Events Calendar

Are you interested in unmanned aerial vehicles (drones)? UC ANR will be partnering with Bowles Farming to present the 2nd annual UAV field meeting at Bowles Farming (11609 Hereford Road) in Los Banos. This meeting is free. Participants will learn about how UAVs can be used in agricultural operations and how to become licensed to fly a drone. There will be free demo flights by CSU Fresno, UC Merced, and Bowles Farming. DPR, CCA, N-management CE units have been applied for. Call 209-385-7403 for more information.

2 grower continuing education units available

Agenda

8:30 Registration

9:00 Update on Santa Barbara County Water Quality Challenges and Legislation

9:20 Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Raspberry Plasticulture Tunnel Post Rows

9:30 Effect of BMPs on Nitrogen

9:50 Effect of BMPS on Phosphorus, Runoff Turbidity, and Sediment Movement

10:10 Effect of BMPs on Weeds

10:20 BMP Costs

10:30 Polyacrylamide Demonstration, Questions, and Survey

11:00 End

Registration Link and MAP (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hoophouse-field-day-tickets-50613920599)

Project and Survey Link (http://www.vcrcd.org/specialty-crop-block-grant)

9:00 – 9:10 INTRODUCTION – Kelly Huff, Dixon/Solano RCD Water Quality Coalition

9:10 – 9:55 MEASURING WATER USE – Paul Lum, Solano Ag Water Conservation Committee

•  How to measure and how to estimate inches of irrigation water applied to fields and to crops.

9:55 – 11:10 YOUR IRRIGATION & SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES – How they relate to management of nitrates and water quality – Liz Colby, USDA NRCS Field Office Engineer & Wendy Rash, USDA NRCS District Conservationist

•  Multiple benefits of irrigation water management and soil health practices
•  Instructions for including nitrates from irrigation water in nutrient management plans.
•  Review irrigation practices, installation and common challenges.

11:10 – 11:30 TESTING FOR NITRATES / FINANCIAL & TECHNICAL SUPPORT – Amy King, Solano Resource Conservation District

•  Testing irrigation and drinking water wells for nitrate levels
•  Financial and technical support

*2 Grower CEUs available

Estimating yield is both important and difficult. Accurate projections of crop size are necessary for both logistical and financial planning. Growers will share their experience and wisdom when it comes to estimating a crop including their methods, tips and techniques. Different methods will  be compared and discussed. We will also dip into the theory behind making estimates.

Confirmed Speakers:

Bart Haycraft, Vineyard Manager, Jackson Family Wines- Los Alamos
Craig Macmillan, Ph.D., Technical Program Manager, Vineyard Team

SIP Certified Standards:

The content of this workshop applies to SIP Certified® Standard 10.1.4

3.0 CCA CEUs applied for

Free for Members/$30 for Non-members

, American Farmland Trust, the organization behind the national movement No Farms No Food®, announces an agricultural water management workshop -in collaboration with Alba Organics and the Farmer Veteran Coalition- that will provide the opportunity to learn how to adopt best practices  proven to be most efficient according to the region’s crop and water needs. This event is the first of a series of workshops under AFT’s Underserved Farmer Outreach Program to provide outreach and hands-on training to underserved farmers in California.