4/18/15 - An update on the statewide drought topped the agenda for the Agronomic Crops and Water Conservation Field Day held at the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Desert Research and Extension Center here early Thursday morning.
The event, sponsored by Imperial County's UC Cooperative Extension and the California Department of Water Resources, played out in a six-stop tour, with specialists from across the agribusiness world providing attendees with an inside look at a variety of initiatives taking place within the Valley and all over California.
Despite being classified according to Palmer Drought Severity Index markers as an area afflicted with “severe drought” in July 2014, Imperial County has seen its eastern regions downgraded to “moderate drought” levels. Only Del Norte County, in the extreme northwest of the state, fits into the “normally dry” category, while regions of 32 other counties face “exceptional drought,” per a report by Daniele Zaccaria dated March 23 of this year.
Per Gov. Jerry Brown's 25 percent water cut mandate enacted two weeks ago, those numbers are projected to steadily decrease, though California residents should prepare themselves for a long, self-restrictive haul, experts say.
Also Thursday, visitors were given tours of homegrown alfalfa fields born of subsurface irrigation, an approach which cuts water usage by reducing evaporation from the soil surface. Research results from variety trials and deficit irrigation studies were also presented, with Dan Putnam, an agronomist and professor at UC Davis, taking the lead on numerous talking points.
In the case of deficit irrigation, one of Putnam's areas of interest, water is withheld at specific times during the crop's development so that yield loss is minimized despite the water cutbacks which have recently been enacted statewide.
In addition to alfalfa research, the field day included presentations on oil crops, bell peppers, sugar beets, sorghum and giant king grass — a non-genetically modified hybrid that is currently undergoing consideration for bioenergy production due to its high yield.
Author: Michael Dukes, Imperial Valley Press
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- Author: Sam Urie
Holtville, CA –
Nearly 250 local high school students from Calexico, Imperial, Southwest, Holtville and Central Union high schools visited UC FARM SMART the first week of November over five separate days. The program was a collaboration between United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Hispanic Serving Institutions, led by Regional Director Roberto Gonzalez, and the UC FARM SMART Program. The program was titled “Agrilicious Research Days: From Farm to Table”.
Presenters from the University of California and the University of Arizona opened the eyes of students to potential careers in agricultural science, veterinary medicine, and more. Tanya Hodges, Academic Programs Coordinator at University of Arizona-Yuma, highlighted options for Imperial Valley students to take courses at Imperial Valley College and receive in-state tuition rates upon transfer to University of Arizona-Yuma. Among the degree programs offered are agriculture technology management and sustainable plant systems/agronomy. Tanya Hodges also promoted the USDA AgDiscovery program, a two-week summer camp for high school students interested in an agricultural career.
Students were encouraged to make career goals and to consider agricultural careers. UC FARM SMART staff Sam Urie and Stephanie Collins highlighted research being done throughout California and the effects of that research on our daily lives. Students were then given an overview of local farm practices from “farm-to-table” including soil preparation, irrigation, pest management, and harvesting.
A highlight of the program included a visit on the last day by Oscar Gonzalez, newly appointed State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in California, and Rosa Singh, Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Imperial County. Oscar and Rosa encouraged students to take advantage of educational opportunities and Rosa Singh offered information about USDA youth loans for agricultural projects including fair animals.
Students boarded hay wagons and were given a tour of the Desert Research and Extension Center including the research feedlot, biofuel experiments, irrigation projects, and the FARM SMART vegetable garden. Each day ended with lunch and the opportunity for students to ask questions about research and agricultural careers.
- Author: Sam Urie
Julian, CA - UC FARM SMART staff visited Julian Elementary School recently for the school's celebration of Food Day. FARM SMART staff joined other presenters in highlighting foods from all over the world. FARM SMART demonstrated the many uses of corn in human and animal diets as well as ethanol and plastics. Students learned about parts of the corn plant and practiced grinding corn.
UC FARM SMART provides educational outreach to communities surrounding the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Desert Research and Extension Center in Holtville, CA.
- Author: Sam Urie
Sep. 19 - FARM SMART hosted 125 beginning agriculture science and FFA students from all over the Imperial Valley as part of the Imperial Section FFA Greehand Conference, designed to foster an interest in agriculture, science, and leadership.
Students were addressed by Dr. Khaled Bali and Dr. Sam Wang who shared experiences and motivated students to choose agriculture and the sciences as a career.
Workshops and a research field tour followed. Students confronted the widespread fear of public speaking in a workshop presented by UCCE employee Shanna Abatti, and learned about regional agriculture through a "Crops of the Valley" workshop and the field tour.
Learn more about the National FFA Organization at www.ffa.org.
- Author: Sam Urie
4-H members, FARM SMART and DREC staff, and CalFresh staff met again today to further discuss next summer's "Sustainable You!" camp to be held at DREC. 4-H members elected officers to take on responsibilities of the camp and further their leadership skills. Participants today delved deeper into the curriculum and tried out an activity called "The Importance of Water". Participants discovered just how little precious freshwater is available for use. The next meeting will be held September 10th.
