Posts Tagged: Research and Extension
Desert Research and Extension Center hosts international agriculture student interns
Caring for feedlot cattle, examining onion irrigation practices, and teaching preschoolers about agriculture are not part of the typical college curriculum. But for Desert Research and Extension Center's five college student interns, these activities are what fill their days.
Located on 255 acres of Southern California desert, DREC focuses on advancing irrigated desert agriculture, livestock and feedlot management, and pest management. It is also home to the Farm Smart agricultural education program, reaching approximately 7,800 participants annually.
In February, DREC welcomed the college student interns - creative thinkers working at the intersection of experimental research and agriculture education. During the internship, the students are working on-site under the mentorship of academics and staff members on applied projects. After years of COVID restrictions, the center is excited to welcome the students in person for hands-on engagement with the research and the public.
"Hosting students at DREC helps us to fulfill our mission while training the next generation of professionals," says Jairo Diaz, Director of DREC. "I am particularly motivated to provide experiential learning activities to underrepresented groups in agriculture and STEM careers."
Read on to learn about each of these budding agronomists.
Dianely Alba
Dianely Alba is majoring in agronomy at the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Mexico (This university is about 20 miles south of DREC). She is working under the mentorship of Jairo Diaz-Ramirez on a project focused on improving irrigation and nutrient management practices in onion production in Imperial County.
Melina Munoz
Melina Munoz is a student at Imperial Valley College studying elementary education. She is an intern for DREC's Farm to Preschool Festival. Munoz is in charge of developing and translating activities, planning and implementing the festival, and data entry for participant registration and evaluation information.
Lester Nolasco
Lester Nolasco grew up on a farm in Honduras, so he has been involved with animals and agriculture from a young age. He is working under the mentorship of Pedro Carvalho, the Feedlot Management Specialist. Nolasco is currently working on feedlot cattle management and beef cattle nutrition.
“Although my passion is cattle, when you work with these animals, you indirectly learn about agriculture and crops in general because that is also an important part of cattle nutrition,”says Nolasco. Alongside the other feedlot management interns, Nolasco feeds animals, cleans pens, mixes feed, weighs cattle, and does lab work. “It is such a nice experience for me because I had only worked with dairy cattle in the past and this internship is teaching me a lot. I would like to learn as much as I can about beef cattle nutrition. Hopefully, in the future, I will be a professor and share the knowledge I have learned with other professionals back in my country.”
Heitor Otávio Martins de Oliveira
Heitor Otávio Martins de Oliveira has worked with animals throughout his life, starting with his parents' farm. He attended veterinary school, where he continued to learn about agriculture. At DREC, Otávio Martins de Oliveira is working on beef cattle nutrition management. In addition to daily maintenance tasks, he weighs the cattle monthly and provides any necessary treatments.
“I would like to get as much knowledge as I can about nutrition in the USA and then return to my home country of Brazil to work there,” says Otávio Martins de Oliveira. “Maybe I will get a master's degree related to reproduction in cattle.”
Willi Meireles
Willi Meireles was introduced to Carvalho by his professor in Brazil. He is working on evaluating the use of feed additives to increase the performance of feedlot cattle.
“My grandparents own a farm where beef cattle are raised, so since I was a child, I have worked with animals and always liked animal science,” reflects Meireles. “I intend to specialize in ruminant nutrition and, after working hard, be able to have my own beef cattle.”
/h1>/h1>/h1>/h1>/h1>UC ANR offers seminars, citrus tour at World Ag Expo
UC Dairy Series
A series of dairy seminars will be offered by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources scientists at the World Ag Expo. Presentations will cover the latest research on almond hulls as dairy feed, water management, nutrient management, manure management and much more. See the schedule below.
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022
Seminar Trailer 2
Session 1: Nutrient Management & Manure Treatment Technologies
Tuesday, 1:00 – 1:55 p.m.
1 p.m. – Joy Hollingsworth, UC Cooperative Extension nutrient management and soil quality advisor for Tulare, Kings, Fresno and Madera counties
Nutrient management with digester effluent
1:15 p.m. – Anthony Fulford, Ph.D., UC Cooperative Extension nutrient management and soil quality advisor for Stanislaus, Merced and San Joaquin counties
Incorporating vacuumed manure into your nutrient management needs
1:30 p.m. – Nick Clark, UC Cooperative Extension agronomic cropping systems and nutrient management advisor for Kings, Fresno and Tulare counties
Nutrient management with other advanced treatment technologies
1:45–1:55 p.m. – Q&A session
Session 2: Manure management options on your dairy
2–2:55 p.m.
