Posts Tagged: pest management

Foundation created to energize community support for UC ANR mission

Board of Directors to promote philanthropy through advocacy and fundraising in support of agriculture, natural resources and community health

The new University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Foundation has been established to advance UC ANR's essential research and extension mission.

The foundation – to be incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization following approval by UC President Michael Drake in October – will support programs that promote California's agriculture and food systems; natural ecosystems and working landscapes; and healthy and thriving communities.

“The establishment of this foundation could not have come at a better time, as it will inspire the vital resources and energy we need to meet the pressing challenges we pinpointed in our recently released Strategic Vision 2040,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for agriculture and natural resources.

Modeled after similar entities at UC campuses, the UC ANR Foundation will be guided by a volunteer Board of Directors. Representing a variety of regions and communities across California, the directors collectively bring years of experience in the agriculture, natural resources, government, academic and nonprofit sectors.

“By tapping into the board's connections, relationships and knowledge of our work and its impact, UC ANR is well-positioned to undertake significant and truly transformative fundraising initiatives and campaigns,” said Greg Gibbs, executive director of UC ANR Development Services.

The Board currently comprises eight community leaders and three ex officio members:

Don Bransford
Owner and Operator
Bransford Farms

Tom Delfino
Sr. Principal
S.S. Papadopulos & Associates

Bill Frost
UC Cooperative Extension Advisor Emeritus and former Associate Vice President
UC ANR

Anne Haddix
Co-President, Board of Directors
UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County (Volunteer)

Corinne Martinez, Board Chair
President and Chief Operations Officer
Berryessa Gap Vineyards

Soapy Mulholland
Principal
Sopac & Associates LLC

Sharon Nance
President
NTAPROBLM LLC Inc.

Stephen Reid
Head Gardener of the Rose Garden
The Huntington Library and Botanic Gardens

Ex Officio Members

Greg Gibbs, Board Secretary
Executive Director, Development Services
UC ANR

Glenda Humiston
Vice President
UC ANR

Tu Tran, Board Treasurer
Associate Vice President
UC ANR

“We are grateful to the members of the new board for their leadership, expertise and passion for our mission, and we're thankful to the many donors – past, present and future – who generously support our work to improve lives all across California,” Humiston said.

History of philanthropic support empowered creation of foundation

It has been that outpouring of support – channeled by Gibbs' fundraising team – that enabled the establishment of the UC ANR Foundation. Gibbs was part of a nascent development team created just seven years ago, in 2017, to increase private funding from individuals, foundations, companies and agricultural commodities groups.

Within that time, the Development Services team has raised crucial funds for a wide range of impactful programs and projects. For example, philanthropic support is fueling efforts to cultivate workforce development in agriculture and related fields in Orange County, drive innovations in the “circular bioeconomy” within the San Joaquin Valley, strengthen wildfire resiliency in communities across the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and propel leading-edge research to benefit growers of citrus, grapes and other valuable commodities.

“People are seeing the true impact of UC ANR, and I think this foundation board is a testament to that,” Gibbs said. “It's a validation of all the work that's been done over the last seven years.”

In 2023, a Vice President's Cabinet began laying the groundwork for the foundation by establishing its bylaws and structure. That group comprised several current board members, as well as Andrea Ambrose, UC ANR director of advancement; Adina Merenlender, professor of Cooperative Extension in conservation science; and Kerry Tucker, chief strategic counsel at Nuffer, Smith, Tucker.

Then, presented with UC ANR's track record of robust fundraising and measurable impacts, UC President Drake approved the incorporation of the new nonprofit foundation on Oct. 2. The foundation will begin work with UC ANR leadership and staff in early 2025 to develop short- and long-term fundraising plans.

For the public, there is an immediate opportunity to support UC ANR's work – Giving Tuesday. From midnight to midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 3, visit give.ucanr.edu to donate and participate in a global online giving event.

“Just as UC ANR programs significantly improve lives in California and across the nation and world, our donors substantively improve those programs,” Gibbs said. “They believe in what we do, and they make our research and extension activities better in every sense – more impactful, more accessible and more sustainable.”

For more information on the UC ANR Foundation and opportunities to contribute, contact Greg Gibbs at glgibbs@ucanr.edu.

Spotted Lanternfly: The Need to Remain Vigilant (Part 1)

On March 27th, 2024, a flatbed truck carrying a metal art structure originating in New York and headed to Petaluma, California was stopped at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Agricultural Inspection Station in Truckee, California due to live spotted lanternfly (SLF) egg masses being present on the structure (Fig. 1).

Entry of the structure was denied, and the truck reported to the Nevada Department of Agriculture for inspection and treatment for SLF eggs on April 2, 2024. Approximately 30 egg masses were removed and destroyed (Fig. 2). The structure was power washed with soap and water and cleared to enter California with instructions to not offload the structure at the destination until inspected and released by the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures.

Upon arrival for inspection, the Sonoma County agricultural inspector found the structure already offloaded from the truck and during an in-depth inspection of the structure, three more SLF egg masses were discovered. Additional inspectors were called in, and with the help of operators and equipment at the destination site, the agricultural inspectors were able to inspect all surface areas and ensure the structure was free of SLF egg masses.

To put this into perspective, spotted lanternfly egg masses contain 30 to 50 eggs each, meaning that this structure had between 990 to 1,650 live SLF eggs arriving approximately a month prior to the expected hatching time. 

 

In July of 2021, the CDFA established a quarantine to prohibit the introduction of the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) into California (Release #21-077). The quarantine prohibits the entry into California of SLF, its host plants and plant parts (including firewood), shipping containers, and a variety of articles, including outdoor household articles and conveyances (cars, boats, trailers, tractors, etc.) originating from any area where an SLF infestation exists without proper documentation.

