- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Palta named first UCCE specialist based at UC Irvine 
Monica Palta joined UC ANR on Sept. 1 as a UC Cooperative Extension specialist in urban water quality, health and justice. She is the first UCCE specialist to be based at UC Irvine.
Palta is an urban ecosystem ecologist and environmental scientist who has conducted applied research in aquatic and coastal ecosystems throughout the U.S. Before taking the position with UC ANR, she was an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Science at Pace University in New York City.
The main goal of Palta's research is to develop sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships between natural ecosystems and human populations in urban watersheds. A central focus of her work is on interactions between infrastructure, ecosystem functions and associated environmental benefits to humans in urban waterfronts, and how these interactions may be altered by global change. Her research investigates sources and mitigation strategies for water pollution, as well as develops green infrastructure and environmental management strategies to facilitate greater environmental benefit, equity, access and resilience in marginalized waterfront communities.
In 2023 she co-founded Participatory Science Solutions, LLC. This organization has provided research, training, and evaluation on the social impact of urban environmental restoration projects (e.g., restoration of urban forests, wetlands and oyster reefs) conducted by nonprofit organizations and government agencies.
Palta earned a Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from Rutgers University and conducted postdoctoral work at Arizona State University. She earned a master's in ecology from the University of Georgia and a bachelor's degree in biology from Grinnell College.
In her new position with UC ANR, she is excited to collaborate with UC faculty and UC ANR colleagues from diverse disciplines as well as local communities and water managers. Her work will inform management for long-term resilience and reliability of water resources in Southern California under climate change, with a strong focus on strategies that sustain health and social equity within local populations.
Palta is jointly based at UC Irvine's Department of Civil Engineering (School of Engineering) and the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy (School of Social Ecology) and can be reached at mpalta@uci.edu and @MonicaMPalta on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azadfar joins UCCE as woody biomass and forest products advisor 
Mohammadali Azadfar joined UC ANR on Sept. 3 as the UC Cooperative Extension woody biomass and forest products advisor for Siskiyou, Shasta and Trinity counties. In this role, he will focus on promoting sustainable forest products and woody biomass use to enhance forest resilience and support local communities. His work will involve collaborating with forestland owners, rural communities and local organizations to develop science-based solutions for managing woody biomass, reducing wildfire risks and advancing forest products.
“I am committed to developing innovative strategies for forest management that empower communities and protect our natural resources,” Azadfar said. “By working closely with stakeholders, we can create sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the people who rely on it.”
Originally from northern Iran near the Hyrcanian forests, Azadfar grew up immersed in the rich biodiversity of these ancient woodlands, which inspired his lifelong dedication to forest stewardship. His early experiences witnessing the impact of forest degradation on both the environment and local livelihoods motivated him to pursue a career in natural resources.
“The moment I saw how utilizing old corrugated container waste for paper production could reduce the need for deforestation was a pivotal turning point in my career,” Azadfar said. “It showed me the power of innovative, sustainable solutions in protecting our natural resources while still meeting industrial needs.”
Azadfar holds bachelor's and master's degrees in natural resources engineering with a focus on wood science and engineering from Iran, as well as a Ph.D. in biological and agricultural engineering from Washington State University. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Washington State University's Composite Materials and Engineering Center, where he specialized in sustainable woody biomass utilization.
“I look forward to working with local communities to continue addressing their needs by advancing sustainable woody biomass utilization and forest products, and improving forest resilience,” he said.
Azadfar is based at the UC Cooperative Extension office in Yreka and can be reached at mazadfar@ucanr.edu.
Lemmer named 4-H healthy living academic coordinator
Prior to joining UC ANR, she was an elementary school teacher in Oakland and Fair Oaks. She taught 2nd grade in East Oakland after earning her master's degree in education focusing on elementary literacy and later earned a Montessori Elementary Certificate while teaching 1st - 3rd grade at a Montessori public charter in Sacramento County. In the classroom, she focused on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in her lessons as well as social-emotional learning.
