Hands-on learning, training make irrigation best practices accessible

UCCE advisors provide free training to nursery and greenhouse staff

Working as an irrigator seems straightforward at first: if you're not watering plants by hand, you're building and managing systems that can do the watering. What could be complex about a job like this?

University of California Cooperative Extension advisors Bruno Pitton and Gerardo “Gerry” Spinelli can tell you – or better yet, show you.

Pitton and Spinelli, members of the UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance, offer a one-day technical training in irrigation best-management practices for irrigators working with containerized nursery plants. The comprehensive curriculum – developed with input from two focus groups of California nursery and greenhouse managers – aims to improve irrigation efficiency, reduce water consumption and improve plant health.

Thanks to funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, nursery and greenhouse managers in California can request this training for free and advisors like Pitton and Spinelli will travel to conduct the training on-site.

The complexities of irrigation incorporate concepts like evapotranspiration, salinity, irrigation uniformity, capillarity, pressure and flow rate. Spinelli, UCCE production horticulture advisor for San Diego County, said that irrigators have a critical role in the industry because of all the things they must consider to do their job well.

“Our goal is to support irrigators and help them become more confident decision-makers and experts in the field,” said Pitton, UCCE environmental horticulture advisor for Placer and Nevada counties.

Interactive sessions reveal nuances of irrigation

The training consists of a presentation on fundamental concepts for managing irrigation in container plant production and hands-on demonstrations. “In the nursery industry, where precise irrigation is crucial for the health and productivity of our crops, having access to expert knowledge is invaluable,” said Mauricio de Almeida, general manager of Burchell Nursery in Fresno County. “The training's practical demonstrations and real-world examples made the concepts easy to grasp, allowing our team to implement the strategies immediately.”

For one of the demonstrations, the advisors used sponges to model soil saturation when water is applied. Ana, an irrigator at Burchell Nursery, appreciated the step-by-step explanations, which helped her better understand how water pressure differs in drip irrigation, sprinklers and watering by hand. Doing this out in the field, as an example of how irrigation audits occur, was extremely helpful for attendees.

Francisco “Frank” Anguiano, production manager of Boething Treeland Farms in Ventura County, observed his team of irrigators as they learned how to measure distribution uniformity with water collected from sprinklers. “This training isn't just about irrigation and plant management. It's also about savings, both water and costs. Who doesn't want to save money and use less water?” Anguiano said.

Reducing the barriers to learning

Many of the irrigators attending these trainings gained their skills and knowledge from life experience rather than a college education, explained Peter van Horenbeeck, vice president of Boething Treeland Farms. “It's important that my irrigators learn from external experts, but it's more important that they can relate to them. And that's what Gerry was able to do,” van Horenbeeck added.

Regarding content and delivery, and referencing what he learned from the focus groups, Pitton wanted the trainings to be easy to understand and engaging. For example, scientists use the term “matric potential” to describe how soil particles hold water against gravity, which is the same as capillary rise. “We demonstrate this concept with a paper towel held vertically and dipped into a beaker of dyed water that it absorbs,” said Pitton.

Many of the irrigators in attendance agreed that hands-on activities and visual aids were instrumental to their learning. Charli, another irrigator at Burchell Nursery, shared that the in-field examples and hosting the training in Spanish kept them engaged.To address language barriers, Spinelli has been conducting trainings in Spanish – a common request from many nurseries with eager participants.

Maintaining state regulations and partnerships

Although the technical aspects of irrigation management are key elements of the training, regulatory compliance is also addressed. Recognizing the finite availability of water and the environmental impact of pollution, the advisors highlight irrigation and fertilizer management and runoff prevention as critical components of compliance.

Under Ag Order 4.0 administered by California's Water Resources Control Board, growers must comply with stricter policies regulating nitrogen use. As irrigators learn from the training, better control of irrigation can certainly make a difference.

Deanna van Klaveren, chief operating officer and co-owner of Generation Growers in Stanislaus County, said the most valuable aspect of the training was learning on-site and completing an audit on her own systems. “It is so much more impactful to have trainings like this on-site where our staff can learn and then go out into the nursery and actually put it into practice while the presenters/experts are there,” van Klaveren said.

Pitton and Spinelli described the partnership between UC Cooperative Extension and CDFA as “symbiotic” given the technical and educational capacity of UCCE advisors who conduct research and extension.

