Robovator directed by little computers that scan lettuce rows cuts weeds. Photo taken by Petr Kosina during 2016 specialty crops tour.

ANR members are invited to participate in the California Specialty Crops Council's 2018 educational tour of specialty crop production and pest management in California. The tour will start on Monday, Aug. 6 in Visalia and will conclude in Sacramento in late afternoon Thursday, Aug. 9.

This educational event is designed for regulators, research scientists, Cooperative Extension personnel and representatives from several state and federal agencies.

“The specialty crop tour was a great opportunity to meet and learn from growers, processors, advisors and government agents about pest management and crop production issues throughout California,” said Ria DeBiase, pest management guidelines coordinator for the UC ANR Statewide IPM Program, who took the tour in 2015.

Participants have opportunities to learn and network while visiting crop production sites in the San Joaquin Valley, Salinas Valley and Sacramento Valley including conventional and organic production practices. Attendees meet farmers, pest control advisers and research and extension personnel dealing with specialty crop production and pest management. All of the topics are addressed in terms of using reduced-risk pest management and improving the competitive posture of California agricultural products in the global marketplace. 

Garlic harvest. Photo by Petr Kosina.

“Talking with farmers and advisors in their fields and orchards helped me to get a better understanding of the diversity of issues they are facing every day,” Petr Kosina, UC IPM content development supervisor, who participated in 2016.

“This is a great opportunity for staff to get a closer look at many aspects associated with California agriculture,” Gary W. Van Sickle, executive director of the California Specialty Crops Council, wrote in an email to AVP Wendy Powers.

The crops expected to be seen on the 2018 tour include pears, carrots, onions, garlic, prunes (dried plums), cherries, melons and leafy greens. The tour agenda is posted at http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/281540.doc.

Tour bus transportation, most meals and all tour materials are provided. Hotel costs will be approximately $350 for participants from the Sacramento area. ANR employees may use funds from their own budgets, but ANR will not provide additional funds for the event.

To attend the tour, register by completing the tour registration form at http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/281538.docx and emailing it to gary@specialtycrops.org by June 1. Logistical information about the tour is at
http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/281539.docx.

For more information, contact Van Sickle at gary@specialtycrops.org.