- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Governor Newsom released his May Revision budget proposal for 2022-23. Together with the funding proposed in the governor's January budget, the governor is proposing a total of $4.9 billion for the University of California. This total allocation represents a combined increase of $322.5 million, or 8.0%, in ongoing funding to the University's budget over 2021-22 levels, plus $607.9 million in one-time General Fund appropriations. The governor also announced a compact agreement between the governor and the university that proposes funding levels and articulates policy goals for the next five years.
The proposal includes $2 million to support UC fire advisors, with a similar level of support intended in 2023-24.
See the UC Office of the President's story and read President Drake's statement to learn more.
"I encourage people to invite members for tours, site visits and events," said Anne Megaro, director of government and community relations.
"Summer break is coming and they'll be in their districts in July (State Legislature) and August (Congress). Just this past week we had Senator Dianne Feinstein's staff meet with Lenya Quinn-Davidson and Matthew Shapero to learn about prescribed burns."
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Organic Farming Research Foundation has published the new California Organic Research Agenda (CORA), a comprehensive report that examines current needs and challenges of organic farmers and ranchers across California and provides policy and research recommendations to address producer-identified issues.
The CORA report is a companion to OFRF's 2022 National Organic Research Agenda. The national organic survey data boasts responses from over 1,100 producers and 16 listening sessions held across the U.S. Using the California subset of the national survey data, the CORA report highlights the top production and non-production challenges cited by California's organic farmers and ranchers.
“Organic farming has been historically under-invested in, in terms of research, education and extension,” says OFRF Executive Director Brise Tencer. “Both the new California Organic Research Agenda and the 2022 National Organic Research Agenda present incredible feedback directly from organic farmers and provide a compelling roadmap for how to best support the growth of this important sector of agriculture.”
Report findings indicate that managing production costs is a substantial challenge for 71% of producers surveyed, and accessing labor proved to be the leading non-production challenge. An overwhelming number of state producers (76%) expressed substantial need for technical assistance with the organic management of weeds, pests, and disease. In addition to detailing farmer challenges on and off the field, OFRF's CORA report provides a comparison analysis of farmer responses based on commodity and farming experience. National and state comparisons are also included in the report.
Production of the CORA report was supported in part by the University of California Organic Agriculture Institute (UC OAI), a new statewide program within the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), as well as the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology.
“One of our primary activities is to generate new research and extension programs focused on organic agriculture,” says Houston Wilson, director of the UC OAI. “The CORA report provides an excellent roadmap to guide and prioritize our efforts, we're really excited to turn this information into action.”
According to the California Department of Food & Agriculture, state farmers and ranchers were responsible for 40% of all organic agricultural product sales in the country. Data from a 2019 USDA organic survey concludes California has 965,257 acres in organic production, which is approximately 17.5% of all organic acreage in the country. OFRF's California Organic Research Agenda examines grower needs in the nation's top-producing state of organic agricultural commodities and specialty crops, paving the way for future research and investment.
"This report will benefit organic growers in California by playing a role as a critical reference to increase public support and develop research projects targeting specific needs that diverse organic growers in the state are facing," says Joji Muramoto, UC Cooperative Extension organic production specialist.
Each report is available online (www.ofrf.org/research/nora/) free of charge to farmers, policymakers, ag suppliers, seed companies, and the general public.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Hollingsworth named UCCE table grape advisor 
Joy Hollingsworth began working as the new UCCE table grape advisor serving Tulare and Kings counties on May 16.
Prior to becoming a table grape advisor, Hollingsworth served for three years as the UCCE nutrient management/soil quality advisor for Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare counties. In that position she worked on research and extension projects in a variety of agricultural systems, including work on dairy manure, cover crops and biostimulants in raisin grapes.
Previously, Hollingsworth spent six years working as a research associate for the University of California on agronomic cropping systems, including sugar beets, canola and sorghum.
She earned a master's degree in plant science from California State University, Fresno, and a bachelor's degree in communication from UC Davis.
Hollingsworth is now based in Tulare and can be reached at (559) 684-3313 or joyhollingsworth@ucanr.edu. Follow her on Twitter @ucce_joy.
Zuercher joins NPI as assistant project scientist 
The Nutrition Policy Institute welcomed Monica Zuercher on Feb. 1 as an assistant project scientist. Zuecher will work on NPI projects related to national school meal programs.
Zuecher is a nutritional epidemiologist with experience in teaching, health research, data analysis, scientific communication and nutrition interventions.
She holds a Ph.D. in epidemiology from UC Davis, M.S. in nutritional epidemiology from the Research Center for Food and Development, Sonora, Mexico and a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Sonora in Mexico.
Zuecher is based at UCOP in Oakland and can be reached at mdrobles@ucanr.edu.