“It's a great example of how the two institutions can collaborate successfully. Californians are the ones who win because they get a service for free,” added Spinelli. “And it's rewarding for us to see so much interest in what we, as advisors, do.”

If you are a nursery or greenhouse operator and would like to request the Irrigation Best Management Practices training, please contact the UCCE advisor assigned to the region that corresponds with your nursery location below. 

Northern California

• Jessie Godfrey, UCCE environmental horticulture and water resources management advisor, jmgodfrey@ucanr.edu

Central Coast (Santa Cruz County to Ventura County)

• Emma Volk, UCCE production horticulture advisor, evolk@ucanr.edu

San Joaquin Valley

• Chris Shogren, UCCE environmental horticulture advisor, cjshogren@ucanr.edu

Southern California

• Grant Johnson, UCCE urban agriculture technology advisor, gejohnson@ucanr.edu

Spanish Trainings Only

• Gerry Spinelli, UCCE production horticulture advisor, gspinelli@ucanr.edu

Pesticide policy trainings set for spring

The Office of Pesticide Information and Coordination has opened online registration for its annual UC ANR Pesticide Policy Update Trainings. This training is intended for campus, research and extension center, and county-based UC ANR personnel who apply experimental pesticides either on UC property or on cooperators' land. 

It is important for all personnel handling pesticides in research and demonstration settings to attend this training.

All scheduled UC ANR Pesticide Policy Update Trainings will be conducted via Zoom webinar. A registration link for each webinar can be found below:

• Monday, April 8, 1-4 p.m. Register for this webinar
• Tuesday, May 7, 9 a.m.-noon Register for this webinar
• Monday, June 3, 1-4 p.m. Register for this webinar 

There are no fees for these sessions. Three (3) hours of Laws and Regulations Continuing Education units will be offered for the UC ANR Pesticide Policy Training. If you have questions, please email OPIC at OPIC@ucanr.edu.

 

Registration opens for UC ANR Pesticide Policy Trainings

The Office of Pesticide Information and Coordination (OPIC) has opened online registration for its annual UC ANR Pesticide Policy Update Trainings. These trainings are intended for campus, research and extension center, and county-based UC ANR personnel that apply experimental pesticides either on UC property or on cooperators' land. It is important for all personnel handling pesticides in research and demonstration settings to attend this training.

All scheduled UC ANR Pesticide Policy Update Trainings will be conducted via Zoom webinar:

• Friday, April 7, 1-4 p.m.
• Monday, May 8, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 6, 1-4 p.m.

About a week before the training, OPIC will send registered participants an email containing instructions for connecting to the webinar, including the webinar link, password and an electronic copy of the handouts.

Registration is online only: www.ucanr.edu/opic2023. 

Deadline for registration is one week prior to the training. There are no fees for these sessions. Three hours of Laws and Regulations Continuing Education (CE) units will be offered for UC Pesticide Policy Training. If you have any questions, please email OPIC at OPIC@ucanr.edu.

L&D - Program development, GIS Training, Mapping our Impact, Contracts and Grants

 

 

 

 

 

Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

 

ANR LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT  

Landing page|Webinar Recordings|Learning Resources

Do you have a webinar to present in any of these four learning strategies?
Let us know by filling out this interest form!

Extension Methods & Delivery
Building Support
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Office, Team, & Personal Management

 

UCCE Program Development and Evaluation Capacity Building Trainings! 

9-part series from Oct. 4-Dec. 6
Every Tuesday 10 a.m.-Noon 

Click here for session descriptions.
Click here to register.
Join us for online interactive trainings to help you with planning and evaluating programs and projects! These trainings highlight UCCE examples. This is a 9-part series offered a la carte; select whichever interests you or take the complete series!

Introduction to Fall GIS and R Workshops from IGIS

September–December 2022

Click here for session descriptions.
The Informatics and GIS (IGIS) Statewide Program is pleased to share their Fall 2022 Workshop Schedule. All workshops will be on Zoom, and are free for the ANR community. Workshops include: 
-Introduction to ArcGIS Online
-Intro to R (3-part series) 
-Introduction to ArcGIS Pro
-Introduction to ArcGIS Field Maps
-Computing Agroclimate Metrics in R
-Introduction to ArcGIS Story Maps

Mapping the impact of our work

Oct. 20
Noon-12:30 p.m.

