- Author: Ana Resendiz
Over three consecutive Fridays—October 25, November 1, and November 8, 2024—the community of Coachella and surrounding areas was invited to participate in the ongoing HSP Demonstration Project.
The project primarily aims to target the small-scale okra farming community in and around Coachella Valley. Okra is a winter crop, and at the end of the growing season, the remaining plant residues are usually mowed and disced into the soil, leaving the fields fallow during the summer months. An alternative approach is to implement climate-smart practices during the summer season.
Soil conservation practices, like using cover crops and adding compost, are widely recognized for their benefits to both the soil and the crops. However, before implementing these practices, it's crucial to consider various factors, including the selection of crops, management techniques, and finishing methods, among others.
This study aims to evaluate four cover crops for nematode, nitrogen, and soil health management. Cowpea, sunn hemp, brown mustard, and sudan grass are being compared to a fallow treatment using a randomized block design with four replications.
Harvest days provided an excellent opportunity to connect with various members of the community. It was a pleasant surprise to see individuals with knowledge and experience in agriculture participating in the event. These gatherings help foster connections and build support networks. Additionally, they served as a platform to raise awareness about the services offered by UC ANR and UCCE among individuals who were previously unfamiliar with the organization and whose daily activities do not involve work in the field.
During the event, various topics were discussed, including the proper methods for harvesting okra, the diseases and pests that can affect the plant, and its nutritional and irrigation needs. Additionally, more casual topics were covered, such as the best ways to cook okra, the exchange of recipes, and a conversation about the different roles we each play in the community.
At the end of the event, on the last day, all the volunteers, the station staff, and the project researchers enjoyed some carne asada tacos for lunch and a pleasant chat about the experience of participating in field activities, getting out of the routine, and at the end, we were all able to take home freshly harvested lemons from another project. Without a doubt, a great experience for everyone.
If you are interested in learning more about the project you can check out the latest full article published in the Imperial Ag Brief Newsletter called Pre-Plant Benefits of Summer Cover Crops in Low Desert Vegetable Production.
If you are interested in receiving technical assistance in Riverside or Imperial County for your vegetable production, feel free to contact Dr. Philip Waisen at pwaisen@ucanr.edu
If you are interested in receiving technical assistance on soil conservation practices and learning about funding opportunities to cover the cost of the practices feel free to reach out to the Climate Smart Ag team at climatesmartcesteam@groups.ucdavis.edu
- Author: Heather Montgomery
We were excited to have an outreach booth before this year's annual Sikh Festival – one of the largest Sikh gatherings outside of India drawing over 100,000 people to the area. Since the 1970's, when East Indian's were coming to Yuba City they were farmers looking for soil that could grow anything they wanted. Secondly, they wanted a place where they could raise their families. At this year's festival many of them in attendance are now 2nd and 3rd generation farmers and ranchers to the Yuba- Sutter area.
The Sikh Festival is held in Yuba City at the Teirra Buena Sikh Temple. This year marked the 45th annual Sikh Parade. This parade, along with the Nagar Kirtan Festival, takes place each year over a three-day span. It's a beloved annual tradition that has been celebrated for decades to honor the Sikh community's cultural heritage and religious values. Originally starting as a small gathering, the parade has grown into one of the largest Sikh events in North America, drawing over one-hundred thousand participants and visitors from across the nation to the Yuba- Sutter area. The festival is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together, with the Parade as the main event.
During the Sikh Temple festival, outside and all around the Temple there were hundreds of volunteers there with an assortment of food, martial arts demonstrations, and participants in ceremonial dress. There was also a fantastic fireworks display in the evening that could be seen from miles away.
A few local organizations were invited to share resources and outreach materials at the event including UC ANR, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Sutter Resource Conservation District (RCD). As a representative of UC ANR, I collaborated with the participating organizations to educate farmers and ranchers in the Sikh community about implementing sustainability practices and building on-farm climate resilience. The goal of our joint booth was to empower local farmers and the broader East Indian community with the tools needed to adapt to climate change. We shared educational flyers, provided technical assistance resources, and facilitated discussions on participating in climate smart agriculture programs.
We met farmers and ranchers and answered their questions about upcoming grants and other funding opportunities. Specifically, we provided information to producers about CDFA's climate smart agriculture incentive programs include the Healthy Soils Program (HSP) and the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP). Many farmers we spoke to were interested in learning more about our services and signed up to receive technical assistance. It was interesting to have discovered that many farmers today who are currently farming, also have full time jobs.
