ANR briefs California congressional members on ag research

From left, Julia Rowe, Marjorie Duske, Keith Gilless, Kathryn Uhrich, Mike Mellano, Dina Moore, Glenda Humiston, Anne Megaro and Keith Nathaniel visited congressional offices in March to brief lawmakers and staffers on the latest UC ANR research.

VP Glenda Humiston, AVP Wendy Powers and several UC ANR representatives visited more than 30 congressional offices in March to brief lawmakers and staffers on the latest agriculture and natural resources research and outreach benefiting Californians.

On March 5-8, a UC ANR delegation attended the 36^th Annual Council on Agriculture Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET) meetings in Washington D.C. CARET is part of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). With the assistance of Julia Rowe and Marjorie Duske of UC Federal Governmental Relations, they also visited congressional offices to explain the importance of science and research to California.

From left, Moore, Peltier, John Garamendi (whose district includes Solano, Yolo, Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Sutter and Yuba counties), Dillard, Humiston and Brandon Minto, UC Davis federal relations.

Keith Nathaniel, UC Cooperative Extension director for Los Angeles County; Katie Panarella, director of nutrition, family and consumer sciences program & policy; and Mark Bell, vice provost of strategic initiatives and statewide programs; joined the deans Helene Dillard, Keith Gilless, Michael Lairmore and Kathryn Uhrich for the visits.

From left, Megaro, Dillard, Jim Costa (whose district includes Fresno, Madera and Merced counties), Humiston and Minto.

“We had a lot of great meetings with Congressional members and their staff, discussing the need for sustained investments in ag & natural resources programs, research and innovation,” said Anne Megaro, director of government and community relations.

From left, Minto, Peltier, Mellano, Dillard, Jeff Denham (whose district includes San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties), Gilless and

The group split up into teams to visit the offices of Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, Representatives John Garamendi, Jim Costa, Jeff Denham, Barbara Lee, Ami Bera, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Jimmy Panetta, Raul Ruiz and several other California representatives.

From left, Gilless, Megaro, Mellano, Humiston, Jimmy Panetta (whose district includes Monterey and Santa Cruz counties) and Minto.

“California CARET representatives Dina Moore, Mike Mellano and Jean-Mari Peltier shared their experiences of how UC ANR research drives innovation and helps California farmers and related businesses remain competitive in the global market,” Megaro said.

From left, Dillard, Uhrich, Raul Ruiz (whose district includes Riverside County), Peltier and Powers.

“Overall, I felt that the visits were high quality,” said Powers. “I don't envy the elected officials or the staffers that see a revolving door of people through their offices at this time of year.”

From left, Uhrich, Ami Bera (whose district includes Sacramento County), Dillard, Humiston and Gilless.

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