This session will focus on framing our work around UC ANR's public values and advancing our efforts on measuring changes in conditions that result from programmatic efforts. The condition changes serve as evidence of public impact. During the session, we will showcase a draft new tool that is being designed to help us internally to find and learn from examples where our programs are having economic, social/health, or environmental impact. Presented by Katherine Webb-Martinez, Christina Becker, and Leyla Marandi from UC ANR Program Planning and Evaluation.

Zoom webinar: https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/751701428?pwd=Q1ZrbUtoQVJwMXJVRkQydUlwNytJQT09
Password: 4Learning
Or join by phone: +1 669 900 6833

Where is …? The new UCD Library website and redesigned resources

Nov. 3
3-4 p.m.

The UC Davis Library website was redesigned and brought up on Aug. 16, 2022. Learn about UC Davis Library resources and delivery services, VPN, and key research tools and strategies for specific disciplines. We will review/use the following redesigned guide during this workshop: https://guides.library.ucdavis.edu/uc-cooperative-extension. With Ruth Gustafson, UC Davis STEM Librarian & Erik Fausak, Veterinary Medicine Librarian

Zoom webinar: https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/751701428?pwd=Q1ZrbUtoQVJwMXJVRkQydUlwNytJQT09
Password: 4Learning
Or join by phone: +1 669 900 6833

Extension Skills: Survey Says: Strategies, tips, and tools for getting REAL feedback and impact data (Extension Foundation)

Oct. 13
11 a.m.-Noon

Click here to read more and register.
Come prepared to learn and share best practices and tools to get information from participants before, during and after a program or activity either virtually or in-person. Learn More

Innovation Skill-Building Experience (Extension Foundation)

Starts Oct. 25
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Click here to read more and register.
This 4-part series welcomes teams to incubate and tease out innovation in project and program development. With the help of trained Impact Facilitators, your team will learn 17 unique and exciting approaches to infusing new thinking into your offerings for maximum impacts. Learn More

Innovation Facilitator Training (Extension Foundation)

Starts Oct. 25
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Click here to learn more and register.
In this perfect companion to the Innovation Skill-Building Experience, individuals attend this training alongside each session to transform the curriculum into facilitation and coaching skills. We can't wait to see what you bring to the nationwide Impact Facilitator network! Learn More

About the Extension Foundation

Click here to read more.
The Foundation provides professional development to Cooperative Extension professionals and offers exclusive services to its members. In 2020 and 2021, the Extension Foundation has awarded 85% of its direct funding back to the Cooperative Extension System, 100% of funds are used to support Cooperative Extension initiatives.

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Open Forum/Questions for Office of Contracts and Grants

Oct. 26
9:30-10:30 a.m.

The world of contracts and grants can sometimes seem complicated. Let us help you alleviate your concerns. Please join our team for an open forum to answer your most compelling questions. If possible, please send us questions in advance (not required) for an informative discussion. Presenters are Kathleen Nolan, Kim Lamar and OCG Team. E-mail questions to kdlamar@ucanr.edu

Zoom webinar: https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/751701428?pwd=Q1ZrbUtoQVJwMXJVRkQydUlwNytJQT0
Password: 4Learning | +1 669 900 6833 | Webinar ID: 751 701 428

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Understanding the Digital Equity Landscape and Extension's Role (Connect Extension, Extension Foundation)

Oct. 3
12:30-1:30 p.m.

Click here to read more.
Click here to register.
As a part of Bridging the Digital Divide in Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Communities in the South, a NIFA AFRI-funded project, individuals were surveyed to better understand the digital equity landscape, including access to the internet and devices as well as internet use and benefits. Findings from this survey can better prepare Extension to play a role in their respective state's Digital Equity plan and implementation. Join us on Oct. 3 to learn more about this important topic. Presenter: Dr. Roberto Gallardo, Director, Purdue Center for Regional Development.

 

Where Accessibility Champions Can Find the Time & Knowledge They Need to Succeed Webinar (Deque – Web accessibility experts)

Oct. 6
11 a.m.-Noon

Click here to learn more.

