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College students eligible for food assistance deterred by confusing requirements
Modifying Farm Bill could reduce barriers to SNAP for students and improve nutrition
Inadequate access to food can harm college students' health and academic performance. A recent University of California research study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior investigated why UC students who are eligible for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – the nation's largest food assistance program – do not receive the benefit.
“Based on our study findings, eliminating the extra requirements for college students to qualify for SNAP would go a long way in ensuring that more eligible students get the support they need to meet their basic food needs,” said study coauthor Lorrene Ritchie, director of the UC Nutrition Policy Institute, which is part of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.
A 2015 study by NPI found four in 10 UC students didn't have enough money to buy sufficient food for a healthy lifestyle. To promote better health, UC has taken steps to ensure students are aware of SNAP, established campus food pantries and other basic needs resources.
"In California, SNAP is known as CalFresh and despite policies and communication to improve college students' access to CalFresh, participation remains low, with approximately 78% of those eligible not receiving benefits," said lead study author Suzanna M. Martinez, associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UC San Francisco.
For insight on why low-income UC students aren't receiving the benefits, Martinez, Ritchie and colleagues at UC San Francisco and Nutrition Policy Institute consulted county agencies that process student CalFresh applications. The researchers interviewed county staff in nine counties that are home to UC campuses: Alameda, Los Angeles, Merced, Orange, Riverside, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Yolo.
While CalFresh benefits have mainly been paid by the federal government through the Farm Bill, counties contribute and county agencies are responsible for implementing policies, determining eligibility, processing applications and distributing funds.
“With the Farm Bill still up for reauthorization, these findings could provide insight into how to strengthen SNAP policy related to eligible students,” Martinez said.
The researchers conducted focus groups and interviews with county staff to determine how agency workers interpret the complex criteria for students to meet CalFresh eligibility.
Their questions focused on how students' applications differed from those of community members, steps taken when processing student applications, student-specific training and suggested improvements to the process.
Five central themes were identified in the interviews:
- More consistent policy dissemination and program administration is needed
- Student exemptions and the application process are perceived as challenges for students
- Key supports for successful student applications include carefully reviewing applications for potential exemptions, providing useful resources to students, and campus partnerships
- Tracking policy changes is burdensome
- Eliminating student rules and treating students as regular clients would be more equitable
The researchers found that CalFresh rules are challenging for students as well as the county agency staff.
Also, eligibility requirements, written over 50 years ago, are based on the assumption that college students are supported by middle-class families.
The research supports simplifying the student CalFresh process to increase participation for eligible students, especially for historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and low-income students for whom equitable access to CalFresh benefits is critical.
“Once students get confused or don't know what they need to do, they don't follow through with their application,” one CalFresh eligibility worker told the researchers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some federal and state requirements were waived or relaxed for students.
“The timing of this study resulted in a natural experiment since COVID-19-related SNAP modifications streamlined the student application process and reduced administrative burden,” Martinez noted. “These modifications alleviated some challenges discussed by county workers, confirming existing opinions to eliminate the student rules.”
Ritchie said, “We hope our research informs policy to remove some of the barriers so students no longer have as much difficulty getting the food they need.”
This study was funded by the California State Legislature, which provided funding to the University of California to address students' basic needs (UC Basic Needs Initiative).
/h3>Grape seeds, stems and skins can reduce dairy cattle emissions
Low-cost wine industry additive also improved feed efficiency and milk quality
Researchers at University of California, Davis, added fresh grape pomace left over from winemaking operations to alfalfa-based feed for dairy cows and found that methane emissions were reduced by 10% to 11%.
The preliminary findings could offer a low-cost sustainable pathway for vineyards to reduce waste while helping dairy operations maintain quality while cutting back on emissions of methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas.
“This is the first time anybody has shown that this can work in California,” said Ermias Kebreab, an animal science professor and associate dean of global engagement at UC Davis. “You're reducing emissions, you're improving the quality and it may also reduce the cost of production.”
The pilot research project, which will be detailed in a paper later this year, also found that mixing in grape pomace improved feed efficiency and increased healthful fats, said Selina Wang, an associate professor of Cooperative Extension in small scale fruit and vegetable processing.
“We found that the feed with the additive of grape pomace changed the fatty acid composition of the milk and, in particular, increased the polyunsaturated fats, which are the main fats in grape pomace,” Wang said. “This suggests that supplementing the feed with an optimal fatty acid profile may have positive impact on the fatty acid profile of the milk and increase their health benefits.”
Symbiotic commodities?
In 2022, California was the leading dairy producer in the country, generating $10.40 billion in sales, while 90% of wine production came from the Golden State, with a market value of $5.54 billion.
