In memoriam: Donald May

Don May

Donald May, UC Cooperative Extension advisor emeritus, passed away on Dec. 3, 2020, in Fresno. He was 86.

May, who was raised on an alfalfa and livestock farm in Utah, belonged to 4-H and FFA and showed beef, sheep and hogs at the county fair. After earning a B.S. in 1957 and M.S. in 1958 in agronomy at Utah State University, he was hired in 1958 as a UCCE agronomist farm advisor in Los Angeles County.

After seven years in Los Angeles County as an agronomy advisor, he was chosen in 1965 to become the first full-time UCCE vegetable crop farm advisor in Fresno County on the basis of his strong research program in Los Angeles and his introduction of new agronomy crops to the farmers of the Antelope Valley.

His research focused on profitable and sustainable vegetable crop production for processing tomatoes, melons, onions and garlic. Developing varieties of tomatoes for hot temperatures was major focus of his extensive trials.

“Don May was a very active, applied field researcher working on tomatoes and other vegetable crops,” said Gene Miyao, UCCE advisor emeritus. “Don demonstrated that while processing California tomato yields doubled to over 50 tons per acre in the present day, applied-water need remained nearly the same. Don was a friend and mentor to many.” 

Other early 1970s research by May persuaded melon packers to switch from 80-pound wood crates to 40-pound paper cartons, which substantially reduced costs. May introduced the use of virus-free sweet potatoes and garlic seed to growers that doubled yields and improved fruit quality.

A proponent of integrated pest management, May promoted practices that led to greatly reduced pesticide use. His research from 1970 to 1990 developed the processing tomato irrigation scheduling program to maximize yield and percent solids, which is used worldwide for both furrow and drip irrigation.

“Don was an amazing example and model of hard work, effort and accomplishment,” said UCCE specialist Jeff Mitchell, who got a summer job working for May at the UC West Side Field Station prior to starting his master's degree studies at UC Davis. Later, as a UC Davis graduate student, Mitchell established his field project at the UC West Side Research and Extension Center under the guidance of May, who became a member of his thesis committee. 

In 1998, May retired from his 40-year career as a UCCE farm advisor, but continued research on water issues with UCCE specialist Blaine Hanson. In a speech at the 2012 California Soil and Plant Conference where he was honored, May said, “I have enjoyed the challenges for 52 years of conducting applied research and education of agronomy.”

Over his career, May published 95 peer-reviewed papers. His professional awards include the 1990 Distinguished Service Award from Fresno County Farm Bureau for 25 years of service to Fresno County's vegetable industry. In 1996, he was recognized by the 2nd Worldwide Congress on Processing Tomatoes for publishing the most scientific papers since their inception in 1989. In 2004, California Melon Research Board presented him with an appreciation award for many years of outstanding contributions to the California melon industry. In 2009, the California Tomato Processing Growers Association honored May for his research on drip irrigation.

May is survived by his wife of 64 years Peggy, daughter Annette and sons Jeffrey and Alex, and 11 grandchildren. Son Craig and daughter Janet preceded him in death.

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