Posts Tagged: Hansen

The Day That Barbie, Bugbie and Bugs Swept Briggs Hall

Think pink? Of course! Marielle Simone Hansel Friedman, a second-year doctoral student in...

Marielle Hansel Friedman of the Emily Meineke lab talks about scorpions to visitors at Briggs Hall during the UC Davis Picnic Day. In back is Em Jochim of the Jason Bond lab. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Marielle Hansel Friedman of the Emily Meineke lab talks about scorpions to visitors at Briggs Hall during the UC Davis Picnic Day. In back is Em Jochim of the Jason Bond lab. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

In the pink! Staffing the Entomology Graduate Student Association booth are (from left) Marshall Nakatani, Curtis Carlson and Richard Martinez. The T-shirts were among the top three best sellers of the day. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

In the pink! Staffing the Entomology Graduate Student Association booth are (from left) Marshall Nakatani, Curtis Carlson and Richard Martinez. The T-shirts were among the top three best sellers of the day. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Here's Who Won the Bohart Bumble Bee Contest!

So, you're sitting in your backyard, enjoying some sunshine (sun break!) on the first day of the...

Here's a close-up of what this bumble bee species, Bombus melanopygus, looks like. (Photo taken in Vacaville by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Here's a close-up of what this bumble bee species, Bombus melanopygus, looks like. (Photo taken in Vacaville by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is a screen shot from the video taken by Nancy Hansen of Fairfield of the black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus.

This is a screen shot from the video taken by Nancy Hansen of Fairfield of the black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus.

Agricultural research and education center moving to new site in Ventura County

UC Hansen Research and Extension Center to expand capacity at Camarillo location

The University of California Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center – the site of popular school field trips, 4-H programs, a UC Master Gardener demonstration garden, and numerous research trials on crops and landscape plants – is moving to a new location on the west side of Camarillo. The center was established through an endowment bequeathed to the UC by Saticoy farmer Thelma Hansen, who sought to support university research and extension activities benefiting Ventura County.

For the past 25 years, Hansen REC has been located on the historic Faulkner Farm in Santa Paula. At 27 acres, Hansen REC was the smallest of the nine RECs across the state operated by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources; in 2019, UC ANR leadership decided a larger property was needed to expand the center's capacity. The Faulkner Farm was sold in March 2021, but a portion was leased back to the UC to sustain its programs until a new location was identified.

In December 2022, the UC acquired a 114-acre farm property in Camarillo to serve as Hansen REC's new home. Moving structures and equipment from Faulkner Farm will take place over the next six months. Public programs at the new location are on hold until seismic retrofitting and other building upgrades are completed. A new research and educational facility also will be built, with an estimated opening date in 2027 or 2028.

“Our planning committee looked for a site on the Oxnard Plain that is representative of the coastal agriculture environment and conducive to research on Ventura County's high-value crops, such as strawberries,” said Annemiek Schilder, Hansen REC director. “We also sought a location with diverse soil types, access to sufficient irrigation water, and a low risk of flooding – and we're pleased that this Camarillo property meets most of our search criteria.”

Of the approximately 104 cultivable acres, 28 are certified organic, which will allow researchers to study organic as well as conventional crop production methods, Schilder noted. She said another bonus of the new location is its proximity to California State University, Channel Islands and the Rodale Institute California Organic Center, which are both potential partners for future research and a student organic farm on site.

Initial plans for the new Hansen REC facility include offices, conference rooms, laboratories, greenhouses, a demonstration kitchen, and indoor and outdoor education areas. The center will aim to be water-efficient and energy-neutral, relying on solar panels for much of its energy usage. The UC Cooperative Extension Office in Ventura is also slated to move to the new facility.

“We fully expect Hansen REC to become a vibrant research and education hub that provides science-based solutions and is responsive to the needs of agricultural, rural and urban communities and the environment in Ventura County,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for agriculture and natural resources. “We're excited to expand current programming while bringing in new educational opportunities, such as the UC Master Food Preserver and Master Beekeeper programs.”

Webinars to explore local food systems and food waste

 

UC Thelma Hansen Fund to host online discussion of food systems April 26-28 

Members of the public are invited to attend a free webinar series discussing local and regional food systems on April 26-28.

At the three-day webinar “Local Food: Shortening the Supply Chain and Reducing Food Waste,” UC Berkeley agricultural economics professor and Wolf Prize laureate David Zilberman will discuss the status of our food supply chain and the socioeconomic and environmental forces affecting it. Diana Winter, deputy director of the UCLA Resnick Center for Food Law and Policy, will delve into the role of law and policy and current sustainability initiatives at federal, state and local levels.

“Do you ever wonder how far your food travels before it gets to your plate? Local food has many benefits: a smaller carbon footprint, supports local farmers and businesses, and is likely to be fresher, tastier and more nutritious,” said Annemiek Schilder, director of UC Cooperative Extension and the UC Hansen Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Ventura County. 