Originally from Los Angeles, Lemmer earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and Latin American/Latin@ Studies from UC Santa Cruz, where she interned with Life Lab and the Friends of the Community Agroecology Network (FoCAN). She served two terms with AmeriCorps. First with AmeriCorps*NCCC in the southwest focused on various community projects in Arizona, Colorado and Missouri. The second with FoodCorps in Santa Cruz County with Life Lab and Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) focusing on farm to school efforts. She continued to lead FoodCorps service members statewide as the FoodCorps California State Fellow.
Lemmer is based at the UC ANR building in Davis and can be reached at alemmer@ucanr.edu.
Beal joins UC IPM as advisor for Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito counties 
“I hope to serve the growers of the three counties and develop more sustainable integrated pest management programs that are centered on their experiences and knowledge,” he explained. “My major goal is to support growers of leafy greens, cole crops, berry crops, grapes and other crops in ways that empower and elevate growers.”
A native of Valencia in Los Angeles County, Beal ventured east to Cornell University where he earned bachelor's degrees in entomology and plant sciences. As an undergraduate research assistant at Cornell, he had his first experiences with Cooperative Extension and the mission of the land-grant university system.
After attaining a European master's degree in viticulture and enology from Montpellier SupAgro in France and Universita degli Studi di Torino in Italy, Beal returned to the U.S. to complete a Ph.D. in environmental science, policy and management at UC Berkeley. His dissertation focused on studying spittlebug vectors of a bacterial pathogen, Xylella fastidiosa, which causes Pierce's disease in vineyards of California's North Coast.
Beal then went to Washington State University, where he worked as a postdoctoral researcher with growers on sustainable management strategies for spotted-wing drosophila in Washington cherry orchards and blueberry farms.
“Inspired by my Extension mentors at Cornell, UC Berkeley and WSU, I aim to be a bridge between growers and researchers,” he said.
Beal is based at the Monterey County UC Cooperative Extension office in Salinas and can be reached at djbeal@ucanr.edu and (831) 759-7359.
Bello Rodriguez joins Contracts and Grants 
Julian Bello Rodriguez joined UC ANR on Sept. 3 as a proposal development coordinator in the Office of Contracts and Grants.
He brings a diverse background in scientific research and proposal writing. With a Ph.D. in plant pathology from Michigan State University, Bello Rodriguez has spent his career supporting agricultural projects and helping industry and academic teams secure funding for innovative research. In addition to his academic background, Bello Rodriguez is a certified pest control adviser and qualified applicator licensed by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
Bello Rodriguez is based at the UC ANR building in Davis and can be reached at bellor@ucanr.edu.
Ahluwalia named UCCE director for Colusa, Glenn, Butte, Yuba-Sutter counties 
Preet Ahluwalia joined UC ANR on Aug. 28 as director for UCCE in Colusa, Glenn, Butte, Yuba and Sutter counties.
Prior to taking the UCCE position, she co-founded two companies focused on lending and investments. With a strong background in entrepreneurship, strategy and management, Ahluwalia says she is “passionate about furthering UCCE's outreach, partnerships and research initiatives to best serve these five counties.”
Born in Canada, Ahluwalia was raised in Fresno. She holds a master's in business administration and bachelor's degree in psychology and religious studies, both from UC Davis.
Ahluwalia, who holds a black belt in karate, is based at the UCCE office in Colusa and can be reached at (530) 304-4980 and tkahluwalia@ucanr.edu. She is on LinkedIn at http://linkedin.com/in/preetahluwalia.
Okella joins UCCE as 4-H animal science youth advisor 
Hedmon Okella joined UCCE on Aug. 1 as the 4-H animal science youth advisor for San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. He is developing an extension and applied research program in agriculture, with an emphasis on livestock for positive youth development. In addition, he will support statewide 4-H Youth Development Program to help the youth reach their full potential.
“My focus is to partner with local communities to create new and innovative approaches that are responsive to the unique needs of the communities so as to strengthen and expand the 4-H animal science experience” Okella said.
Prior to joining UC ANR, he was a postdoctoral researcher in veterinary science and molecular biology at the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center.
Originally from Dokolo, Uganda, Okella was born and raised in an extended family that cherishes goats, sheep, swine and poultry farming – a childhood experience that nourished his passion in animal science. In the past 15 years of his career, Okella witnessed the infinite potential of young people amid limited or no opportunities among the underserved youth living in multicultural communities of Uganda, India and United States.