Processing grapes for wine generates thousands of tons of waste in the form of grape pomace, which consists of leftover seeds, skins and stems. Dairy and livestock are responsible for more than half of the state's methane emissions, owed largely to cow burps.
They are the top two agricultural commodities in California, according to state production statistics, and reducing waste and emissions for both industries are key to the state meeting its climate goals.
Tannins for emission reductions
Wine grapes are high in fats and tannin, which is known to reduce methane emissions, so Kebreab sought to test if adding grape pomace to feed could have a positive effect while not adversely affecting production.
“It's a byproduct that's not being used much,” he said. “This is something that can be included in our efforts to try to reduce emissions.”
A mix of feed options
To do the research, scientists worked with Holstein dairy cows and gave the animals feed consisting of alfalfa, wheat, almond hulls, cottonseed and grain. After two weeks, the cows were split into three groups: A control group with no change in diet, another where the feed combination included 10% grape pomace and a third that received 15% grape pomace.
Every four weeks, the cow groups would change feed combinations.
They were fed twice daily by postdoctoral students and interns, and emissions were monitored daily. Milk production was documented in the morning and evening and milk samples were collected weekly to analyze for fat, protein, lactose and other measurements, which showed no differences between the control and other groups.
Methane and hydrogen emissions were reduced compared with the control group, suggesting that grape pomace reduced enteric emissions without affecting production.
“I think the dairy industry will be very interested in this,” Kebreab said. “Sometimes when you're using additives, they have palatability issues. With grape pomace, they absolutely love it.”
Next on the list is a trial with olive pomace and working to understand the mechanism that reduces emissions. “If we have a better understanding of the mechanisms, we can select the feed additive or a mix of feed additives to reduce dairy cattle emissions and make dairy milk healthier while making use of the agriculture byproducts,” Wang said. “There's a lot of room to grow in this space and we're excited about this work.”
The research was supported by the California Dairy Research Foundation.
This article was first published on the UC Davis news site.
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AI and sustainable farming focus of May 7 workshop with UC, partners
On May 7, scientists from University of California, Riverside, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Colorado State University Extension, Kansas State University, University of Arizona, Central Arizona Project, and USDA-Agricultural Research Service will gather with growers in Palm Desert to discuss how artificial intelligence can be used in agriculture.
“Artificial intelligence can be used by farmers to save water, improve fertilizer efficiency and increase productivity,” said Khaled Bali, UC Cooperative Extension irrigation water management specialist and organizer of the workshop. “At this workshop, growers will hear about the latest research on AI technology for agriculture and about the experiences of growers who are already testing it in their fields.”
Speakers and topics will include:
- Raj Khosla, Kansas State University - AI for precision nitrogen and water management in row crops
- Michael Cahn, UC Cooperative Extension - CropManage decision support tool for irrigation and nutrient management
- Daniele Zaccaria, UC Cooperative Extension - Citrus crop water use and open ET in the low desert of California
- Nan Li, UC Riverside - Estimating soil moisture using remote-sensing and land surface parameters in the Central Valley of California.
- Ali Montazar, UC Cooperative Extension - Promises and pitfalls of drip irrigation in desert cropping systems
- Khaled Bali, UC Cooperative Extension - Deficit irrigation strategies for alfalfa in California
- Philip Waisen, UC Cooperative Extension - Environmentally conscious practices for managing soilborne diseases in low desert vegetable production
- Peter Moller, Rubicon Water - On-farm water conservation projects: surface irrigation
- Ronnie Leimgruber, Imperial Valley grower - On-farm water conservation projects: linear move, basin and subsurface drip irrigation
- Rick Benson, Imperial Valley grower - Alternative cropping systems for the low desert region of California: olives and other crops
The workshop will be held at the UCR Palm Desert Center at 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive in Palm Desertfrom 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 7. It costs $30 per person and includes lunch. Register at https://bit.ly/AImay7.
Young orchard water and nutrient management workshops offered in Modesto, Merced, Fresno, Bakersfield
Growers invited to discuss young almonds, pistachios, walnuts, olives and citrus orchards starting May 9
To help growers manage irrigation and nutrients for young and immature orchards, UC Cooperative Extension is offering workshops in Modesto, Merced, Fresno and Bakersfield.
The workshops will feature presentations by various experts and researchers focusing on best irrigation and nutrient management practices tailored specifically for young orchards in the San Joaquin Valley. They will cover almonds, pistachios, walnuts, olives and citrus.
