UC ANR shares its programs and services at the World Ag Expo

Visitors to the UC ANR booth at the World Ag Expo were treated to citrus facts, gardening tips, nutrition advice and much more Feb. 11-13 in Tulare.

Lindcove REC director Beth Grafton-Cardwell, left, and staff research associate Stephanie Doria hand out citrus at the UC ANR booth at World Ag Expo.

On the first evening of the expo, Vice President Glenda Humiston and UC Cooperative Extension scientists hosted a reception for about 100 UC ANR partners, agriculture reporters, employees and other stakeholders to celebrate recent advancements in agricultural production, as well as future initiatives. The event was held at the UC Cooperative Extension office in Tulare County.

UC ANR vice president Glenda Humiston shares information about the value of working landscapes at the UC ANR reception.

Humiston thanked the guests for supporting UC ANR and said that research and extension relied on the cooperation of others to be successful.

Bob Hutmacher, West Side Research and Extension Center director and UCCE specialist, gave an update on his hemp research and Konrad Mathesius, UCCE agronomy advisor for the Capitol Corridor, discussed his research on malting barley for beer.

Nick Davis, a vineyard operations manager for The Wine Group, who collaborates with George Zhuang, UCCE viticulture advisor in Fresno County, discussed their mechanization project and said his company depends on UCCE research. A member of the UC ANR climate-smart agriculture technical advisory team, Shulamit Shroder, reported on the activities of the climate-smart farming partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Three San Joaquin Valley 4-H members displayed their projects at the UC ANR reception. (Photo: Linda Forbes)

Robert Johnson of IGIS answered questions about the use of drones in agricultural research, 4-H members Emily Karle, Mia Azevedo, Levi Goodman and Emily Karle displayed their projects, and UCCE advisor Ruth Dahlquist-Willard and Michael Yang, agricultural assistant, showed some of the specialty crops grown in Fresno County.

UCCE advisor Ruth Dahlquist-Willard, left, and agricultural assistant Michael Yang.

At the UC ANR booth on the expo grounds, UCCE specialist Beth Grafton-Caldwell and the Lindcove Research and Extension Center staff handed out mandarins and told visitors about the research they do on citrus at the part of the booth that featured UC ANR research and extension centers.

UC Cooperative Extension specialist Ashraf El-Kereamy, right, helped staff the UC ANR booth, along with Stephanie Doria.

Visitors took part in an activity to match local commodities to ANR Research and Extension Centers. Those who tried won a prize.

CDFA Undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt visited the ANR booth and matched all the commodities to UC ANR RECS.

Nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisor Hawau Bojuwon, left, and community educator Beatriz-Rojas, both of Kern County, staffed the ANR booth on the final day of the show.

Over the three days, EFNEP and CalFresh Healthy Living educators from Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties quizzed booth visitors about nutrition. Tulare County Master Gardener volunteers shared information about sustainable gardening and answered gardener questions.

Tulare County UC Master Gardener Ken Becker shares a light moment with a booth visitor while answering gardening questions.

Kearney REC director Jeff Dahlberg speaks with an ag reporter at the World Ag Expo.

Read more