“I envision extending more support with emphasis on animal science so that young people can discover and develop their full potentials,” he said.
Okella earned a Ph.D. from Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda, focusing on fish immunology, specifically bioprospecting of novel antimicrobial peptide drug candidates for potential application in veterinary and human medicine. He also holds a master's degree in biotechnology from Saurashtra University, Gujarat, India, and a bachelor's degree in science education (biology major) from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
“I hope to leverage my expertise to develop and implement applied research and extension programs focusing on animal science, particularly centered on livestock such as cattle, swine, sheep and goats, tailored for youth in San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties,” he said. “I am so excited to partner with the groups and community organizations to continue to address the needs of the communities we serve.”
Based at UC Cooperative Extension's San Benito County office in Hollister, Okella can be reached at hokella@ucanr.edu.
Weinberg joins F3 as coordinator for food innovation and small business 
Yonatan Weinberg joined UC ANR on July 1 as an academic coordinator for food innovation and small business to support the Food, Farms, Future Initiative, also called F3. The F3 Initiative mission is to encourage economic development in the San Joaquin Valley through its regional food system.
Weinberg will help promote specialty crops and support food business development in the valley. By enhancing local food distribution, processing and preparation, he hopes all valley residents get to taste the region's delicious food and benefit from the value it provides.
Before joining UC ANR, Weinberg studied European and Asian food systems. He earned masters degrees in resilient farming and food systems from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and in agroecology from ISARA in France. He earned a bachelor's degree in history, technology and society from Georgia Tech.
His master's thesis centered on why several conventional farmers in England transitioned to organic and regional markets on their own. He then researched the effects of indigenous farmers' transition to conventional practices in Cambodia. Later, he worked for a local nongovernmental organization to build a farmers market in Battambang.
Weinberg said he seeks to “harness his research and professional interests to nourish a bright future for the San Joaquin Valley's farming and food systems.” He will be working with food entrepreneurs who process, cook, sell and distribute local produce and foster connections among them across the food system in the valley.
“We are building out Instagram pages for F3Local and our flagship event Central Valley Flavor Fest,” he said. “We very much would love some follower-love from our UC ANR colleagues. Our handles are @cvflavorfest and @f3local.”
Weinberg is based in Fresno and can be reached at yweinberg@ucanr.edu.
Manzo joins UCCE as 4-H program manager in San Diego County 
Rebeca Manzo joined UC Cooperative Extension in San Diego County on June 17 as a 4-H program manager.
Manzo began her career as a child development counselor at the San Diego Center for Children, focusing on ensuring the safety of children through crisis interventions, supporting treatment plans, and building therapeutic alliances with troubled youth. She transitioned into the criminal justice field, joining GEO Reentry Services.
Over nearly 13 years, Manzo advanced from an entry-level client services specialist to case manager, aftercare coordinator, and finally program manager. As a contractor for the California Department of Rehabilitation, she managed operations.
At GEO, she oversaw internal operations, fostered customer relationships, reduced recidivism through evidence-based programs and curricula, managed sobering houses and conducted monthly audits to ensure program fidelity.
Believing in the potential for people to change their lives given the right opportunities and environment, Manzo has shifted her focus to youth development. She is excited to serve as a community educational specialist for the UCCE 4-H Youth Development Program. In this role, she aims to create a safe and positive learning environment, deliver high-quality programs, and promote the UCCE 4-H program to help establish more clubs.
The first in her family to graduate from college, Manzo holds an associate degree in sociology from Southwestern Community College and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from San Diego State University.
Manzo is based at the UCCE office in San Diego and can be reached at remanzo@ucanr.edu.
Levy becomes UCCE soil health and organic materials management advisor 
Natalie Levy began as the UC Cooperative Extension soil health and organic materials management advisor serving Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties on June 3.
To reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions, Levy is working on recovering edible food for human consumption and diverting organic material from landfills. She will collaborate with diverse clientele to develop closed-loop systems that replicate natural decomposition cycles that sequester carbon and improve soil health in both urban and agricultural settings.
“I am particularly excited to be working towards solutions to climate change and to promote carbon sequestration in California. What makes this role interesting is that the pathway to achieving these broader goals is through simple but powerful solutions,” said Levy.