The success of the event was a testament to the growing collaboration between the community, agriculture, and conservation organizations, reflecting our shared commitment to both cultural celebration and environmental stewardship. We learned that at the Sikh Temple, there is Langar, or the Sikh community kitchen which provides a free meal service year-round and is open to everyone in the community. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful resource in our community.
Collaboration Links:
NRCS – https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/california
Sutter RCD – https://sutterrcd.specialdistrict.org/
UC ANR Climate Smart Agriculture Program – https://ciwr.ucanr.edu/Programs/ClimateSmartAg/TechnicalAssistanceProviders/
- Author: Michael Jaquez
Michael Jaquez is one of our newer Community Education Specialist with the Climate Smart Agriculture team at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Based in San Diego County, he is excited to create connections with local farmers and growers and provide technical assistance to increase the use of climate smart agricultural practices.
Michael is a San Diego native and began his journey in the agriculture industry through raising livestock projects with Ramona Wranglers 4-H. He pursued a bachelor's degree in Animal Science with a minor in Dairy Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Michael then returned to Cal Poly to complete a Master of Agricultural Education degree and teaching credential to begin working as a high school agricultural educator and FFA advisor. He spent a year teaching Food Science, Veterinary Science and Introductory Agricultural Mechanics to students in the Bay Area.
Much of Michael's practical agriculture experience comes from helping with his family's regenerative meat and egg farm, Three Sons Farm. Located in Ramona, they produce pasture-raised chicken and eggs, grassfed beef and pork, and value-added products using pork lard. The farm believes that waste is an unused resource and strives to minimize waste production. Three Sons Farm sells at local farmer's markets throughout the week and delivers directly to customers homes. The farm has provided Michael with the opportunity to develop a holistic understanding of the agriculture industry by being involved in many stages of production including: animal husbandry, processing and packaging, farmer's market sales and outreach, and grant writing.
Working as a Community Education Specialist provides the opportunity to be involved in many aspects of the industry, and Michael is excited to apply his skill set and passion for local agriculture to continue supporting San Diego farmers and growers.
- Author: Michael Jaquez
When it comes to animal housing, manure management requires thought and consideration. Much of this decision depends on the size of the operation, species of animal, and the overall goals of your farming practices. Deep bedding models have become more popular, specifically compost bedded pack barns (CBP) seen in the dairy industry.
A compost bedded pack is a style of deep bedding system that combines a dry, fine litter such as shavings, with the animal's manure, resulting in a favorable environment that slowly composts the manure (Bewley et al., 2012). This style of manure management provides a large space for dairy cattle to rest, and has been reported to reduce odor, results in fewer flies, and improved cow cleanliness to name a few (Bewley et al., 2012). For a CBP to be successful, a new carbon source (Such as shavings or nut hulls) must be added each day to the pack, and the area must be aerated to encourage the bacteria to breakdown the organic matter, resulting in a usable compost once the pack is cleaned out, which typically happens once or twice a year (Bewley et al., 2012).
Deep bedding systems similar to CBP have been used in other livestock industries as well. Poultry producers have used deep bedding systems to achieve a similar goal, as well as swine operations. Chickens consistently scratch and turn the bedding in search of tasty treats, and pigs root through the bedding for similar reasons. A deep bedding system is a favorable environment from an animal welfare perspective as well.
Curious about deep bedding systems and want more information? Watch these videos to learn more:
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Compost Bedding Pack Barn | How Joel Salatin Uses Pigs and Chickens to Fertilize His Farm |
References
Bewley, Jeffrey & Taraba, Joseph & Day, George & Black, Randi & Damasceno, Flavio. (2012). Compost Bedded Pack Barn Design: Features and Management Considerations. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Publication. ID.
/table>- Author: Caddie M Bergren
Danielle Duyst is our newest Community Education Specialist with the UC ANR Climate Smart Agriculture Program based in Tulare and Kern Counties. She is excited to support farmers throughout the Central Valley and assist in implementing sustainable farm practices. Danielle grew up in Tulare County on an orange orchard and lives in Visalia today.
Her interest in environmental science and sustainability began when she got her first field job early in college as an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) lab assistant for an agriculture science lab supporting farmers in Tulare. She continued to explore her passion for the environment through completing a bachelor's degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies at the University of Utah. Throughout her time at U of Utah, she studied atmospheric physics, environmental science, climate change, climate records, environmental justice, and more. During her final semester, she worked with Seven Canyons Trust and Utah Radon Lab to increase environmental health in Salt Lake City.
Danielle is excited to support farmers and spread education concerning climate-smart agriculture throughout Tulare and Kern counties. She can be contacted at dduyst@ucanr.edu.