2 p.m. – Betsy Karle, UC Cooperative Extension dairy advisor for Glenn, Butte, Tehama,
Shasta, Sutter and Yuba counties
CDFA's Alternative Manure Management Program - where to start
2:15 p.m. – Frank Mitloehner, Ph.D., UC Cooperative Extension specialist in livestock systems and air quality, UC Davis Department of Animal Science
Manure technologies & pre/post greenhouse gas emissions
2:30 p.m. – Ruihong Zhang, Ph.D., UC Davis professor in the Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Novel technologies for manure management on dairies
2:45–2:55 p.m. – Q&A session
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022
Seminar Trailer 2
Session 3: Feeding the California Dairy Herd
1–1:55 p.m.
1 p.m. – Jennifer Heguy, UC Cooperative Extension dairy advisor for Stanislaus, Merced and San Joaquin counties
Almond hull usage on California dairies
1:15 p.m. – Ed DePeters, Ph.D., UC Davis professor in the Department of Animal Science
Almond hulls - the story continues
1:30 p.m. – Dan Putnam, Ph.D., UC Cooperative Extension specialist in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences
Low lignin alfalfa considerations for yield & feed quality
1:45–1:55 p.m. – Q&A session
Session 4: Water-wise dairying
2–2:55 p.m.
2 p.m. – Nick Clark, UC Cooperative Extension agronomic cropping systems and nutrient management advisor for Kings, Fresno and Tulare counties
Sugar beet and safflower – yield, water use and nutrient management considerations
2:15 p.m. – Mark Lundy, Ph.D., UC Cooperative Extension specialist in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences
Maximizing water productivity from winter small grains in California
2:30 p.m. – Khaled Bali, Ph.D., UC Cooperative Extension irrigation water management specialist at Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Deficit irrigation and winter groundwater recharge in alfalfa
2:45–2:55 p.m. – Q&A session
Need continuing education unit credits?
American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS): 1 CEU/session; 4 total available
Certified Crop Adviser: 2 CEU available
Nutrient Management: 1 CEU (Sessions 1 & 2)
Soil & Water Management: 1 CEU (Session 4)
California Department of Food and Agriculture's Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Program: 2 CEU available
Nitrogen Management: 1 CEU (Sessions 1 & 2)
Irrigation Management: 1 CEU (Session 4)
Feb. 10 citrus tour (9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.)
The citrus tour will visit two locations: University of California Lindcove Research & Extension Center and McKellar Family Farms.
Established in 1959, the UC Lindcove REC has more than 100 acres of citrus in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. At the center, researchers conduct studies on citrus varieties, horticultural techniques and pest management. The UC Lindcove REC portion of the tour will include a display and tasting of citrus varieties.
Lunch is provided at McKellar Family Farms, where visitors will tour the citrus orchards, view equipment and get a better understanding of the process from tree to table. By the end of the tour, visitors will have an understanding of how much care and forethought goes into producing top-quality fruit, in addition to the research conducted to improve growing conditions.
Tour tickets cost $45 and include choice of lunch. For more information, visit https://www.worldagexpo.com/attendees/agriculture-tours.
New research fills gap on best practices for California carrot production
One doesn't need to be a seasoned farmer to know that growing conditions in Canada are completely different than those found in the low desert of California.
And yet, for many years, studies conducted in Canada were used to generate nitrogen uptake data for the California carrot production system, so growers managed their fields based on their own experiences – and that research conducted thousands of miles to the north.
Carrots had been among the crops grown in California that did not have site-specific data to suggest the best source, rate, timing and placement of nitrogen, in the highly variable cropping seasons and locations throughout the state. That's why new information – based on local research and published in August – is invaluable to farmers in Imperial and Kern counties, where the majority of the carrots in California are grown.
Two years of data from two experimental trials at UC Agriculture and Natural Resource's Desert Research and Extension Center – as well as from 10 commercial fields – produced key recommendations for farmers to make the most of their irrigation and nitrogen applications.
“The point is we developed information in your field, based on your practices, your climate, your production system – and this is what is really happening,” said Ali Montazar, UC Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Imperial County. Montazar conducted the study alongside Daniel Geisseler, UCCE nutrient management specialist at UC Davis, and Michael Cahn, UCCE irrigation and water resources advisor for Monterey County.
With reliable data gathered under real-world conditions, Montazar said growers now have solid reference points for when – and at what rate – to irrigate and apply fertilizers in the low desert environment. One of the key findings, for example, was that the carrots' nitrogen uptake is generally low in the first 40 to 50 days, so growers are advised to limit their fertilizer application during that period.
Then, by tailoring those basic guidelines to their own site-specific situation and optimizing their practices, growers can maximize the amount of nitrogen taken up by the carrots – and minimize the amount that is leached out.
