- Author: Brooke Jacobs
Our second annual Pomology extension course finished with a fun, and only slightly rainy, four day field tour throughout California. Course instructors Professor Ted DeJong (Professor, UC Davis), Carlos Crisosto (Cooperative Extension Specialist) and I drove twelve passenger vans north to Corning, south to Hanford, and many points in between. Thirty of the students from the first week of our course stayed on to tour a wide range of UC experiments, processing and packing facilities, nurseries and orchards.
This year our field tour was jam-packed with help from our UC ANR farm advisors and specialists. I would like to thank the following UC ANR advisors and specialists for contributing interesting and unique stops to our field tour.
- Franz Niederholzer, UCCE Farm Advisor and Director of the Nickels Soil Lab
- Bruce Lampinen, Walnut and Almond UCCE Specialist
- Bob Beede, UCCE Farm Advisor Emeritus
- Mike McKenry, Nematologist Emeritus at Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center
- Deborah Golino, UCCE Specialist and Director of Foundation Plant Services
Allan Fulton (Irrigation and Water Resources Advisor) deserves a special thank you for braving the pouring rain to talk to our group about two new almond irrigation experiments he started recently. Thank you Allan!
Below are photos from just a few of our field tour stops. We hope to see you in the class next year! E-mail our registration coordinator Penny Stockdale (pastockdale@ucdavis.edu) right away to reserve a spot.
Bob Beede (UCCE Farm Advisor Emeritus) and Professor Ted DeJong in the pistachio block at the Kearney Agriculture Research & Extension Center
Bruce Lampinen (UCCE Walnut and Almond Specialist) describing ongoing walnut research projects at the Nickels Soil Lab in Arbuckle, CA.
Mike McKenry (Emeritus Nematologist at Kearney Agriculture & Research Extension Center) showing students the results of a large field experiment testing for differences in root structure and size as a result of different fumigation treatments.
Jeff Colombini with Lodi Farming, Inc discussing innovative orchard management practices. Jeff was recently named "Grower of the Year" by the Good Fruit Grower. Congratulations Jeff!