For instance, applying a 3-to-4-inch mulch layer in a landscape not only improves soil water retention but also sequesters carbon and reduces landfill emissions by diverting and repurposing green waste. “In this role, I am also very excited about supporting food waste recovery and addressing food insecurity in the three counties that I serve,” she added.
Prior to becoming an advisor, Levy worked for UC ANR as a staff research associate at South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, where she partnered with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to study urban runoff and water quality monitoring in Orange County.
Later, she became a UCCE associate specialist for water resources at South Coast REC, focusing on all phases of applied water resource management research and extension efforts. As a specialist, she managed national and statewide collaborative projects centered on water conservation, including the UC Landscape Plant Irrigation Trial program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded, multistate Climate Ready Landscape Plants project.
Levy earned a Ph.D. in agricultural and extension education and evaluation from Louisiana State University. Her dissertation research studied the types of management practices Louisiana homeowners were using to apply fertilizers in urban landscapes. Through this exploratory research, she identified behaviors that can increase nonpoint source nutrient runoff and designed Cooperative Extension programming to help change those behaviors. She also obtained a master's degree in agronomy from LSU and a bachelor's in environmental science from UC Berkeley.
Levy is based at South Coast REC and can be reached at nlevy@ucanr.edu. She is on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-levy-3b5905234/.
Bono returns to UC Elkus Ranch 
Amy Bono returned to UC Elkus Ranch on June 1 as the ranch coordinator. From 2005 to 2015. she was a community educator at Elkus Ranch, before leaving to lead The HEAL Project, an environmental education nonprofit in San Mateo County.
Bono earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and biology at UC San Diego. After college, she worked as a zookeeper at the San Diego Zoo, then the San Francisco Zoo before becoming an educator at Elkus Ranch.
“My kids really grew up at the ranch,” Bono said. “They were 3 and 5 when I started here and we held birthday parties and hosted volunteer groups at the ranch for years. They are almost as excited about my return as I am because the ranch is such a magical place.”
While working at The HEAL Project, Bono gained experience and contacts that will benefit Elkus Ranch.
“Coming back to Elkus is really a ‘coming home' of sorts because most people stay at Elkus for a long time,” Bono said. “Half of the people I work with now, I worked with the first time I was here. The people are awesome and the amount of experience we have on staff benefits us all.”
“Environmental education and sustainability feed my soul,” said Bono, who is focused on increasing the number of students that visitElkus Ranch for field trips.
“We had about 7,000 visitors to the ranch in 2023-24, but I hope to bring our reach back to our pre-pandemic number of 9,000 in 2024-25.”
“I am actively looking for funds to sponsor visits from the highest need schools,” she said. “It is amazing that students, even from San Mateo County, have not seen the ocean until they come over the hill to visit the Ranch. The ability for students to pick and eat an apple fresh from the tree, hold a chicken, hug our donkey Sassy, or any other of several educational experiences we offer, is eye-opening and potentially life-changing for many of our younger visitors.”
Bono has begun planning Elkus Ranch's 50th year as UC ANR's beloved Bay Area environmental education destination. The anniversary party, scheduled for Sept. 6, 2025, will be a fundraiser. To get updates about Elkus Ranch activities, sign up for the Elkus email list.
Bono is based at UC Elkus Ranch in Half Moon Bay and can be reached at abono@ucanr.edu.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Resnick named director for community nutrition and health 
Amira Resnick joined UC ANR as director for Community Nutrition and Health on Feb. 15.
"We look forward to Amira bringing her enthusiasm and experience to help continue the growth of our nutrition and health work across the state," said Associate Vice President Wendy Powers. "Our historical impact in these areas – and more recently the growing concerns around COVID-19 and food security – highlight the importance of and need for this work.”
Prior to joining UC ANR, Resnick was senior manager with Alliance for a Healthier Generation based in Los Angeles. In that position, she has spearheaded new, innovative multisectoral partnership development, secured funding opportunities, and implemented projects to advance environmental and systemic change toward whole child health. Previously, as Statewide Family Services coordinator with Telamon Corporation, she led program implementation across 17 Migrant Head Start sites with 500 employees, serving over 1,000 families.
Resnick holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of Southern California and a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Michigan.
