Kearney News

Kearney, Lindcove and UCCE at the World Ag Expo

The World Ag Expo was definitely in full swing in 2024 with beautiful weather outdoors and steady foot traffic from large crowds visiting exhibitor booths indoors and in the open air. Kearney, Lindcove and UCCE Tulare hosted a booth in Pavillion A adjacent to the UCCE Master Gardeners. Curious pedestrians of all ages stopped by with queries, for a chance to examine insects or fungi under the microscope or just to grab a Tango mandarin orange from UC Lindcove. On Wednesday, Citrus IPM advisor Sandipa Gautam was there to answer questions about Asian citrus psyllid other pest management concerns from home growers. 

SRAs Brady Holder and Lauren Vuicich provide information from the Kearney booth at World Ag Expo.

Kearney SRA Brady Holder with Tulare UCCE advisors Joy Hollingsworth, Raymond Mireles and Jorge Angeles.

Expo attendees examine leaf-footed bugs and Phomopsis spores under microscopes.

Field Crops, Alfalfa and Forage Field Day Hosted at Kearney

This field day was held on September 29, 2023, at the Kearney Ag Research and Extension Center in Parlier, CA. We had good attendance and vibrant participation from everybody present. Many of the attendees provided feedback upon our request by completing a survey. We thank you all for the feedback you've provided to us, as it helps us stay on track when bringing you information you need most.

Thanks again to all who attended this year, and for those who weren't able to make it, we hope to see everybody next year.

Please see the agenda from this years event which includes copies of handouts and slide shows.

2023 Kearney Field Crops, Alfalfa and Forage Field Day | Agronomy (ucdavis.edu)

 

- Nick Clark on behalf of the Kearney Field Crops and Forage Field Day organizing committee

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Dr. Andreas Westphal appointed as the Tukuji and Bettie L. Furuta Endowed Chair

Andreas Westphal, UCR Professor of CE Nematology in the Department of Nematology at UC Riverside (UCR) was recently appointed as the Tukuji and Bettie L. Furuta Endowed Chair for his contribution to nematode IPM research in perennial crops. The Tukuji and Bettie L. Furuta Endowment was established in honor of the late Tukuji, who was also a CE Specialist and professor of botany and Plant Science at UCR. His wife Bettie L. Furuta, a horticulturalist and chair of the Watkins Society, donated their estate to support the study of control and pest management of insects and diseases. Westphal follows in their legacy as he continues to conduct research on nematodes, outreach to the community, advisement to growers, and exploring alternative methods for disease management. He is seen with his research group, from left to right Tom Buzo, Rainier Medina, Andreas Westphal, Savannah Coss, Maria Martinez, Zin Thu Zar Maung, Caroline Eberlein, missing Stephen Abbott.

Small Farm Tech Expo Hosted at Kearney

Kearney REC's parking lot was filled to near capacity on Wednesday, November 8th as over 130 attendees and vendors came for the Small Farm Tech Expo hosted by UC Cooperative Extension, Community Alliance with Family Farmers and Small Farm Tech Hub. Early in the morning, guests arrived to fill coffee cups and grab pastries at the sign-in tent as they mingled with old and new friends alike in preparation for a full day's itinerary. Interpretations were available in Spanish, Punjabi, Hmong and lu Mien. Prior to a networking lunch, field demonstrations were made for small ag robots, weed management equipment, irrigation systems and soil moisture sensors. UCCE's Small Farms group had previously planted a variety of cruciferous vegetables in their organic plot on the station. This was where the vendors were able to provide hands-on field demos for their products. After lunch, a workshop was open to facilitate access to grants for purchase of farm equipment. The day concluded with side sessions and last chance networking. Everyone was kept busy and fully engaged. The Small Farm Tech Expo at Kearney was as successful as the fall day was cool and lovely. 

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New Ag Teachers Tour Kearney REC.

A perfect fall day for a visit to the Kearney Ag Station greeted new ag education professionals from the California Agricultural Teachers Association on the 7th of November. The young teachers were from all corners of California; from Tulelake to Coachella Valley, from the Bay Area to the neighboring Sanger. Over fifty participants were in town for professional development seminars at Fresno's Selland Arena and spent the day visiting Rosa Brothers Dairy in Hanford and the Kearney farm here in Parlier. We loaded on the tram and made our way though the orchards, vineyards and fields where research is conducted on the station. Even through we were late in the season, there was still plenty to see, especially the changing color of foliage in the walnuts, stone fruit and pomegranates. There were even some fruit to be collected by the teachers and they gathered souvenirs of fan-shaped kiwi, apples, pomegranates and walnuts. We stopped by one of the insectaries on campus and said hello to the leaf-footed bugs and the spotted-wing Drosophila. Our tour was concluded at the greenhouses where the teachers inspected research in progress and contemplated greenhouse projects for their students. They were an engaged group, and their students are in good hands to be inspired by this group of ag education professionals. 

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