- Contact: Jeannette E. Warnert
- Author: Lorena Anderson, UC Merced
An ongoing effort to collect, digitally preserve and share 100 years of historical records by the UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) has earned the UC Merced Library a more than $300,000 grant.
“We're extremely proud to be able to further the work already begun on the UCCE project,” UC Merced Chancellor Dorothy Leland said. “Our library is producing a collection that demonstrates the organization's lasting effects on the state, the work it has done in the past and its potential for the future.”
The work is especially relevant to the San Joaquin Valley, said Emily Lin, the UC Merced Library's Head of Digital Curation and Scholarship.
“We have a lot of archives and historic records based around urban centers, but we haven't been collecting the records of rural California in any systematic way,” she said. “But rural California has had an incredible influence on the state's history. California was transformed by agriculture over the past century.”
The Archivist of the United States approved the $308,900 grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission for “A Century of Impact: Documenting the Work of the Cooperative Extension in California's Counties.” The three-year project will begin in the summer, after Lin and others hire a group of undergraduate students to help with the work. Additionally, the project will be part of an informational booth at the World Ag Expo in February in Tulare — UC Merced's first appearance at the exposition, which draws more than 100,000 people from all over the world.
“We were convinced the history of Cooperative Extension in California was worthy of preserving when we launched the pilot project four years ago,” said Glenda Humiston, vice president of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), the organization that oversees UCCE. “The federal grant to continue this work confirms the value of UCCE history and its contribution to California's prosperity.”
A pilot project, begun after the 2014 centennial of the UCCE, looked at Merced, Ventura and Humboldt counties' UCCE records, and produced a stack of material 70 linear feet long — just for Merced County. A banker box is about 1 linear foot.
Records from Humboldt County included disaster responses from the 1955 and 1964 historic floods, while Merced County's records were mainly about crops, irrigation, the beginnings of the Merced Irrigation District and 4-H. Each county's records provide insight into its unique characteristics, Lin said.
The new project will collect 100 years' worth of reports and historic photographs from 20 California counties — in the Valley, along the coast, up north at the edges of the Sierra and along the southern border — and will geocode all the records.
“This project is of great potential value in supporting a number of lines of existing research, as well as in opening up new and fruitful areas of inquiry into the interrelated topics of democracy, technology and community,” said David Campbell, a political scientist and the associate dean for social/human sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis. He wrote a letter of support for the project that was included in the application.
The digitization project will help researchers at all levels, Professor Mario Sifuentez said.
“It provides access to a trove of documents that shed light on the nature and development of agriculture in the region, which amazingly has been understudied,” he said. “Despite living in the heart of one of the most productive agricultural regions of the world, few people really understand how agriculture in the Central Valley works. I am invested in producing work and helping students produce work that explains the historical trajectory of how the Valley ended up as ‘The Valley,' and agriculture is the main component of that story.”
The archives set the stage for many research projects across many disciplines. Historians will find the records helpful, but so will people studying progressive era institutions, immigration, race relations, social movements, technological change or the rich history of food and agriculture in California, Campbell said. There are also implications for political science and public policy scholarship; environmental and climate studies around such topics as water and pesticide use; material for economists and labor market scholars; and geographers.
The library is working with the San Joaquin Valley Historical Society, and San Diego State University will also have a set of the records digitized when the project is completed. In addition, regional 4-H students will be part of the project, helping tag and digitize the material.
Cornell University Professor Scott Peters, a historian of higher education who wrote a letter of support for the project, said engaging with local students and their families through a 4-H project is particularly valuable.
“It's always important to help young people connect with the history of their communities,” Peters said. “These historical materials will enrich their understanding of the vision, values, ideals, tensions, dilemmas and struggles that the work of building a democratic culture in partnership with higher education requires and involves. And it helps them understand their own role in history and ask themselves what they are creating and leaving that will be part of history 100 years from now.”
After the 2014 centennial, UC ANR allocated funds to locate a professional archivist at the UC Merced library, which is becoming known for creating comprehensive digital collections of historical materials.
Archivist Lisa Vallen began work with the three pilot counties. She found UCCE records in the National Archives as well as pictures, negatives and documents spread throughout the state.
“Ideally, historical records should be kept in a space that's climate controlled,” Vallen said. “In Ventura, they have some in a container on a farm. That's not ideal at all.”
The ANR hopes this project will help not only researchers, but will educate the public and policy makers about UCCE.
“There's no question about the value of this project and the richness it brings to the whole state, not just UC,” said UC Merced University Librarian Haipeng Li.
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
On Nov. 12, UCCE puts the icing on the cake by bringing together key UC leaders, county supervisors, UC researchers, farm advisors and nutrition educators to provide perspective on the next century of Cooperative Extension in Riverside County.
