- Author: Chris M. Webb
Plans are underway for the 2012 Small Farm Conference. The conference will be held in Valencia (Los Angeles County) March 4-6.
The theme of the 2012 conference is “Cultivating the next generation”. Workshops and field courses will be posted in October.
A scholarship program is in place for those with limited financial means. Scholarship categories are:
- Farmers/Ranchers/Farm or Ranch Employees
- Managers of Certified Farmers’ Markets
- Agricultural Students currently studying agriculture or related field (This category also includes those learning the agricultural trade through vocational or other education programs.)
Additional scholarship information can be found on this page of the Small Farm Conference website or you may call 888.712.4188.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
In June of this year, three University of California scientists went to the Kitui District of Kenya on a USAID mission.
Food and water scarcity are simply a part of life for most in this region. Since 1992 the Sahelian Solution Foundation (SASOL) has been constructing dams and working with Kitui communities to address water scarcity and issues of community development and agricultural production.
Agricultural production in Kenya is full of challenges. Water is carried by hand from wells or dams for household and agricultural needs. Previous to this mission crops were watered inefficiently by flooding small basins. Nitrogen tests in some locations revealed levels at which most vegetable crops would be nitrogen deficient. Some of the villages have no road access.
UC’s Steve Fennimore, Jeff Mitchell, and Oleg Daugovish went to help SASOL and the people they serve make better use of their resources.
They met with village leaders and SASOL personnel in Kitui. Here they provided training and demonstrations covering topics including:
- Demonstrations of gravity-flow drip irrigation systems from water tanks to individual beds with irrigation lines
- Discussed use of mulches on soil to minimize evaporation and enhance soil conservation
- Solarization, nursery for transplants, diseases and insects, training tomato plants and culture
- Soil types, determination of soil moisture, quick nitrogen test, use of cover crops and mulches
- Water quality (pH, hardness, salts), organic fertilizers, collection and use of urine as a rapidly available nitrogen source.
Later the information was shared in the Maito village, where onions, green kale and green grams (Phasleolus aureus) are grown. The next day found the group in the Kituvwi village, where due to poor crop production meals are currently limited to once a day. The following day was spent in the Kathayoni village. Farmers in the Kathayoni village grow kale, onions and tomatoes.
SASOL will continue the training for members in villages not reached during this visit.
The majority of farmers in the Kitui District are women. Information was well received in all locations and many questions were asked. At each village the scientists were fed a stew of corns and beans, supplemented by avocado slices or bread, with tea and milk to drink.
The last day time was spent at the South East University College. Potential for agricultural experimentation and greenhouses was discussed, and UC scientists gave a seminar about UCCE function and on anaerobic soil-borne pest control.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
On Wednesday, September 7 from 7:30 am – 12:30 pm, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Oleg Daugovish will hold the 10th Annual Strawberry Production Meeting in Ventura County.
The meeting will be presented in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish. There is no cost to attend.
Scheduled topics include:
- Southern California strawberry research update: varieties and production.
- Investigation of Macrophomina and Fusarium spp., including research update on biology and management, and results from 2010-2011 non-fumigated field trials.
- Fungicide evaluations in strawberry.
- Lewis mite, thrips and Lygus research update.
- Update of herbicide efficacy and safety for nutsedge control in strawberry.
- California Strawberry Commission update on regulatory research inssues in strawberry production.
Continuous education credits have been requested from DPR.
Lunch will be provided. Details can be found here. To register, request special arrangements, or to ask questions please contact Oleg by email or by phone at (805) 645-1454 by August 31.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
UC’s Nursery and Floriculture Alliance has an upcoming educational opportunity designed to improve water quality and quantity in and around nursery and floriculture production locations.
Scheduled topics include:
- Review of key plant physiological concepts
- Essential plant nutrients and nutrient disorders
- Plant symptoms and deficiencies
- Environmental and cultural practices that may cause nutrient disorders or reduce the efficiency of nutrient uptake
- Fertilizer Best Management Practices, including the appropriate use of specific types and formulations
- Irrigation systems and infrastructural considerations to optimize water use while minimizing or eliminating water runoff from production facilities
Continuing education units are available.
The upcoming class will be held in Spanish on June 23, in Azusa California. Other classes throughout the state can be found on UC’s Nursery and Floriculture Alliance website.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
On May 5, 2011 from 9 to 11 am, representatives from the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) will hold a meeting for strawberry growers at the Ventura County Cooperative Extension office.
There will be two simultaneous sessions. One will be in English and the other in Spanish. Both sessions will inform growers of the features and availability of the pilot crop insurance program for strawberries.
From the RMA:
“The program is based on the grower’s own historical crop revenues and protects growers against losses from low yield, low price, or any combination of these events. We will discuss how the program can work for you, requirements, sales closing dates, and how to purchase crop insurance.”
For more information or to RSVP contact Sandy Sanchez or Jessica Klaisner at: (530) 792-5870 or email: sandy.sanchez@rma.usda.gov or Jessica.klaisner@rma.usda.gov.
For those interested in attending, but unable to make the May 5 meeting in Ventura other locations are as follows:
May 4, 2011 from 2 to 4 pm in Santa Maria (English and Spanish)
May 10, 2011 from 2 to 4 pm in Monterey (English)
May 10, 2011 from 9 to 11 am in Watsonville (Spanish)