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"This work allows me to provide practical solutions to critical issues California growers face. My program is essentially focused on endemic and invasive diseases of tree crops.
"This year, we are looking at how recently developed cultivars of strawberry respond to a variable density of soil-borne pathogens this can show what cultivars growers can use depending on their pathogen species and levels in soil, and what to expect.
"Looking back, I think that the summertime I spent at my grandparents' farm as a kid was critical to get in contact with nature, farming, and learning about the intricate operations to deliver great products to consumers.
"Having access to a location such as the Sierra Foothill REC where we can test vaccines under conditions that closely mimic typical California foothills environments and where pinkeye occurs naturally in animals is, in my opinion, priceless.
"I was one of those stereotypical 'interested in bugs since a kid' entomologists, but I became interested in agriculture and extension as I started grad school.
"We are experimentally testing how these global-scale changes are altering native diversity, species invasions, disease, and important ecosystem processes like carbon sequestration in soils.
"There is an average of about 15% yield differences over time at Intermountain the knowledge of choosing the right variety is worth millions of dollars to the intermountain regions.
"To date, we have collected measurements from over 100,000 fruits. These measurements have allowed us to begin to understand the genetic basis of fruit traits, including fruit quality, for more than 600 varieties.