“Back in 1914, the U.S. president and Congress realized that, to feed a great nation, ag research advances from top universities had to reach farmers,” said Eta Takele, the director of UCCE in Riverside County. “They made a bold move when they created Cooperative Extension, a program that revolutionized farming and communities. Over the years, we have worked side-by-side with farmers and their families to boost yields, maintain a safe food supply and protect natural resources.”
True to its form, UCCE is hosting an educational forum to mark the centennial. Presentations will run from 1 to 5 p.m. and cover such topics as the California drought, which is putting pressure on an agricultural industry in Riverside County that contributes $1.3 billion annually to the local economy. Director of the UC California Institute for Water Resources Doug Parker will explain how the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources is responding to the crisis.
The statewide director of UCCE's 4-H and nutrition programs Constance Schneider will explain initiatives designed to reduce the alarming growth in overweight, obesity and Type 2 diabetes in California communities. In fact, the Riverside County's overweight and obesity rate is higher than average for California. Fourteen percent of Riverside County children ages 2 to 11 are overweight or obese and 36 percent of children 12 to 17 are overweight or obese.
Other speakers will address the UCCE working relationship with UC Riverside, new pest problems, issues related to waste management and the changing demographics of California. The program closes with a presentation on the future of UC Cooperative Extension by UCCE Vice Provost Chris Greer.
For more information, contact Eta Takele at (951) 683-6491, ettakele@ucanr.edu
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
“One of the most profound ways in which UC touches people's lives is through the work of Cooperative Extension.” – Janet Napolitano, President, University of California
On May 8, 1914, the president signed an act of Congress to channel scientific advances from university research to everyday people working and living in the United States. On May 8, 2014, California residents will collaborate on a dataset that further connects public higher education with community.
“UC Cooperative Extension is all about science and service,” said Barbara Allen-Diaz, UC vice president for the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which administers Cooperative Extension in California. “To celebrate the anniversary of Cooperative Extension, we are asking Californians to help us collect scientific data so that all of us will better understand our natural, agricultural and urban communities.”
Everyone in California is invited to take part. To participate, go to http://beascientist.ucanr.edu and record your observations on three questions:
- How many pollinators do you see?
- How do you conserve water?
- Where is food grown in your community?
Many UC Cooperative Extension county offices are holding special events on May 8 where the public may join in the celebration of science and service. Computers will be available to allow participants to record their observations to the science questions.
Contra Costa County
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Contra Costa County Master Gardeners will be at the program's demonstration garden to answer gardening questions and assist visitors in their "Be a Scientist" reporting. The garden is at the corner of No. Wiget Lane and Shadelands Drive in Walnut Creek (N. Wiget Lane is just off of Ygnacio Blvd.) More information: Emma Connery, Master Gardener program coordinator, (925) 646-6130, edconnery@ucanr.edu
Fresno County
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Open house at the Garden of the Sun, 1750 N. Winery Ave., Fresno. The event includes an opening ceremony and proclamation from the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, presentations by representatives of all UCCE programs in Fresno County, prizes and refreshments. More information: Shannon Mueller, UCCE county director, (559) 241-7527, scmueller@ucanr.edu
Humboldt County
12 noon to 1:30 p.m. – Mini educational workshops on water conservation, pollination and local food at Redwood Roots, a small farm at Wood Duck Lane and Fellowship Way, in the Jacoby Creek Valley in Bayside.
6 to 7:30 p.m. – ‘Day of Science and Service' participants share the results of the day's data collection at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, 3750 Harris St., Eureka. More information: Yana Valachovic, UCCE county director, (707) 445-7351, yvala@ucanr.edu
Imperial County
4 to 7 p.m. - A reception at the UC Desert Research and Extension Center, 1050 East Holton Rd., Holtville, including a presentation about the UCCE centennial, its local impact and recognition of its partners in Imperial County. Farmers, 4-H members and UCCE nutrition educators who have made significant accomplishments will be recognized. More information: Khaled Bali, (760) 352-9474, Ext. 28, kmbali@ucanr.edu
Los Angeles County
3 to 6 p.m. – Science and Service Fair at the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum, 18127 S Alameda St., Compton. The event includes workshops on nutrition, food preservation and gardening, special activities for kids and healthy after-school snacks. A.G. Kawamura, former California Department of Food and Agriculture secretary, will be a guest speaker. More information: Drusilla Rosales, UCCE advisor, (626) 586-1948, dmrosales@ucanr.edu
Mariposa County
2 to 6 p.m. – Day of Science and Service open house with information about 4-H, Master Gardeners and weed control on rangeland at the UC Cooperative Extension office, 5009 Fairgrounds Rd., Mariposa. Participants are also invited to visit a native plant garden on the fairgrounds. More information: Fadzayi Mashiri, UCCE county director, (209) 966-2417, fmashiri@ucanr.edu
Merced County
3 to 5 p.m. – Booth at the Merced Mall, 851 W. Olive Ave., Merced, where passersby can bring questions to Master Gardeners, a nutrition educator, 4-H leaders or the farm advisor, and participate in the Day of Science and Service. More information: Maxwell Norton, (209) 385-7403, mnorton@ucanr.edu
Monterey County
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Open house at the UC Cooperative Extension office, 1432 Abbott St., Salinas. Tours of the facility, laboratories and greenhouses. Participants may use a computer kiosk to take part in the citizen science surveys. More information: Maria de la Fuente, (831) 759-7358, medalafuente@ucanr.edu
Nevada County
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – A free family event includes ‘lunch for dinner' provided by Sierra Harvest, plus prizes, demonstrations and food-related activities at Bell Hill Academy, 342 S. School St., Grass Valley. More information: Molly Klumb, UCCE program representative, (530) 889-7350, mhklumb@ucanr.edu
Riverside County
10:30 a.m. to 12 noon – UC Cooperative Master Gardeners give a presentation about pollinators at their Grow Lab facility and visitors may tour the Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden and Beneficial Insect Garden. The Grow Labe is at 3555 Crowell Ave. Access the Grow Lab via the alley off Helena.