Topics of discussion include defining regional food systems in California and how they contribute to community health. The series will take a look at a local school district that works to shorten the supply chain by preparing delicious meals from whole and local ingredients and turning cafeterias into classrooms. A local farmer will speak to the challenges of producing and distributing food locally.

“According to the USDA, about 30% to 40% of all our food supply is wasted, before or after market. Think of all the water, fertilizer, labor and fuel and wasted to produce and ship that food,” said Schilder who is organizing the event.

There are actions consumers can take to reduce food waste. Ned Spang, associate professor of food science and technology at UC Davis, will discuss solutions to food loss and waste throughout the supply chain. Programs such as UC Master Food Preservers offer resources and practical advice to preserve food. Local nonprofits like Food Share help to recover and redistribute food within communities.  

Registration for the webinar series, which is sponsored by the UC Thelma Hansen Fund, is free. To register and see the agenda and speaker biographies, visit http://ucanr.edu/HansenFoodSystems.

Speakers include: 

• David Zilberman, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Berkeley
  Our food supply: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?
• Diana Winters, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Resnick Center for Food Law and Policy, UCLA
  Food Policy and Sustainability
• Gail Feenstra, Ph.D., Director UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program
  Regional Food Systems: Connecting Farms, Consumer, and Communities
• Vanessa Zajfen, Director Food and Nutrition Services, Ocean View School District, Oxnard, California
  Shortening the Supply Chain with “Farm to School”
• Max Becher, Co-Owner, Farmivore, Oxnard, California
  Farmivore: Connecting Farmers with Eaters
• Ned Spang, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, UC Davis
  Advancing Solutions to Address Food Loss and Waste
• Sue Mosbacher, Coordinator UC Master Food Preserver Program
  Preserve Today, Relish Tomorrow: Education in Food Preservation
• Monica White, President & CEO, Food Share, Ventura County
  Saving Food to Help Those in Need

How will climate change affect Southern California?

UC Thelma Hansen Fund to host climate webinar series, April 27-29 

Members of the public are invited to attend a free webinar series discussing the effects of climate change on Southern California. At the three-day webinar Climate Change: What Does It Mean for Southern California?, UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources scientists will discuss climate changes anticipated, impacts on agriculture, wildfire risk and how to prepare for it, and ways to communicate about climate and to build resilience in communities.

“We are hearing a lot about climate change, but it can be difficult for the average person to figure out what it means for where they live and to understand the science behind it,” said Annemiek Schilder, director of UC Cooperative Extension in Ventura County and UC ANR Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

Topics of discussion include drought, adaptation for agriculture, fire management on rangelands and wildland-urban interface areas, and how UC Climate Stewards might improve climate understanding and empower community-level stewardship.

“All of us need to be better informed about this new reality and know how to respond to it,” said Schilder, who is organizing the event. “For Southern California, as a region with intense agricultural production and huge urban populations living in proximity to the coast, climate change could have devastating impacts. One of my favorite Latin sayings applies: Serius est quam cogitas – it is later than you think!”

Although residents may be concerned about climate change, they may not know what to do. The scientists will offer suggestions.

“People may feel powerless in the face of something that is happening on a global scale, but there are indeed things that can be done by individuals to mitigate the effects and to build resilience in the face of small and large disasters,” Schilder said. “In fact, doing nothing has a huge cost associated with it. Think of the economic damage already incurred by climatic extremes in recent years and the costs associated with possible future waves of climate refugees coming to the U.S.” 

Registration for the webinar series, which is sponsored by the UC Thelma Hansen Fund, is free. To register and see the agenda and speaker biographies, visit http://ucanr.edu/hansensocalclimate.

Speakers include 

• Daniel Swain, Ph.D., climate scientist, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability – Climate Change in California: A Drier or Wetter Future—or…Both?   
• Sarah-Mae Nelson, M.S., UC Climate Stewards academic coordinator – UC Climate Stewards: Fostering Resilience in California Communities and Ecosystems
• Tapan Pathak, Ph.D., UC Cooperative Extension specialist in climate adaptation in agriculture, UC Merced – Climate Change Trends and Impacts on Agriculture in California and Ventura   
• Ben Faber, Ph.D., UCCE soils, water and subtropical crops advisor, Ventura County – Heat, Wind, Freeze, Wind, Repeat 
• Nicki Anderson, UCCE community education specialist, Ventura County – Overview of the Healthy Soils Program
• Max Moritz, Ph.D., UCCE wildfire specialist, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UC Santa Barbara – How Can We Address the Growing Wildland-Urban Interface Problem in California?  
• Matthew Shapero, M.A.,UCCE livestock and range advisor, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties – Fire and Rangelands: Impacts on Ventura County Livestock Agriculture Counties  
• Sabrina Drill, Ph.D., UCCE natural resources advisor, Ventura and Los Angeles counties – SAFER, Sustainable and Fire-Resistant Homes & Landscapes  

If you missed the "Climate Change: What does it Mean for Southern California" webinars, watch the recordings:

April 27  https://youtu.be/8zfn3aaUAv0

April 28  https://youtu.be/dKlKk8sqoaE

April 29  https://youtu.be/2oh82L_wnTw

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