Organic Agriculture Workshop

• Event Flyer
• Agenda
• Speakers and Resources
• Other Resources

Description:
This workshop provided information about the current status, regulations, assistance programs, and management of nitrogen, irrigation, pests, diseases, and weeds in organic production. We also discussed the organic production of specific crops such as
avocados, citrus, and berries. Sessions included group instruction
followed by discussions allowing participants the opportunity
to ask questions and discuss their particular questions.

Speakers and Resources

Morning Presentations -

Ramiro Lobo
Small Farms and Ag Economics Advisor, UCCE San Diego

Overview of Organic Production in San Diego County
Presentation Slides (PDF, 19.2 MB)

Monica Winters
Agricultural Standards Inspector, County of San Diego

California Organic Program and the Organic Registration Process

• Presentation Slides (PDF, 8.1 MB)
• CDFA Organic Website
  (see link on right side for California Organic Products Act)
• National Organic Program
• CDFA Organic Input Materials Program
• OMRI-Organic Material Review Institute

Laura Murray
CA Certified Organic Farmer (CCOF) Inspector/Certifier

Third Party Certifiers and the Organic Certification Process

• Presentation Slides (PDF, 14.8 MB)
• California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF.org) (Website)

Claire Moss and Stephanie Neal
Land Use/Environmental Planners, Sustainability Division, County of San Diego

Climate Action Plan, Regional Decarbonization Framework, and the Carbon Farming Program
Presentation Slides (PDF, 2.6 MB)

Abigail Pashina
San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

Water Quality Regulations and their Implications for Organic Growers
Presentation Slides (PDF, 4.4 MB)

Joji Muramoto
Organic Production Specialist, UC ANR/UC Santa Cruz

Overview of Organic Production in California and Nitrogen Management in Organic Production
Presentation Slides (PDF, 16.2 MB)

Gerardo Spinelli
Floriculture and CEA Advisor, UCCE San Diego County 

Improving Irrigation System Performance
Presentation Slides (PDF, 126.1 MB)

Eric Middleton
UCCE Area IPM Advisor, San Diego County

Insect Pest Management Options for Organic Production Systems
Presentation Slides (PDF, 101 MB)

Chris McDonald
Natural Resources Advisor, UCCE San Diego, Riverside & San Bernardino Counties

Weed Control Alternatives for Organic Production
- Contact Chris McDonald directly if you have any questions or weed issues.

Mary Matava
Agri Service, Inc. and El Corazon Composting Facility

Mulching and Compost effect on Good Soil Quality and Health
Presentation Slides (PDF, 17.2 MB)

Technical and Funding Assistance Programs

• Ariana Reyes
  Food Safety Community Educator, UCCE San Diego
  • CDFA FSMA-PSR Food Safety Technical Assistance Program
    
    
• Esther Mosase
  Climate-Smart Agriculture Community Educator, UC ANR/UCCE San Diego & Riverside Counties
  • CDFA Environmental Funding
    Presentation Slides (PDF, 13.3 MB)
    
    
• Andy Williamson
  Irrigation Technician, Resource Conservation District-Greater San Diego (RCD GSD)
  and
• Darcy Cook
  District Manager, Mission Resource Conservation District
  • Drought and Irrigation Management Related Assistance
    
    • Water Efficiency Technical Assistance Program-CDFA
      Contact Andy Williamson, RCD GSD
    • Water Management Services and Programs, Mission RCD
    • Agriculture Water Rebates & Programs-San Diego County Water Authority
      Contact Mission RCD

• Codi Hale
  Outreach Coordinator, Resource Conservation District-Greater San Diego
  • Other Technical Assistance Programming
    • Farmers and Ranchers Newsletter - Subscribe
    • Carbon Farming Information and Resources

Afternoon Presentations -

Joji Muramoto
Organic Production Specialist, UC ANR/UC Santa Cruz

Soilborne Disease Control in Organic Vegetables and Strawberries
Presentation Slides (PDF, 41.6 MB)

Oleg Daugovish
Strawberry and Vegetable Crop Advisor, UCCE Ventura County

Organic Vegetables and Berry Production
Presentation Slides (PDF, 25.4 MB)

Milt McGiffen
CE Specialist and Plant Physiologist, UC ANR/UC Riverside

Nutrient Management in Organic Vegetables

• Presentation Slides (PDF, 13.9 MB)
• Organic Nutrient Management Resources Handout (PDF, 119 KB)

Lessons from the Field – Organic Grower Panel Discussion

Christine Foote (not available at workshop)
Foot Path Winery, Certified organic vineyard and winery

Edward Grangetto
Commercial avocado grower, Manager, Farm Land Owner and Technical Advisor/Consultant

Ellen Maisen
Rancho Los Serranos, Organic pitahaya, specialty crops, citrus and subtropical fruits

Shriya Rangarajan
Postdoctoral Researcher, UC Organic Agriculture Institute/UC Davis

Workshop Evaluation/Future Programs

• UC Organic Agriculture Institute (Website)
• Needs Assessment Survey (Online survey)
  Information Postcard (PDF, 310 KB)

Other Resources

USDA Organic Agriculture Information:

• Organic Agriculture Program-USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Organic Transition Initiative-USDA
• Transitional and Organic Grower Assistance Program-USDA
• Funding Help for Organic Farming-USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)

County of San Diego Agricultural Programs:

• Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (Website)
  Organic Farming (webpage)
• Voluntary Conservation and Land Management Assistance Workshop, January 2022
  Stay tuned for news about this workshop in 2023!
  Workshop Resource Handbook (PDF, 8.1 MB)
• Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) Program (Website)
• Pilot Carbon Farming Program (Website)
• Organic Materials Ordinance (OMO) Update (Website)

CA Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) -

• CA State Organic Program (Website)
  (see link on right side for California Organic Products Act)
• Office of Environmental Farming & Innovation (Website)

UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) Programs:

• Organic Farming News (webpage)
• Basics of Organic Farming (Online Training Course)
  from the Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program (SAREP)

UCCE San Diego Agricultural Programs and Information Resources:

• Ag Economics and Small Farms
  • Food Safety Information
  • Online Agriculture Resources (Guidelines and Directory)
  • Growers Needs Assessment and Reports
• Climate Resilient Agriculture
  • Resources
• Videos (YouTube)
• Newsletter and Program News (Email listservs) - Subscribe

Food Production Safety Information:

• CDFA Produce Safety Program (Website)
• Produce Food Safety/FSMA Information (Website)
  from UCCE Small Farms and Urban Agriculture
• Food Safety Modernazation Act Information (Website)
  from UCCE Agriculture Ombudsperson
• Produce Safety Alliance (Website)
  from Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) (Website)
• Community Alliance of Family Farmers (CAFF) (Website)