Every successful accessibility program relies on five foundational elements of accessibility:

1. The inclination to practice accessibility
2. The time to practice accessibility
3. The knowledge to practice accessibility
4. The automation and tools to practice accessibility
5. The availability of expert resources for future changes

In the first part of this webinar series, we covered the first foundational element to fostering accessibility across an organization: the inclination to practice accessibility.

Can we talk about Implicit Bias? Virtual Workshop (UC ANR)

Oct. 31
9–11 a.m. 
50 Seats

Click here to register by Oct. 24. 
Join us to help learn how to make UC ANR a more inclusive organization! 

UC ANR Human Resources and Learning & Development are offering a workshop to further explore, develop and supplement the UC Implicit Bias Series. We will divide into facilitated breakout groups to tackle strategies that counter negative scenarios and encourage positive interactions. This workshop will be a great opportunity to practice “standing in the community” and supporting ANR Principles of Community and ANR's strategic mission to expand Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 

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Accomplishing More with Less (Virtual - UC Davis)

Oct. 4
1-4:30 p.m.
Click here for details and to register.
Virtual Instructor-Led Training

Career Management Academy (Virtual- UC Davis)

Click here for details and to register.

Oct. 6
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Virtual Instructor-Led Training 

Habits: A Science Based Approach (Virtual- UC Davis)

Click here for details and to register.
Oct. 13
8:30 a.m.-Noon
Virtual Instructor-Led Training

Customer Service Essentials (Virtual - UC Davis)

Click here for details and to register.
Oct. 14
8:30 a.m.-Noon
Virtual Instructor-Led Training

How to Set Goals When Everything Feels Like a Priority (LinkedIn Learning)

Click to access course. Request your LinkedIn Learning account with ANR IT @ help@ucanr.edu.

Sometimes it can feel like you're working on everyone else's to-do list instead of your own. How can you make space for accomplishing the goals that are important to you? Join best-selling business author and consultant Dorie Clark as she shares practical advice on how to prioritize effectively so that you can get meaningful things done.

Designing a Presentation

Click to access course. Request your LinkedIn Learning account with ANR IT @ help@ucanr.edu.

In this course, designer Tony Harmer takes you through the essentials of presentation design to give you the tools you'll find most useful in thinking about, designing and building successful presentations. Tony covers a variety of key topics, including moodboards, outlines, layout, type and text, color considerations, graphics, video, charts, transitions and animations.

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Everyone can learn something new.

ANR Learning & Development
Find webinar announcements and recordings here.

Needs assessment workshops offered Sept. 7 and 14

UCCE advisors, UCCE specialists and academics coordinators are invited to attend a training workshop on conducting a needs assessment.

Vikram Koundinya, UCCE evaluation specialist in the Department of Human Ecology (Community and Regional Development) at UC Davis; Chris Greer, IPM area advisor in UCCE San Luis Obispo County; and Katherine Webb-Martinez, associate director of UC ANR Program Planning and Evaluation are hosting training workshops in two locations – Davis and Parlier.

Friday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UC ANR Building, 2801 Second Street, Davis

Featuring roundtable discussion sharing UCCE examples with

• Betsy Karle, area dairy advisor & county director, Glenn County
• Susie Kocher, forestry/natural resources advisor, Central Sierra and El Dorado counties
• Steven Worker, 4-H youth development advisor, Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties

Friday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 9240 South Riverbend Ave., Parlier

Featuring roundtable discussion sharing UCCE examples with

• Ramiro Lobo, small farms and agricultural economics advisor, San Diego County
• Fadzayi Mashiri, livestock and natural resources advisor, Mariposa and Merced counties
• Deepa Srivastava, nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisor, Tulare and Kings counties

The interactive training will help answer questions such as: What exactly is expected for a needs assessment? What is the benefit? When should I do this? How often should I do this? How do I use the information to design my program?

It will include basic, practical how-to steps, approaches, methods and how to write clear and concise questions.

Participants will engage in a roundtable discussion with UCCE advisors, who will share their needs assessment experiences and lessons learned.

Participants will gain...

• understanding of position description needs-assessment expectation
• understanding of the what, how, when of needs assessments
• understanding of and practice writing good questions
• awareness of UC ANR needs assessment examples and resources
• a draft needs assessment plan

Register at https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=25314.

For more information, contact Katherine Webb-Martinez, Katherine.webb-martinez@ucop.edu, (510) 987-0029.

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