6 to 8 p.m. – UC Cooperative Extension and Western Municipal Water District will host a workshop on conserving water, money and time in your backyard garden. Janet Hartin, UCCE advisor for environmental horticulture, will share tips for managing the landscape under dry conditions. Dona Jenkins, Master Gardener Program coordinator, will give an overview of the Master Gardener Program and Helpline Information. Presidents will be at the Western Municipal Water District's Southern California Landscape Demonstration Garden at 400 E. Allessandro Blvd., Riverside. More information: Eta Takele, UCCE county director, (951) 683-6491 Ext. 221, ettakele@ucanr.edu
San Benito County
4 to 6 p.m. - Open house at the San Benito County UC Cooperative Extension office, 3228 Southside Rd., Hollister. Includes participation in science and service activities, dinner and information from 4-H, Master Gardeners and nutrition educators. More information: Lynn Schmidt McQuitty, (831) 637-5346, Ext. 12, lschmittmcquitty@ucanr.edu
San Diego County
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – The general public is invited to the County Operations Center commons area, 9335 Hazard Way, San Diego, for booths with displays and handouts about UC Cooperative Extension, plus a wildfire prevention presentation that includes a live demonstration structure burn. More information: James Bethke, (760) 752-4715, jabethke@ucanr.edu
San Francisco/San Mateo counties
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - UC Cooperative Extension staff will be in the lobby of the California Academy of Sciences museum, 55 Music Concourse Dr., San Francisco, with iPads to help visitors answer the three Day of Science and Service questions. More information: Virginia Bolshakova, (650) 726-9059, Ext. 102, vbolshakova@ucanr.edu
Santa Cruz County
3:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Open house at the UC Cooperative Extension office, 1432 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville, where the public can meet UCCE academics and staff, see demonstrations and learn about UCCE research. More information: Mark Bolda, (831) 763-8025, mpbolda@ucanr.edu
Tehama County
3 to 6 p.m. - Open house at the UC Cooperative Extension office, 1754 Walnut St., Red Bluff. More information: Richard Buchner, (530) 527-3101, rpbuchner@ucanr.edu
Ventura County
2 to 5 p.m. – Community open house at the Hansen Research and Extension Center, 14292 W. Telegraph Rd., Santa Paula. More information: Rose Hayden-Smith, strategic initiative leader, (805) 645-1466, rmhaydensmith@ucanr.edu
Yolo County
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Open house at the UC Cooperative Extension office, 70 Cottonwood St., Woodland. Participants to take part in activities, learn about UCCE programs and history, and enjoy refreshments. More information: Rachael Long, UCCE county director, (530) 666-8734, rflong@ucanr.edu
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Nineteen UC academics – including UC Cooperative Extension county advisors, UC Cooperative Extension specialists, and leaders from University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) – will make half-hour presentations on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. over the course of the three-day show. All presentations will be inside a heated tent at space K50, just east of Pavilion B.
UC Cooperative Extension was established by an act of Congress in 1914 to help farmers, homemakers, and youth incorporate the latest university research into their lives. At first geared towards strengthening rural areas, UC Cooperative Extension has become integral to urban and suburban communities as well. A century later, UC Cooperative Extension advisors and researchers live and work in every California county and partner with local communities to solve economic, agricultural, natural resource, youth development and nutrition issues. Throughout 2014, UC Cooperative Extension will host special events to celebrate the organization’s 100 years of science and service. The centennial kicks off with the speakers’ series at the World Ag Expo, the world’s largest agricultural exposition.