“Improving irrigation and nutrient management in the desert production system is what local growers are themselves trying to achieve. With improving efficiency and reducing nutrient leaching, we can improve the quality of water in the Salton Sea,” said Montazar, noting the longstanding challenges of reducing contaminants from irrigated lands to protect its unique ecosystem and wildlife.
While contamination of groundwater is not a critical issue in the desert, the best practices in this study can also help carrot growers in parts of California where nitrogen leaching into groundwater and drinking water supplies is a greater concern.
Montazar is currently leading a team in studying carrot-growing management practices under slightly different conditions in Kern County, with the hopes of publishing findings in late summer 2022.
The Imperial County study, “Spatial Variability of Nitrogen Uptake and Net Removal and Actual Evapotranspiration in the California Desert Carrot Production System,” is published in the journal Agriculture, and can be found at https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080752. Findings and recommendations also appear in Progressive Crop Consultant: https://progressivecrop.com/2021/09/new-knowledge-based-information-developed-to-enhance-water-and-nitrogen-use-efficiency-in-desert-fresh-market-carrots/.
Funding for this study was provided by the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Fertilizer Research and Education Program, as well as the California Fresh Carrots Advisory Board.
To grow vegetables locally, Second Harvest partners with UC South Coast REC
Partnering for California
A.G. Kawamura to grow produce at UC South Coast Research and Extension Center for Orange County food bank
Driven to provide consistent access to nutritious food for residents in Orange County, Second Harvest Food Bank is exploring new fields of possibility – fields amounting to 45 acres at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources' South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine.
With grower A.G. Kawamura, Solutions for Urban Ag chairman and former California secretary of Food and Agriculture, the food bank recently planted its first cabbage transplants to generate a steady flow of fresh, locally grown produce for its pantry network.
Harvest Solutions Farm is expected to produce 40,000 pounds of cabbage per week as of Nov. 18 when the first harvest is expected to take place. When all 45 acres are fully planted, they are anticipated to yield 160,000 pounds of produce per month.
“Fresh produce is so important to the health of a community,” said Darren Haver, director of the agricultural research facility. “Through this unique public-private partnership, UC South Coast Research and Extension Center is able to provide land and volunteers to assist in planting and harvesting to supply nutritious food to people in our community in need.”
On Aug. 31, Second Harvest Board Chairman Dave Coffaro, Kawamura and Haver were joined at UC South Coast REC by Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan, Representative Katie Porter of Irvine and Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner for the ceremonial planting of the first crop. Volunteers transplanted approximately 26,000 cabbage seedlings.
“This is a historic day for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County,” said Coffaro. “Few food banks, if any, have attempted to grow their own food on this large a scale. Our unique good fortune to have access to 45 acres in the heart of an urban center like Irvine, where we are able to cultivate an array of crops and supply our food pantry partners with fresh, nutritious produce brings us a huge step closer to making nutritional security a reality for our entire community.”
Produce key component of Second Harvest's nutritional strategy
Harvest Solutions Farm is the latest component in Second Harvest's strategy to attain nutrition security for all. The food bank has begun focusing on planned nutrition based on consistent access to fresh protein, produce and dairy – rather than relying on situational nutrition driven solely by donations.
Second Harvest is prioritizing the weekly purchase and donation of nutritious food to provide children and families with consistent access to the nutrient-dense food that can set them up for success in school and at work. Fresh produce is a key component of a nutritious diet.
“After this initial planting of cabbage, which is a hearty, versatile vegetable that's easy to grow and a nutritional mainstay in a variety of cultures, the second planting in May 2022 will include zucchini, squash and mini bell peppers,” saidKawamura. “When the 45 acres are fully planted with these vegetables, with regular crop rotations, I expect it to yield 600,000 pounds per month, which is comparable to two 53-foot semi-truck trailers full of locally grown produce going into the community.”
Creating supply chain resiliency and environmental benefits
The farm also allows Second Harvest to mitigate challenges like pandemic-induced inflated food prices and supply chain disruptions.
“We previously bought vegetables from the Central Valley. Last year, we had to work around lags in the supply chain, which means healthy food was less plentiful for Orange County families in need,” Coffaro said. “This farm will create an end-to-end produce supply chain for us and those we serve.”
Further, by growing produce locally, Second Harvest will drastically cut its “time to the dinner plate,” delivering greater health benefits because the produce will be fresher when it reaches families.
The farm will be maintained primarily by 40 volunteers during three-hour shifts, starting with one to two scheduled opportunities per week. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, but opportunities for children to participate will be available in the near future.
Los persimos son la alegría del otoño
Cuando el clima se pone frío en el otoño y se aproximan los días festivos, los orbes se maduran en los árboles de persimos o caquis en California para ofrecer una dulzura otoñal a tiempo para las recetas de la temporada y decoración festiva.