“The position will further refine our vision for growth in the areas of nutrition and health and will oversee the network of nutrition and health work implemented across the state through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program; CalFresh Healthy Living, UC program; and UC Master Food Preserver program,” said Mark Bell, vice provost of strategic initiatives and statewide programs.
Resnick is based in the ANR building in Davis and can be reached at arresnick@ucanr.edu.
Roman named BOC associate director 
Tracy Roman joined UC ANR as associate director for the Business Operations Center on Feb. 15.
For the past 27 years, Roman worked for UC Davis Stores (Bookstore) in multiple positions, the last decade as the associate director of finance. She also was the bookstore's coordinator of commencement for students, served on the UC Student Health Insurance Plan committee and was a member of UC Davis' administrative management group called ADMAN.
During her tenure with the bookstore, Roman coordinated the student health vending machine, got SNAP accepted on campus, developed “Relax and Restore” (an event to help student de-stress during finals week), helped get an Amazon store located on campus, and served as project manager for Equitable Access.
Roman is based at the ANR building in Davis and can be reached at tlroberts@ucdavis.edu.
Fernandez named associate director of statewide programs operations and RECs 
Maru Fernandez joined ANR as associate director of statewide programs operations and research and extension centers on Jan. 24.
Fernandez, who has worked for UC since 2011, served as Financial Services Supervisor for the UC ANR Business Operations Center in 2020 and 2021. She has also worked in Contracts and Grants Accounting at UC Davis, as a fund manager.
She earned a B.S. in entrepreneurial management and marketing from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Fernandez is based at the UC ANR building in Davis and can be reached at mefernandez@ucanr.edu.
Waisen named UCCE vegetable crops and small farms advisor 
Philip Waisen joined UC Cooperative Extension as a vegetable crops and small farms advisor in Riverside and Imperial counties on Jan. 10.
He is developing research and extension programs focused on pest and disease management and plant nutrient management in vegetable agroecosystems.
Prior to joining UCCE, Waisen was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he worked on Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education-funded research projects on nematode and soil health management in tomatoes, peppers, cucurbits, asparagus, banana and brassicas. During 2021, Waisen served as a part-time lecturer teaching plant pathology, research methods, and horticultural sciences courses for his alma mater, the Papua New Guinea University of Technology.
He earned a Ph.D. and M.S. in plant pathology/nematology, plant and environmental protection sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a B.S. in agriculture and plant disease at Papua New Guinea University of Technology.
Waisen is based in Indio and can be reached at pwaisen@ucanr.edu and (760) 342-2467.
Levy named UCCE water specialist 
Natalie Levy joined UC Cooperative Extension on Jan. 3 as an associate specialist for water resources serving Orange County.
Levy will be designing and conducting water-related research and extension activities focused on the needs of both urban and agriculture systems. Based at the South Coast Research and Extension Center, she assists with the Climate Ready Landscape Plant irrigation trials, a collaborative Specialty Crops Multistate research project being conducted at several Western academic institutions. The data collected from the deficit irrigation trials are used to assess vigor and overall performance of landscape plants to identify low-water use plants that can be successfully grown in each climate and soil type.
Prior to becoming a UCCE specialist, Levy was a staff research associate at South Coast REC assisting with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation's study of storm and non-storm runoff within urban landscapes in OC. Before joining UC ANR, she worked for ecko360 as terrestrial division director, developing custom aerial imaging and modeling solutions for plant production systems.
She earned a Ph.D. in agricultural and extension education and evaluation and an M.S. in agronomy, both from Louisiana State University, and a B.S. in environmental science from UC Berkeley.
Levy is headquartered at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine. She can be reached at nlevy@ucanr.edu.
Morris joins UCCE Santa Clara as agricultural liaison 
Julie Morris joined UCCE in Santa Clara County as agricultural liaison, a new UCCE position supported by the county Agricultural Division and UC ANR, on Jan. 3. Morris will facilitate and expedite agricultural projects in Santa Clara County.
“Julie will advance our mission to support economic and community development of local farms and ranches by coordinating across county departments and community groups to enhance food access and public health,” said Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner Joe Deviney.
