Today, Ventura County UCCE’s Maren Mochizuki explains the routine maintenance required to keep CIMIS weather stations functioning accurately.

Data from CIMIS stations, please see previous post for details, provide accurate weather data to aid growers in irrigation planning and scheduling.  To ensure that each individual station measures and records accurately, monthly maintenance is performed at all stations.

For the CIMIS station at the Hansen Agricultural Center in Santa Paula, Staff Research Associate Maren Mochizuki checks the functioning of all the sensors.  She also checks the calibration of the relative humidity sensor using a psychrometer.  A psychrometer has one thermometer exposed to ambient air and another thermometer attached to a wick that is saturated with distilled water; a battery-powered fan forces air past the wick to evaporate the water and cool the temperature measured by the thermometer.

Using a conversion table, we can estimate the relative humidity based on the difference between the ambient temperature and the wetted temperature.  Drier air means more evaporation and a larger temperature difference between the two thermometers.  If the difference between the relative humidity calculated by the psychrometer reading and the station sensor is greater than 5%, the station sensor requires re-calibration.  The station is an inviting perch for birds so we also hose it down monthly to keep it clean.

inside of CIMIS station

psychrometer

The national 4-H program has implemented a Science, Engineering and Technology Program (SET) to encourage youth to excel in science, engineering and technology.  We hope this program can help reverse the trend of children left behind in these areas, a problem that may lead to a shortage of scientists and engineers in the future if left unaddressed. The national message can be found here. Information on how California is working on the program can be found here.

Locally, our office is working with area youth to teach these vital skills and generate interest. This effort is lead by Susan Gloeckler, our 4-H program representative. She and local 4-H clubs are working to help meet the national goal, which is to provide hands-on SET experience by 2013 to 1 million children. In addition to the approximate 2,000 Ventura County youth that participate in county 4-H clubs, Susan reaches thousands more by providing workshops at local schools and organizations. Additional information about our local program can be found in this recent Ventura County Star article.

If you or someone you know would like to find out about becoming involved in this important effort, please contact our office.

Susan Gloeckler teaching our youth

Susan Gloeckler, our Ventura County 4-H Program Representative, has been working to set up 4-H clubs at area military bases. This work is part of a larger federal initiative to create 4-H clubs at military bases across the world so that when families are transferred to a new base, children can continue to enjoy the program and have consistency of involvement in the same organization from one place to the next.

Recently 4-H youth at the Port Hueneme Naval Base and at Point Mugu have been participating a variety of activities including: visiting local farms, growing vegetables, learning where food comes from, and the importance of good nutrition. These fun learning experiences were provided by UCCE staff, 4-H volunteers, Master Gardener volunteers, and youth program leaders at the bases.

On Monday August 3^rd, The Ventura County Star wrote a great article about the military 4-H program. The entire article can be read here.

Agritourism has been gaining momentum as a way to increase revenue on farms and ranches. It is anticipated that agritourism will continue to grow as people continue to search for ways to connect with nature and learn more about our food systems.

The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Division (UC ANR) has some great resources to help navigate the process – and two of the three are free!

Read below for a description of the free publications:

Agritourism can be a great boon to the California grower, but you have to be aware of your legal responsibilities, get your permits, and follow the rules regarding land use, zoning, public health, and other areas. This gives you a brief overview. (8 pages)

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/FreePublications/8333.aspx

This publication gives you a game plan for navigating the maze of permits, plans, and approvals you will need to get in order before you launch a potentially profitable agritourism enterprise on your California farm or ranch. (6 pages)

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/FreePublications/8334.aspx

If after reviewing the free publications you are interested in finding out more, UC ANR has a priced publication, Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California, which provides more in depth information.

The chapters include:

• Evaluating Your Resources: Is Tourism for You?
• Creating Your Business Plan
• Navigating Legal Constraints
• Developing Your Risk-Management Plan
• Forming Your Marketing Strategy
• Resources for Success
• Planning Farm Visits for Children

To find out more about the book, please visit http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/SmallFarms/3484.aspx. By clicking on the “search in this book link”, provided by Google, you can get a feel if the publication is right for you and your operation before purchasing. The book can also be viewed and studied for free at your local University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) office. To be safe, call first and make sure it is available before driving to the office.

If you decide to purchase this great resource, purchase online and save 10%. Use promotion code PRVEN56 at check out to receive the discount. In addition to saving you money, a portion of the proceeds will benefit local programs!