Protective Screen (CUPS). UC Cooperative Extension Specialist and Director of the Citrus Clonal Protection Program Georgios Vidalakis discussed LREC research in huanglongbing disease, which is a major threat to citrus worldwide. Curator 4 and Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection Endowed Chair Tracy Kahn showed some of the many varieties that participants would be tasting and invited people to explore the orchard.
The outdoor tasting tables offered a feast of color, smell and taste with 180 varieties to choose from, and commissioners and other attendees were given boxes of produce as parting gifts.
The group next explored Woodlake Botanical Gardens with UC Master Gardener volunteers who care for the three-acre rose garden. They also met with emeritus UC Cooperative Extension Small Farms Advisor Manuel Jimenez and his wife Olga, who oversee the Botanical Gardens and engage youth volunteers in gardening. They founded a program to help keep young people out of gangs and to teach skills and habits that prepare them for college or jobs. Attendees were impressed by the youth volunteers who spoke about the positive impact the garden and the Jimenez family have had in their lives.
At the Tulare County Cooperative Extension office, participants enjoyed a farm-to-table lunch showcasing local produce, heard remarks from VP Glenda Humiston and President Drake, and participated in interactive displays by researchers and programmatic staff:
- 4-H staff members Rochelle Mederos and Tyler Beck presented a slime making booth
- Citrus advisor Greg Douhan had microscopes to show a variety of citrus pest damage
- Farm advisor Elizabeth Fichtner offered olive oil tasting with three different oils and showed a video on the pomology program
- Nutrition educators prepared a low-calorie oatmeal cookie tasting with an option to vote on the best one
- Cristina Barrick-Murillo, agricultural land acquisition academic coordinator, showed maps of the north and south valley for all to pin a location of their choosing
- Farm advisor Ruth Dahlquist-Willard and Michael Yang, small farms and specialty crops Hmong agricultural assistant, displayed an array of specialty produce grown in the San Joaquin Valley
- Nutrient management and soil quality advisor Joy Hollingsworth showcased soil samples
- Farm advisor Nicholas Clark showed drone footage of agronomy field work
- Karl Lund, area viticulture advisor, offered wine tasting from UC viticulture research
- Farm advisor Konrad Mathesius offered a tasting of beer made with California-grown barley
After so many months of interacting on Zoom, it was a delight to get together to learn about and experience the amazing work that's being done in Tulare County to improve the lives of Californians. President Drake even joked about talking for too long during lunch because it was his first appearance at a lectern in a long time.
County Director Karmjot Randhawa and county and LREC staff – as well as Sherry Cooper and the Program Support team – worked tirelessly to make the event a huge success. We just cannot thank them enough!
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
The UC President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources met with UC President Michael Drake via Zoom Oct. 19 to discuss resource planning, recruitment and regenerative agriculture.
They began the meeting by honoring Jean-Mari Peltier, the past PAC chair, who passed away Sept. 24. In addition to her dedicated service to UC ANR as a PAC member since 2008, Peltier also represented California on the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching for many years and served as the CARET national vice president. Her leadership, vision and support for UC ANR and the agricultural community will be sorely missed.
Mike Mellano, new PAC chair, announced Luawanna Hallstrom will be vice chair. Two new industry professionals have also recently joined the PAC: Kathie Sowa, Bank of America senior vice president and commercial banking executive, and Alejandra Sanchez, Driscoll's corporate social responsibility marketing manager.
Vice President Glenda Humiston briefed the PAC members on UC ANR activities, including the UC Cooperative Extension position call and a presentation on wildfire resiliency delivered to the UC Regents Committee on Engagement & Development on Sept. 29.
Presenters included Humiston, Ryan Tompkins, UCCE forest advisor; Celeste Cantú, chair of the San Diego Water Quality Control Board and PAC member; Daniel Sanchez, UCCE specialist in the UC Berkeley Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management; Maggi Kelly, UCCE specialist, faculty director of the UC Berkeley Geospatial Innovation Facility and director of UC ANR's Informatics and Geographic Information Systems Program; and Lenya Quinn-Davidson, UCCE fire advisor and director of the Northern California Prescribed Fire Council.
Greg Gibbs, executive director of Development Services, gave a presentation summarizing UC ANR's fund development activity over the past year. Don Bransford, chair of the PAC Funds Development Committee, proposed creation of a UC ANR Strategic Priorities Endowment that would allow the UC ANR Vice President to direct funds towards the state's highest priorities each year. The PAC approved development of The Jean-Mari Peltier Endowment in support of UC ANR Strategic Priorities. It will be listed on the donation page along with other ANR programs for Giving Tuesday 2021.
Sanchez of Driscoll's; Bill Frost, former UC ANR associate vice president and UCCE advisor emeritus; and Luawanna Hallstrom, principal of Collaborative Communications gave presentations on opportunities and challenges in seeking regenerative agriculture, research on sustainable agriculture in California and media coverage of regenerative agriculture.
The next PAC meeting will be held Dec. 9 and 10 at Lindcove Research and Extension Center, where the commissioners will participate in the citrus tasting and tour.
- Author: Kathy Eftekhari
- Author: Linda Forbes
The President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources (PAC) met virtually on June 16 and had a lively discussion with one another and later with President Drake about how UC ANR can deliver on the president's priorities of social/environmental justice, public health and economic impacts of the pandemic, and climate change and agriculture. Discussion evolved about how UC ANR could be a convener and facilitator of needed community discussions around these important and often difficult topics. ANR could serve as a bridge-builder, bringing in multiple partners and disciplines.
Vice President Humiston provided an update on the state budget, COVID-19 operations, a new virtual tour of the research and extension centers, and the “Hub for Urban Living Design Workshop” that was held on May 18. She also discussed the new, optional, monthly PAC discussion sessions on emerging issues that began in May and commended Jim Farrar, Statewide IPM Program director, and Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty, Statewide 4-H Youth Development Program director, for their presentations at the first two sessions. Anne Megaro, government and community relations director, and PAC member Don Bransford reported on the activities of the Outreach and Advocacy and Funds Development committees. Deans Michael Lairmore, Helene Dillard and David Ackerly shared updates on key campus happenings.
Commissioners participated in breakout discussions to generate ideas about how UC ANR could make a greater impact in each of President Drake's priority topic areas. President Drake joined the meeting after lunch to hear presentations from commissioners that were informed by the breakout sessions:
- Sharon Nance, assistant state conservationist at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service discussed social/environmental justice
- Mary-Ann Warmerdam, deputy controller, environmental policy at the State Controller's Office discussed public health and economic impacts of the pandemic
- Rodger Wasson, owner and president of Wasson & Associates, discussed climate change and agriculture