Morris will help agricultural producers navigate the complex regulations and coordinate efforts for policy change and regulatory simplification. By working closely with a variety of partners, including farms and ranches, landowners, policy advocates, decisionmakers, community stakeholders and others, she will be instrumental in developing and administering new systems, policies, processes and programs supporting healthy food systems.
A longtime rancher and co-founder of T.O. Cattle Company, Morris is an advocate of local food systems. Her family's ranch direct markets grass-fed beef to customers throughout California. She was communications and government affairs manager at Earthbound Farm and has experience with federal and state agriculture policy, food access issues, and regulatory and compliance standards. She is also the former executive director of Community Vision San Benito County, part of the Community Foundation of San Benito County.
Morris holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from San Diego State University and is a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership program, a two-year fellowship focusing on community involvement and leadership.
Morris is based in San Jose and can be reached at (408) 201-0674 and jfmorris@ucanr.edu.
Clemons named UCCE director for Riverside, Orange and San Bernardino counties 
Rita Clemons joined UC ANR as UCCE director in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties on Dec. 1, 2021. By assuming administrative responsibilities for the three counties, Clemons' hiring allows Darren Haver, Janet Hartin, Chris McDonald and Stephanie Barrett to focus on their research and extension.
Prior to joining UC ANR, Clemons was the regional center director for Cambridge College-Southern California, creating visibility for the college by developing strong partnerships and relationships with local community organizations. She managed day-to-day operations; recruited, interviewed and recommended faculty; supervised faculty and staff; resolved complaints from constituents; represented the college at events; assessed academic and student service needs; recommended new programs and developed agreements to market the college.
The Pomona native began her corporate career working in human resources for law firms in Los Angeles. She moved to higher education, first as a recruiter for Claremont Graduate University's School of Politics and Economics, and eventually becoming a program administrator for the School of Information Systems and Technology.
Clemons earned a degree in paralegal studies at the Southern California College of Business and Law, bachelor's degree in business administration at the University of Phoenix, and a master's degree in management with a concentration in leadership at Claremont Graduate University.
Clemons is based in Moreno Valley and can be reached at rlclemons@ucanr.edu.
Urban IPM team wins CDPR IPM Achievement Award
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation presented a 2021 IPM Achievement Award to Karey Windbiel-Rojas, associate director for Urban & Community IPM, and fellow UCCE advisors Andrew Sutherland, Niamh Quinn and Siavash Taravati for their integrated pest management work in urban settings.
The advisors play important roles in encouraging IPM implementation in urban settings throughout California. As urban IPM advisors, they conduct research, provide training and publish resources to promote IPM adoption. Their research topics include urban IPM, organic herbicides, bait-only cockroach management programs, bedbugs, rodent and coyote management in the wildland-urban interface, red imported fire ants, and municipal IPM.
They received the award during a virtual meeting on Feb. 22.
WeedCUT wins CDPR IPM Achievement Award
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation also presented a 2021 IPM Achievement Award to the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) and members of the UC Integrated Pest Management Program for science-based tools and resources to control invasive weeds in California.
With funding from the DPR Alliance Grants Program, Cal-IPC and Tunyalee Martin, associate director for communications, Chinh Lam, IT supervisor and lead programmer, and Cheryl Wilen, emeritus IPM advisor, published the “Best Management Practices for Non-Chemical Weed Control” manual and released an interactive online tool called WeedCUT, which helps users make informed decisions about managing weeds without using chemicals.
“We're very fortunate that DPR has funded version 2 of WeedCUT to add herbicide information,” Martin said. “This will make the tool a complete, one-stop shop for natural areas weedy plant management.”
Tate honored by Society for Range Management 
Ken Tate received the Society for Range Management's 2022 W.R. Chapline Land Stewardship Award on Jan. 10 during the society's annual meeting in Albuquerque. The award recognizes exceptional accomplishments and contributions in range management.
Tate, professor and Rustici Endowed Specialist in Rangeland Watershed Sciences with UC Cooperative Extension and UC Davis, has contributed to the conservation of California's rangelands over the past three decades. His research and extension focus on natural resources and sustainable agricultural enterprises. Recommendations from his work have had significant impacts in guiding ranchers and state and federal land management agencies.
Tate has led multiple teams to develop research, education and extension programs to proactively address concerns about fecal microbial pollution from rangeland cattle.
