Growers and other San Joaquin Valley residents were invited to meet with UC ANR leadership and learn about the latest research at Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier and West Side REC in Five Points on Jan. 9.
Vice President Glenda Humiston was joined by Associate Vice President for Research and Cooperative Extension Brent Hales, Associate Vice President for Business Operations Tu Tran, Human Resources Executive Director Bethanie Brown, and Executive Director of Resource Planning & Management Jennifer Bunge.
Scientists presented their recent research and extension projects. Attendees were encouraged to connect with scientists and leaders and share their hopes for the future of Kearney and West Side RECs.
Darren Haver, REC System director, and Atef Swelam, director of Kearney REC and West Side REC, welcomed guests..
“We are here for you,” Swelam told the growers, members of commodity groups and other visitors, encouraging them to voice their concerns.
Hannah Johnson, industry lead at UC ANR Innovate, led a feedback session. Regulations, policy and compliance are some of the biggest issues farmers said they are facing.
Humiston announced that UC ANR is setting up a policy institute that will attempt to leverage research to inform policy.
“We're going to be putting together briefing papers; we're going to be setting up workshops and meetings for legislators and policymakers based on the research we do,” Humiston. “It's not advocacy, it's putting science into the hands of policymakers so they can make informed decisions.”
Humiston also updated the audience on gains UC ANR has made in building its budget and hiring more academics and staff. She also briefed the group on UC ANR's Strategic Vision 2024 and urged them to read it and provide their input on priorities.
At West Side REC, Swelam introduced Ronald Rising, the new farm superintendent.
Research and extension presentations included:
- Andreas Westphal, UC Cooperative Extension nematology specialist – Sustainable nematode management in perennials
- Peter Larbi, UC Cooperative Extension specialist in agricultural application engineering – Evaluating spray drift in orchards & vineyards
- Alejandro Hernandez-Rosas, a UC Davis Ph.D. candidate in the lab of Florent Trouillas, UC Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Plant Pathology Plant – Pathology research and extension for fruit and nuts
- Karmjot Randhawa, UCCE director for Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Madera counties – UC ANR regional updates on counties advisory services
- Helle Petersen, regional director for small food and farm innovation – F3 Local & Equipment Lending Library at Kearney REC
- Tom Turini, UCCE vegetable crops advisor for Fresno County – Tomatoes, melons, garlic
- Karl Lund, UCCE area viticulture advisor – Grape rootstocks
- Robert Hutmacher, UCCE specialist emeritus – Cotton, hemp and sorghum
- Mae Culumber, UCCE nut crops advisor for Fresno County – Pistachio pruning trials
- Ruth Dahlquist-Willard, interim director of Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program – Integration of the Master Food Preserver Program, Organic Agriculture Institute and Small Farms Network into SAREP.
- Maya Shydlowski, UCCE community education specialist – Small grains
- Gabe Youtsey, UC ANR chief innovation officer – The Vine: Science and innovation from concept to practices