“Attendees will gain insights into the irrigation and nutrient needs of young orchards, which are different from those applicable to mature orchards, and learn strategies for adjusting these practices as orchards mature,” said Moneim Mohamed, UC Cooperative Extension irrigation and soils advisor for Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties. “This knowledge aims to ensure healthier tree development, better resource use and more resilient orchards in the face of climate change.”
Growers, certified crop advisers and other agricultural professionals are encouraged to attend. Workshop attendees may request one-on-one assistance from a UCCE farm advisor.
Speakers include UCCE advisors Mohamed, Mae Culumber, Tobias Oker, and Cameron Zuber, UCCE specialist Giulia Marino, Andre Daccache of UC Davis, Charles Hillyer and Shawn Ashkan of Fresno State.
The Young Orchard Irrigation and Nutrient Management workshops will be held in four locations:
May 9 (8 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
UC Cooperative Extension, Room HI, 3800 Cornucopia Way
Register at https://ucanr.edu/orchardsmodesto
Merced
May 14 (8 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
UC Cooperative Extension, 2145 Wardrobe Avenue
Register at https://ucanr.edu/orcharsmerced
Fresno
May 22 (8 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
Fresno State, 5370 N. Chestnut M/S OF 18
Register at https://ucanr.edu/orchardsfresno
Bakersfield
June 5 (8 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
UC Cooperative Extension, 1031 South Mount Vernon Avenue
Register at https://ucanr.edu/orchardsbakersfield
Workshops are free and include coffee breaks, lunch, workshop materials along with the presentations. Registration is required.
These workshops are supported by a grant from California Department of Food and Agriculture and sponsored by Almond Board of California, California Pistachio Research Board, WiseConn Engineering and Irrometer Company, Inc.
Expertos en agricultura hablan sobre los desafíos a los que se enfrenta esta industria en California
La agricultura genera 59 mil millones de dólares y emplea a cerca de 400 mil individuos en California. La industria, sin embargo, frecuentemente se ve amenazada ante los desafíos que representan los cambios climáticos, la conversión de tierras y la escasez de agua.
Motivados para tomar acción, Sustain Southern California – una organización asociada con el Centro Beall para la Innovación Aplicada de UC Irvine – organizó una mesa redonda de discusión el pasado 20 de febrero, en la que participaron expertos en la materia, incluyendo a Darren Haver, director del Centro de Investigación y Extensión de la División de Agricultura y Recursos Naturales de UC.
Durante su discurso principal, José Arriaga, comisionado de agricultura del condado de Orange, definió sustentabilidad como la producción de alimentos y fibra que no compromete la habilidad de las futuras generaciones para satisfacer sus necesidades. Al hacerlo, reconoció el beneficio de hablar sobre temas tan oportunos, especialmente para lugares donde la agricultura ya no es tan prevalente como lo era.
“Muchas personas no piensan en el condado de Orange como un lugar para la agricultura. Es probable que sea porque se ha reservado muy poca superficie para la agricultura no es como antes. Y eso me preocupa”, mencionó Arriaga.
La primera discusión de mesa redonda se enfocó en la agricultura sustentable, en ella Haver participó junto a otros líderes de la industria del sur de California, incluyendo A.G. Kawamura de Orange County Produce, Steve Brazeel de Sunterra Produce y Elevated Foods, Anthony Curci de Buttonwood Ranch y Parker Cohn de Performance Resource Management.
Al hablar sobre la generación actual, Haver dijo que ha visto un cambio en las pasadas décadas en el que el enfoque se ha alejado del rendimiento, lo cual solía ser el aspecto más importante de la producción agrícola. Hoy en día, se le dedica más atención a la sustentabilidad – un cambio que Haver atribuye a una generación más joven de investigadores y filólogos que trabajan para la agricultura.
Ha habido un énfasis en sustentar el ambiente a la vez que se mantiene el progreso económico. Haver reconoció estos importantes elementos, pero resaltó también el impacto social de la sustentabilidad.
“No tengo todas las respuestas, pero creo que es importante abordar los aspectos del medio ambiente, económico y social de la agricultura. También cree que estos factores deben ser abordarse sistemáticamente en lugar de silos”, indicó Haver.
Los productores agrícolas del Sur de California, en particular, son responsables de 7,800 millones de dólares en ingresos brutos y cerca de 100 mil trabajos directamente relacionados con la agricultura. Solo en el condado de Orange, donde Haver tiene su base en el Centro de Investigación y Extensión de South Coast, la agricultura produce 86 millones de dólares en producción económica, en donde los viveros se sigan a la cabeza como el principal producto, seguido por los árboles frutales, producción de verduras, ganado y colmenas.
Adaptado al español por Leticia Irigoyen del artículo en inglés. Editado por Diana Cervantes.