Early in his career, he worked to inform public interest groups on the risk of pathogenic contamination of San Francisco's drinking water supply. Working with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Tate helped stakeholder groups identify management practices to reduce risks of drinking water supplies being contaminated by livestock-borne Cryptosporidium parvum, allowing ranching families to continue sustainable grazing practices on Bay Area watersheds. Since then, he has led numerous collaborations to examine the movement of other pathogens; bacterial indicators of water quality such as fecal coliforms and Enterococci; and hormones and pharmaceutical products common in rangeland cattle production.
Tate has published 120 peer-reviewed journal articles and secured over $14 million in research and extension grants. His scientific leadership and expertise in the livestock grazing-environmental quality-human health nexus have been sought out nationally and internationally. Most importantly, Tate has become a trusted source of information through his work with private landowners, public land managers, conservation groups, regulatory agency staff and policymakers to support science-based decision-making.
Sanden honored by American Society of Agronomy 
Blake Sanden, emeritus UCCE farm advisor, received an Honoree Award from the California Chapter of the American Society of Agronomy.
As a result of Sanden's research, many almond growers started to put more water on their trees. And average Kern County almond yields increased by 65% between 2002 and 2011 compared to the previous 15 years, the Almond Board of California wrote in a story on its website.
Sanden retired in 2018 from his 26-year UCCE career.
“He was a champion on re-evaluating the water requirements for almond trees, which prior to his investigation was too little,” said Bob Curtis, the retired former director of agricultural affairs for the Almond Board of California.
“While there is no doubt that Blake had a big impact on California growers, he also had an impact on new farm advisors, including myself, as he was always there to help and transfer his knowledge and experiences to us as we started our new job as farm advisors,” said Mohammad Yaghmour, UCCE orchards advisor in Kern County.
Sanden received the award during the American Society of Agronomy's convention held via Zoom Feb. 1-3.
Scow and Sperling elected to National Academy of Engineering 
Kate Scow and Daniel Sperling, UC Davis professors, have been elected as members of the National Academy of Engineering.
Kate Scow is a distinguished professor emeritus of soil microbial ecology in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources. The academy honored her for “elucidating the role of soil microbial communities in polluted ecosystems and their responses to agricultural management practices,” according to an NAE statement.
The newly elected class will be formally inducted during the NAE's annual meeting on Oct. 2.
Ronald wins Wolf Prize in Agriculture 
Pam Ronald, UC Davis plant geneticist, has been named the recipient of the 2022 International Wolf Prize in Agriculture, given by the Jerusalem-based Wolf Foundation in recognition of her “pioneering work on disease resistance and environmental stress tolerance in rice.”
Ronald is a distinguished professor in the Department of Plant Pathology, having joined the faculty in 1972, and is also affiliated with the UC Davis Genome Center and the Physical Biosciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
The Wolf Foundation noted her work isolating a gene that allows rice to survive two weeks of flooding and increases yield by 60% compared to conventional varieties. “Her discoveries show an advanced understanding of fundamental biological processes and enhance sustainable agriculture and food security,” the foundation said in its announcement of her prize.
Flood-tolerant rice varieties are now grown by more than 6 million subsistence farmers in India and Bangladesh. The committee noted that those two countries lose more than 4 million tons of rice each year to flooding, enough to feed 30 million people.
Ronald founded the UC Davis Institute for Food and Agricultural Literacy to provide the next generation of scientists with the training they need to become effective communicators. She and her husband, Raoul Adamchak, an organic farmer who retired in 2020 as the market garden coordinator for the UC Davis Student Farm, are the authors of Tomorrow's Table: Organic Farming, Genetics and the Future of Food.
The foundation has been giving its $100,000 prizes in agriculture and other disciplines since 1978, honoring scientists and artists from around the world “for their achievements in the interest of mankind and friendly relations amongst peoples.” – Kat Kerlin
Getts, Haviland, Nobua-Behrmann appointed to CISAC
UC Cooperative Extension advisors Tom Getts, David Haviland and Bea Nobua-Behrmann have been selected to serve on the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee.
This group advises the Invasive Species Council of California, which is composed of the secretaries of California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Natural Resources Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency, California Health and Human Services Agency, and the Office of Emergency Services.