Nymphs cannot fly and adults do not readily fly away when approached so both can be easily collected. Early detection is key for preventing the establishment of this species. Californians need to remain vigilant and together, we can all play a role in keeping the spotted lanternfly out of California.

Adapted from an article by Cindy Kron, Ph.D published in CAPCA's magazine, "The Advisor" published August 2024.

CDFA Snag it Snap it Report it

CDFA Snag it Snap it Report it sign

Extreme weather accelerates nitrate pollution in groundwater

Extreme weather spurred by climate change, including droughts and heavy rains, may increase the risk of nitrates from fertilizers ending up in groundwater, according to a recent study from researchers at the University of California, Davis. The study found heavy rains after a drought caused nitrates to seep 33 feet under farm fields in as little as 10 days. The study was published in Water Resources Research.

“The conventional wisdom was that it could take several weeks to years for nitrates to move from the crop root zones to reach groundwater,” said corresponding author Isaya Kisekka, a professor in the Departments of Land, Air and Water Resources and Biological and Agricultural Engineering. “We found these extreme events, such as California's atmospheric rivers, are going to move nitrate more quickly.”

In this study, different methods were used to measure how much nitrate, a component of nitrogen fertilizer, was seeping down through the soil in a tomato and cucumber crop near Esparto, California. Scientists conducted their research from 2021 until 2023 when California was experiencing periods of drought followed by atmospheric rivers. They measured nitrate during both the growing seasons and the rainy seasons.

Drought can leave more nitrogen in soil

Previous studies have shown about 40% of nitrogen fertilizer used for vegetables isn't absorbed by the plants but remains in the soil. During droughts, crops don't use nitrogen efficiently, leading to excess nitrogen in the soil. This study found that if a drought is then followed by heavy rainfall, that sudden burst of water causes nitrate to seep in groundwater more quickly. The nitrate concentration in the shallow groundwater exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level of 10 milligrams per liter for drinking water.

“In California, we often say we swing between droughts and floods,” said Kisekka. “These extreme events that come with climate change are going to make the risk of these chemicals ending up in our drinking water much more severe.”

Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water for most of California's Central Valley. In some regions, such as the Tulare Lake Basin, nearly one-third of drinking and irrigation wells exceed the EPA's safe nitrate level. High nitrate levels in drinking water can increase health risks, especially for young children. It may also increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

Need for real-time soil nitrate monitoring

Central Valley farmers are required to report to the Regional Water Board how much nitrogen they applied to their field and how much was removed as part of the crop's yield. The study compared different ways of monitoring when nitrate from fertilizers seep into groundwater. Kisekka said the results highlight the need for affordable, real-time soil nitrate monitoring tools to help farmers manage fertilizer use efficiently.

By using conservation practices that limit leftover nitrates in the crop's root zone after harvest, farmers can help reduce nitrate contamination in groundwater.  

This study's data will also help improve a model called SWAT, which is used to track nitrate seepage into groundwater across California's Central Valley. This effort is part of the Central Valley Water Board's program to regulate irrigated farmlands.

Other UC Davis authors include Iael Raij Hoffman, Thomas Harter and Helen Dahlke.

The study was supported by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service through its Conservation Effects Assessment Project. The national project is designed to assess the effectiveness of conservation practices across different watersheds. The study also had support from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Mosquitoes, Malaria and the Civil War

Not many Americans think about mosquitoes and malaria on Nov. 11, Veterans' Day. But they should. The mosquito played a major adversarial role in our nation's Civil War. Some 30,000 soldiers died of malaria, and more than half of the 2.75 million...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Sustainable Agriculture Workshop

When: December 3^rd, 2024

Where:   UC Cooperative Extension Monterey County

Agriculture Conference Room

1432 Abbott St, Salinas, CA 93901

Join us for our first-ever Workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Sustainable Agriculture.  Ag technologies are increasingly leveraging AI to tackle production and environmental challenges. This workshop will provide valuable insights from experts on AI-driven solutions for issues like labor shortages, crop health, and nutrient management.

Who should attend? Growers, agricultural professionals, tech developers, researchers, and anyone interested in learning how AI can improve agriculture are encouraged to attend. This is a fantastic chance to gain knowledge, share insights, and engage with others who are utilizing innovative technologies to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of farming practices.  The workshop is free but participants are encouraged to preregister using the link below.

8:00 Registration  (click here to pre-register)

8:25  Welcome 

8:30  Western Growers Association-Ag Innovation Center—Facilitating New Technologies in Agriculture    Dennis Donahue/Walt Duflock     

9:00   Practical Considerations for Implementing AI in Agricultural Equipment Jason Mellow, President Axis Ag 

9:30  Current and Future Applications of UAS in Agriculture Elliot Dorenbaum, National UAS Operations Manager, Wilbur Ellis Salinas

10:00 Disease Identification in Strawberry using Drone Technology Frank Martin Research Scientist USDA-ARS Salinas

10:30 Break

10:45  AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems: Identifying Impact Areas to Benefit Resiliency and Sustainability  Steve Brown, Associate Director, UC Davis

11:15  Artificial Intelligence to Delineate Management Grids for Precision Nitrogen Management Dr. Wubugenda Yilma, Colorado State University; Raj Kholsa, Professor, Kansas State University. 

11:45  Do we need better soil maps for field-scale water and nutrient management? Elia Scudiero Associate Professor, UC Riverside

12:15 Adjourn

CCA educational hours requested

For more information, contact   Michael Cahn @ 831-214-3690 or Paramveer Singh @ 831-214-8621, email: psbsingh@ucanr.edu

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