Carmignani joins UCCE as fire advisor 
Luca Carmignani joined UCCE as a fire advisor for Orange and Los Angeles counties May 2. His research interests include image analysis, computer programming and scientific outreach.
Prior to joining UC ANR, Carmignani was a postdoctoral researcher in the Berkeley Fire Research Lab at UC Berkeley. His research has focused on fire and combustion applications, from wildland fires to material flammability.
He earned his Ph.D. in engineering sciences from the joint doctoral program between UC San Diego and San Diego State University after obtaining his bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Pisa in Italy.
Carmignani is based at South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine and can be reached at carmignani@ucanr.edu and (949) 237-2956. Follow him on Twitter @l_carmignani.
Feenstra honored with Lifetime Achievement Award 
Gail Feenstra, director of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, has been honored as the 2022 recipient of the Richard P. Haynes Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award in Agriculture, Food and Human Values.
The award recognizes outstanding contributions towards realizing the goals of the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society (AFHVS) through research, teaching, extension, public service or public policy.
“Much of her work has centered on the unique circumstances, challenges and opportunities of California food and agricultural systems, but the impact of her work is in no way confined to California alone,” Clare Hinrichs, professor of rural sociology at Pennsylvania State University, wrote in her letter nominating Feenstra for the award. “The fruitful insights and applications of Gail's work have traveled well beyond her home state. Her cogent thinking and practical frameworks have inspired and guided others from across the U.S. and other countries engaged in research and practice to enhance community and regional food systems.”
In addition to her academic work, Feenstra served as AFHVS president in 2000-2001 and has served on the board twice.
“With great skill and persistence, and with much passion, energy and humility, Gail Feenstra has achieved a lasting impact on the field of sustainable food systems,” said Kim L. Niewolny, chair of the AFHVS Professional Awards Committee for 2021-2022. “Overall, she has graciously crafted and lived a career that fully embodies the values and spirit of the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society.
Feenstra accepted the award during the AFHVS meeting held in Athens, Georgia, May 18-21.
Tsai receives emerging leader in nutrition science award 
Marisa Tsai, a research data analyst with the Nutrition Policy Institute and a doctoral student at UC Berkeley School of Public Health, has been named as a finalist for the Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Abstract Recognition Award Program, a program of the American Society for Nutrition that recognizes the highest quality research presented by students and young investigators at Nutrition 2022 Live Online.
Tsai's abstract is titled “Larger WIC Cash Value Benefit for Vegetables and Fruit Is Associated With Lower Food Insecurity and Improved Participant Satisfaction in WIC Families With Children.”
More than 700 abstracts were submitted by students and postdoctoral fellows and the award program aims to recognize the top 15% highest scoring abstracts. Abstracts were rated by more than 400 nutrition scientists. Finalists will be recognized during the Nutrition 2022 Live Online conference that will be held virtually June 14-16.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
To use a photograph, illustration, chart or other graphic image that you didn't create, you may need to get permission.
Using copyrighted material without permission is copyright infringement or copyright violation and can result in costly legal penalties.
You can avoid copyright infringement by getting written permission from the copyright holder to use copyrighted materials, such as a non-UC photo, drawing, table, or other material for your manuscript.
While UC employees don't need permission to use material that is copyrighted by The Regents of the University of California, it is professional courtesy to credit colleagues if you use their photos or graphics. The University of California has published a helpful website on copyright basics.
Permission isn't needed to use photos, video or other material produced or published by the U.S. federal government or any of its agencies because they are in the public domain. There may be exceptions, for example, the 4-H name and emblem.
You can also learn the basics of copyright, when you can and cannot use images or tables, as well as how to protect your own material. Cynthia Kintigh, permissions officer and publications marketing director, and Robin Sanchez, director of policies, compliance and programmatic agreements, present best practices in a 53-minute webinar at https://youtu.be/J6O6TjreTy4.
- Author: Emily Delk, Director of Annual Giving
At the conclusion of UC ANR Giving Day, 354 generous donors helped raise $72,342 for UC Cooperative Extension and the statewide programs, institutes and research centers. We welcomed 70 first time donors to UC ANR!
This show of support demonstrates the impact UC ANR is having in communities and the value that donors place on our work.
An additional $7,500 was made available to incentivize giving to our programmatic and research initiatives at the state and local levels. These funds were raised throughout the year for the ANR Incentive Fund, which is used to encourage donor engagement and increased giving to all ANR programs.
Many thanks to our UC ANR colleagues who got creative and put the extra time into successful fundraising campaigns for the event. Now, it's time to steward our donors. Reach out to learn more about why they gave and how we can continue to engage them. Strengthening our relationships is an investment in building lasting support!
Donor reports by county and program will be available in the next issue of The Scoop. Email eddelk@ucanr.edu to be added to the distribution list.
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