En el Centro de Investigación y Extensión del Sur de UC, en Irvine (UC South Coast Research and Extension Center), conocido en inglés por sus siglas SCREC, una colección de 53 variedades de persimos están en su mero apogeo en noviembre cuando el público es invitado a degustar y cosechar durante el día anual del persimo.
“Queremos crear consciencia sobre los persimos”, dijo Tammy Majcherek, educadora comunitaria del SCREC. “Es un hermoso árbol y una gran adición para cualquier paisaje. El árbol de persimos provee sombra en el verano, frutos saludables en el otoño y luego tira sus hojas permitiendo que se filtre la calidez solar en el invierno. Es una situación ideal para todos, en cuanto a árboles de paisaje se refiere”.
La colección de persimos llegó al centro de investigaciones en la década de los 60, cuando el desaparecido profesor de horticultura subtropical de UCLA, Art Schroeder, se encargó de mudar su colección de variedades de persimos a otro lugar, porque la presión de los desarrolladores urbanos en el campus de Westwood se incrementó.
Los persimos son nativos de dos partes del mundo, China y Estados Unidos. El persimo chino logró llegar hasta Japón donde su popularidad se disparó. El persimo estadounidense proviene de los estados del sureste, sin embargo, los persimos de California remontan su linaje hasta Asia.
De acuerdo con el Reporte de Cultivos del Departamento de Agricultura, California encabeza a los estados de la nación en producción de persimos, pero con un valor de alrededor de 21 millones de dólares en el 2012, representa solo una pequeña fracción del valor de cultivos de árboles frutales y nueces de California, de 19 mil millones de dólares en el 2012.
Sin embargo, para los visitantes que participaron en el recorrido de la colección de UC en el SCREC, los persimos son una fruta de elección. Los participantes del recorrido VIP matutino recibieron una bolsa de compras grande para llenarla con diferentes variedades de persimos fuyu y hachiya. Los fuyu son frutos planos de color amarillo anaranjado que pueden comerse directo del árbol como manzanas o dejarlos madurar para obtener una pulpa súper dulce y suave. Los hachiya son más rojos, tiene forma de corazón y son astringentes cuando no están completamente maduros. “Si los muerde, sentirá una aspereza en la lengua de inmediato”, dijo un participante.
Sin embargo, después de que maduran y obtienen una pulpa gelatinosa y suave o se secan, los Hachiya son igualmente deliciosos.
Shirley Salado, supervisora del Programa de Expandido de Alimentos y Nutrición de Extensión Cooperativa de UC (Cooperative Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) en el condado de San Diego, asistió a la degustación del persimo para recopilar frutas e información para su programa educativo.
“El fuyu es genial para comerse”, señaló Salado. “Cuando se maduran y la pulpa se pone muy suave, puede ponerla en la licuadora y molerla y congelarla en bolsas plásticas con cierre para agregarlos a batidos saludables”.
Salado llenó dos bolsas grandes de persimos para compartir con su personal de educación sobre nutrición.
“No todos saben sobre esto”, indicó. “Ello les permite darle un vistazo a la fruta. Esto es lo que promovemos”.
Después del recorrido, Cinda Webb, coordinadora del programa maestro para conservar alimentos de UC de SCREC hizo una demostración sobre el consumo seguro de persimos haciendo con ellos una mermelada con un toque de canela, chips de persimo seco y una ensalada gourmet de albahaca, betabel y arroz.
Ensalada de arroz silvestre o integral con persimos
4 tazas de arroz silvestre o integral, cocinado
2 persimos Fuyu, picados
1 tazas de betabeles cocidos y picados
1 taza de up albahaca, picada
8 onzas de queso feta
½ taza de vinagreta de naranja y comino
Vinagreta (rinde 1 taza)
½ taza de jugo de naranja
¼ taza de aceite de olivo
2 cucharaditas de vinagre de arroz
1 cucharada de miel de maple
1½ cucharadita de comino
1 cucharadita de cilantro
½ cucharadita de sal
Preparación
- Bata a mano los ingredientes para la vinagreta
- Vierta la albahaca, betabel, persimos y queso feta sobre el arroz y revuelva con la mitad de la vinagreta.
- Adorne con rebanadas de persimos y un poco de albahaca.
48800.persimons8
Un miembro de la Asociación de Productores de Frutas Raras, Dewey Savage, muestra persimos con una pulpa color marrón. El oscurecimiento se debe al alcohol liberado por las semillas dentro del fruto. El alcohol neutraliza los taninos que hacen que el persimo sea astringente. La reacción química natural da como resultado una fruta más dulce.
Voluntarios del programa Jardineros Maestros de UC prepararon persimos de diferentes variedades para ser degustados.
Los participantes evaluaron las variedades de persimos basados en su atractivo, astringencia, azúcar, sabor y rendimiento general.