Posts Tagged: Commercial agriculture

Avocado Presentations in January

SAVE THE DATES - January 13 or January 14, 2014.

"Factors Influencing Avocado Fruit Set and Yield" is the topic for a lecture by Inaki Hormaza, a professor with the La Mayora Research Station in Malaga, Spain.   He will talk about why particular flowers yield or fail relevant to his research studies on fruit set and yield, pollen viability, pollen tube growth and ovule visbility. 

The lectures will be held at two Southern California locations as follows:

Monday, January 13, 2014:
     Fallbrook Public Utility District
     990 E. Mission Rd.
     Fallbrook, CA  92028
     9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Tuesday, January 14, 2014:
     University of California Cooperative Extension Office
     669 County Square Dr., Suite 100
     Ventura, CA  93003
     9:00 am - 12:00 pm

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BY JANUARY 10!

To Register, contact John Cornell, avocadoguy@gmail.com, 360-550-1965

See the flyer for this event here.

Agritourism Workshops

Agritourism courses are being offered in Camarillo to Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles County farmers and ranchers.  The courses are geared to provide useful information to those interested in developing agritourism or nature tourism on their properties.

This is an option more agriculture land owners are exploring to enhance revenue and share some of the agricultural lifestyle to others.

There will be hand-on activities and experts will advise on business planning, regulatory compliance, risk management, hospitality and marketing.  The course includes a copy of "Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California."

These courses are being offered by the County of Ventura UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura County Farm Bureau, UC Small Farm Program, Oxnard Convention and Vistor's Bureau and others with support of the USDA.

Dates:  December 3, 2013, January 14, 2014 and February 11, 2014.
Time:    9:00 am - 3:00 pm (each session)
Location:     Center for Non-Profit Leadership
                   4001 Mission Oaks Blvd.
                   Camarillo, CA  93012
Cost:    $50 for the 3-session course
Contact:  Penny Leff, UC Small Farm Program, paleff@ucdavis.edu, 530-752-7779

REGISTER AT https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=11547.

For more information, see the flyer here.

Special DMV License Plate Supports Agriculture

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have joined in an effort to help support agriculture in the state with a program that donates a portion of the sales of a new specialty agriculture license plate. 

The specialty plates read “California Agriculture” and feature a colorful graphic of an agricultural field at the side.  Approximately $1 of the plate fee will go to support agricultural education, agricultural career awareness, agricultural career training and youth leadership development in the state.

7,500 pre-orders were required by spring 2012 before the DMV could begin producing the plates.  They achieved that goal and the plates are now available through the DMV website.

If you are interested in a cool, new license plate and supporting agriculture, visit the DMV website at https://secure.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/calagplate/ to pre-order your plates.

Strawberry Meeting in September

SAVE THE DATE:  Thursday, September 5, 2013

Join Ventura County strawberry growers at the 12th Annual Strawberry Production Meeting!

Strawberries are the largest crop grown in Ventura County and represent millions in revenues to the area.  UC Ventura County Cooperative Extension advisor Dr. Oleg Daugovish sponsors this event every year to update the public and county growers on the latest in strawberry research.  The meeting will feature agricultural experts who will speak on topics relevant to strawberry production in Ventura County. 

Time:  7:30 (registration); 8:00 am to 12:30 pm
Location:  
    Freedom Center
   516 Eubanks Rd.
   Camarillo, CA
Event is free, no cost to public and includes lunch and refreshments.

In English and in Spanish

Continuous education credits have been requested from the Department of Pesticide Regulation and VCAILG credits from the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Mite Pest Management in Strawberry

SAVE THE DATE - THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2013. 

Anna Howell, UC Ventura County Cooperative Entension's staff researcher and entomologist, will join UC advisors and California agricultural experts for a "Mite Pest Management in Strawberry" meeting in Salinas, California.

Presentations include management of destructive mites, chemical and alternative options for control and identification of mites. 

Speakers will also focus on the two-spotted spider mite and Lewis Mite.  Anna Howell has been part of a research project studying the Lewis Mite which has been known to cause damage in strawberry and raspberry crops.  The two-spotted spider mite causes damage to strawberry in coastal areas.

Growers interested in attending:

Date:  Thursday, June 27, 2013
Time:  7:30 am to 11:00 am
Location:
     UC Cooperative Extension Augitorium
     1432 Abbott Street
     Salinas, CA
Contact:  Dr. Shimat Joesph, (831) 759-7359 or svjoseph@ucdavis.edu

View the agenda here.

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