UC ANR supports California's crop protection workforce to become more qualified through hands-on Airblast Sprayer Calibration Training. 100% of participants reported learning professional skills that also can improve the sustainability and profitability of California ag.

The Issue

As a best practice in pesticide spray application, growers and pesticide applicators should calibrate their sprayers to ensure accurate application rates and compliance with the law as represented by pesticide labels. However, proper understanding of sprayer calibration objectives...

Upon attending the Citrus Spray Field Day in November 2022 at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension (KARE) Center, 93% of participants reported learning much or very much about spray application best practices, which can lead to increased agricultural efficiency.

The Issue

Because of the complex nature of spray application under field conditions, growers and pesticide applicators have difficulty in recognizing or using best practices that result in desired application efficiencies. Therefore, applications often fall short. Developing and disseminating science-based recommendations from field trials and decision support tools...

Universities adopted UCCE agriculture production innovation and technology video series, contributing to workforce competency.

The Issue

Projections for near-future retirements of people working in California's agricultural production, marketing and post-harvest handling sectors indicate severe re-staffing needs in the coming years. Technological advances have reduced manual labor in agriculture, but increased the need for skilled labor to maintain the sustainability of the vegetable industry.  Maintaining California's leading role in producing abundant, safe vegetables is critical not only to Americans' health, but also to the state's...

After attending a summer workshop at the Agricultural Application Engineering Lab, 97% of student participants in the Reedley College Upward Bound program reported learning much or very much about spray engineering basics.

The Issue

Enabling K-12 students to experience math and science in agriculture enhances their awareness of the diverse career opportunities related to agriculture. Every year, high school students from underrepresented groups participating in the Reedley College Upward Bound Math and Science program receive two weeks of workshops at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension (KARE) Center to gain such experience.

How UC...