- Author: Karen Giovannini
2014 Annual Report letter from Stephanie Larson, County Director and Livestock & Range Management Advisor:
As we move into the next 100 years of Cooperative Extension, we continue to value the public/ private partnerships that have been the foundation of our organization, raising the bar by supporting the County of Sonoma Initiatives on local agriculture and healthy communities. UCCE advisors are critical partners with local farmers and ranchers, providing scientific-based information on techniques that can be used to increase production and thus increase economic stability, while addressing environmental concerns.
This past year, UCCE conducted research and provided educational programs to help commercial row crop farmers and livestock producers in Sonoma County deal with drought and climate change. Our frost tower research in vineyards evaluated methods for making the most of local water resources through increased irrigation efficiency. Water conservation programs are also focused on the urban gardener, partnering with the Sonoma County Water Agency to educate the public on how to use less water; and with the Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District to develop an evaluation tool for documenting ecosystem services that have been maintained or increased through implementing conservation easements and proper rangeland management.
We partnered with other county departments to increase access to healthy, local, sustainable food. One outcome was the County Land for Food Production (CLFP) project; which allowed UCCE to work on creating an incubator farm on county land. These efforts are aimed at increasing access to land for food production, and the number of farmers and ranchers growing local food, respectively. The goals align with the Sonoma County Healthy and Sustainable Food Action Plan. Our Agricultural Ombudsman played a critical role in assisting individuals who want to create or expand their farming and ranching enterprises, and is currently working with PRMD to address local poultry processing.
Learn about these programs and more in our 2014 Annual Report.
- Author: Penny Leff
The University of California Small Farm Program, UC Cooperative Extension and collaborating partners will host a Statewide Agritourism Summit for everyone involved in California agritourism on Wednesday April 8, 2015 at the Heidrick Agricultural History Center in Woodland.
“The public is excited about California agritourism. Many California agricultural producers host great opportunities for enjoyment and education for the public and are ready for visitors, but challenges persist in most regions,” said Holly George, leader of the UC Nature and Agricultural Tourism Workgroup and UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Plumas/Sierra Counties. “Groups working on agritourism are thriving in some locales and struggling in other areas. We hope this one-day Agritourism Summit will encourage and strengthen regional and cross-regional working relationships among agritourism operators, organizers, regulators, educators and general tourism promoters throughout California,” said George, one of the Summit organizers.
People who should attend include: Agritourism operators and associations, agritourism regulators, agricultural associations and educators, tourism, marketing and economic development professionals, county and state staff and elected officials, and anyone else involved in California agritourism.
This will be a participatory all-day session (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) with lunch provided. Participants are invited to bring marketing and organizational information to display and share. The goals of the summit are to:
- Build awareness and understanding of successful local and regional networks that benefit agricultural producers and communities, and connect agritourism operators, the larger tourism community and county staff and officials
- Promote sharing of successful agritourism activities and marketing efforts
- Encourage and assist agritourism producers to collaborate with others in their region
- Expand the reach of regional efforts to market agritourism to the public statewide
- Generate a voice for agritourism at a legislative level
- Initiate plans for a statewide framework for agritourism communication and collaboration
This project is funded in part by the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant program. Additional sponsors are Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE) for California, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and California Rangeland Conservation Coalition.
Funding is available through these generous sponsors to assist with travel costs for a limited number of agricultural producers and agricultural educators who could not otherwise attend the Summit. For information about travel assistance, please contact Penny Leff, paleff@ucdavis.edu, 530-752-7779
Agenda and additional information
Registration fee: $20.00 pre-registration (until April 3, 2015) or $30.00 at the door.
- Author: Mimi Enright
The SFE is designed to recognize outstanding group projects, not an individual who does outstanding work. The International Master Gardener recognition is a SEARCH FOR EXCELLENCE of the highest quality within Master Gardener programs across the United States and Canada. Only projects that improve people's lives are awarded.
SCMG has been focusing on the sustainable gardening practice of water conservation via the Garden Sense program, a partnership developed between SCMG and the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) in fall 2013. Most home landscapes in this region have been created without any regard to our summer-dry climate, and the public is not at all aware of the water needs of commonly used landscape plants.
A team of two of our volunteer consultants will visit a Sonoma County homeowner's garden to show how to conserve water by creating a climate-appropriate garden that is healthy, sustainable and environmentally sound. The program is offered countywide to municipal water users and well users.
In our first year of operation we estimate
water savings as a result of the program at 6 acre feet.
- Author: Judy Ludovise
Judy Ludovise, 4-H Program Representative, led them through a comparative tasting opportunity that included goat, cow and sheep cheese. Thank you to Sonoma County Fairgrounds who lent us “Clarabelle” a model Holstein that could actually be milked!
Dairy Day included an engaging virtual farm tour, from a teacher in Hanford, who led us through the process of how milk gets from the dairy to our door. The youth were amazing the teacher could see them, through videoconference technology and could answer their questions.
The day ended with what was voted the best activity of all…eating Goat Ice Cream! This was a great introduction to the dairy cow and has undoubtedly sown the seeds of interest in these kids. Once they turn 9 years old, they will be able to enroll in a 4-H Dairy project and be on their way to becoming our future Sonoma County Dairy Farmers!
- Author: Julia Van Soelen Kim
Are you interested in selling your produce to wholesale buyers but not sure how? The produce distribution industry is mobilizing to meet consumer demand to “know your farmer” and needs well-prepared farmers to work with.
February 24, 2015
All Day
Tour Stops include:
- SF Wholesale Produce Market (several wholesalers and distributors)
- The FruitGuys
- Cal Dining (university food service)
- And more (food hub)
North Bay growers can board the bus at several locations to be determined along HWY 101.
Online registration. Space is limited. Tour costs $20 per person and includes all-day bus transportation, a light breakfast, and lunch. Scholarships are available and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
See you on the bus!
Funded by grants from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, CoBank, Farm Credit West, American AgCredit, and Farm Credit Services of Colusa-Glenn.