“Conducting research and providing practical information to farmers and the general public are the hallmarks of UC Cooperative Extension,” said Marissa Stein, UCCE centennial coordinator. “We will be celebrating our centennial by doing what we do best – extending information that benefits communities and local economies in California.”
The theme for UCCE centennial presentations on opening day, Feb. 11, is “The good, the bad and the ugly: Species in California,” which focuses on species that benefit and imperil agriculture and urban landscapes. Speakers will discuss the use of natural enemies to control pests, insect problems that have been introduced into California from other countries, and the imminent threat of Asian citrus psyllid to the state’s commercial citrus-producing areas. The mystery of honeybee colony collapse disorder and the perennial menace of pocket gophers and squirrels will also be addressed. Bill Frost, associate vice president of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and a rangeland management expert, will speak about introduced species that threaten California’s prized wildlands.
Presentations on the second day of the show, Feb. 12, focus on “Wholesome food for a hungry planet.” Featured speaker Barbara Allen-Diaz, UC vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources will speak at 11 a.m. about “Building on UC ANR research to help feed the world.” Other topics that day will be emerging diseases affecting landscapes and orchards, tracking pathogens in the fresh produce industry, using World War I gardens as a model for modern food systems, and incorporating a healthy local food into the diet.
The final day of the show, seven UC presenters will address the theme “Sustainable is attainable.” The experts will discuss such critical current topics as nitrate and groundwater management, the potential for producing biofuel from California crops, and the adoption of new conservation systems that will revolutionize row crop production in the San Joaquin Valley. Current research findings on cotton production, weed management and air pollution sources round out the day’s offerings.
Following is the complete UC Cooperative Extension speaker schedule for the 2014 World Ag Expo:
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014
Theme: The good, the bad and the ugly: Species in California
10 a.m.
A call to action: Battling invasive pests in California
David Haviland
UCCE advisor in Kern County
11 a.m.
Introduced species threaten California’s prized wildlands
Bill Frost, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
12 noon
The looming threat of Asian citrus psyllid and huanglongbing disease in California citrus
Elizabeth Grafton-Cardwell, Ph.D.
UCCE specialist in the Department of Entomology, UC Riverside
Director, UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center
1 p.m.
A great mystery of our time: Disappearing honeybees
Shannon Mueller, Ph.D.
UCCE advisor and County Director, Fresno County
2 p.m.
Biological control: When do natural enemies work and when do they fail?
Kent Daane, Ph.D.
UCCE specialist in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UC Berkeley, based at UC Kearney Research and Extension Center
3 p.m.
Beyond Wile E. Coyote: Pocket gopher and ground squirrel control in agriculture and at home
Roger Baldwin, Ph.D.
UCCE specialist in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, UC Davis
Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
Theme: Wholesome food for a hungry planet
10 a.m.
Landscapes and orchards challenged by emerging diseases
Elizabeth Fichtner, Ph.D.
UCCE advisor in Tulare County
11 a.m.
Building on UC ANR research to help feed the world
Barbara Allen-Diaz, Ph.D.
UC Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources
12 noon
Tracking the source of pathogens for California’s produce industry
Rob Atwill, DVM, Ph.D.
Director, Veterinary Medicine Extension, UC Davis
1 p.m.
World War I gardens as a model for modern food systems
Rose Hayden-Smith, Ph.D.
UCCE advisor in Ventura County
2 p.m.
Improve your diet with healthy, protein-rich, low-calorie, inexpensive and locally grown food
Cathi Lamp
UCCE advisor in Tulare County
3 p.m.
Alfalfa: Ice cream in the making
Dan Putnam, Ph.D.
UCCE specialist in the Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014
Theme: Sustainable is attainable
10 a.m.
From nitrate to drought: ANR solutions for California’s water management challenges
Doug Parker, Ph.D.
Director, UC California Institute for Water Resources
10:30 a.m.
Sustaining groundwater resources to feed the world
Thomas Harter, Ph.D.
UCCE specialist in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis
11 a.m.
Precise irrigation + cover crops – tillage = A formula for farm sustainability
Jeff Mitchell, Ph.D.
UCCE specialist in the Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis, , based at UC Kearney Research and Extension Center
12 noon
A surprising source of air pollution from dairies: It’s not the cows
Frank Mitloehner, Ph.D.
UCCE specialist in the Department of Animal Science, UC Davis
1 p.m.
Cotton research: Protecting what you wear!
Bob Hutmacher, Ph.D.
UCCE specialist in the Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
Director, UC West Side Research and Extension Center
2 p.m.
Can we produce bioenergy from crops in California?
Steve Kaffka, Ph.D.
UCCE specialist in the Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
3 p.m.
Weed management strategies – past, current, future
Steve Wright
UCCE advisor in Tulare and Kings counties