Contact: Robert Masson
Posts Tagged: health
Soil Health?
Soil health refers to the ability of a specific soil to perform multiple functions, including nutrient cycling, sustaining plant and animal growth, maintaining diversity, regulating water dynamics, moderating climate and a whole slew of other attributes we expect of soils. An assessment needs to approach the biological, chemical and physical properties of the soil and how they interact. It's been difficult to create a one-size fits all evaluation process of assessment. Sometimes it might be just as easy to smell it or look at how plants are growing in it to give it a rating, but these measures can be very subjective across noses and viewpoints. The USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service has developed a field methodology that attempts to standardize some of the physical and biological parameters. The in-field assessment comes in both a short and long form. Check them out – Cropland In-Field Soil Health Assessment Guide:
Short version
https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/OpenNonWebContent.aspx?content=44419.wba
Long version
soil layers
Donate to UCCE Ventura County Programs on #GivingTuesday
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday.
Join us on Tuesday, December 1 for #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals to celebrate generosity worldwide. #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Kick off the holiday season with us!
#PushPlayCA!
COVID-19 put the world on pause, but our mission to connect the power of UC research in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, and youth development in our community continues to move forward. Your generosity can help ensure we continue to provide essential resources and trusted information in times of crisis and beyond.
In these challenging times, our role as problem-solvers, catalysts, collaborators, educators, and stewards of the land is more important than ever.
With your support, we can continue to invest in research, education, and services in our community—to be a neighbor in times of need.
Consider Donating to the Ventura County Master Gardener Program
We invite you to support our mission to extend research-based knowledge about home gardening, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to our communities. Our program is driven by more than 200 active volunteers who use UC science-based information to offer solutions to gardening, landscape, and pest challenges. Last year, our volunteers donated 12,561 hours of service to the program.
The Master Gardener Program helps Ventura County grow by:
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Offering water-wise workshops to help residents optimize use of a scarce resource
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Staffing a helpline to answer questions for home gardeners
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Working with other community organizations to maintain 9 demonstration gardens throughout Ventura County
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Delivering dozens of educational and hands-on outreach programs and talks each year
Consider Donating to the Ventura County 4-H Program
Since 1914, the Ventura County 4-H Program has served generations of youth and families. Our motto is “To Make the Best Better.” Through our volunteer-driven experiential programs, we help Ventura County youth develop life and leadership skills that enable them to succeed. In the last 100 years, Ventura County has changed. But some things never change, including our belief in the power of youth.
4-H grows here:
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7,300+ youth reached across Ventura County each year
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14 community and 2 military clubs providing educational opportunities in STEM, healthy living, animal husbandry, leadership, and civic engagement
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Outreach programs delivered in classrooms and virtually that connect youth with one of our county's most important resources: agriculture
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Efforts driven and supported by 150 motivated and highly-trained volunteers
Help us serve even more youth by donating on #GivingTuesday
Join the #GivingTuesday Movement!
#GivingTuesday is a movement about ordinary people coming together to do extraordinary things. Whether you choose to donate your time or money this year for #GivingTuesday, thank you for helping make a difference!
Photo by Cathy Van Heest for Unsplash.
Soil Health from a Desert Perspective
Soil Health is not just one status or practice or one definition. It needs to be in the context of climate in which it's being evaluated. All too often our definitions of a healthy soil come from climates radically different from a Mediterranean or desert climate. A webinar was organized July 23 by the Univeristy of Arizona and presents the perspective of an irrigated agriculture. Some of teh ideas might apply to your practices.
Desert Southwest Soil Health Webinar
University of Arizona Yuma County Cooperative Extension
Defining Soil Health (Module 1)
Part 1: Watch Video
Topic: Soil health in the American Southwest. Speaker: Geoff Koch
Topic: Soil Organic Matter as a Holistic Indicator.Speaker: Dr. Joey Blankinship
Part 2: Watch Video
Topic: Soil Testing Speaker: Sheri McLane
Topic: Structure and Function of Plant Roots. Speaker: Dr. Glenn Wright
Part 3: Watch Video
Topic: Mycorrhizae 101 Speaker: Scott Iman
Practices to Improve Soil Health (Module 2)
Part 1:Watch Video
Topic: Regenerating the Diversity of Life in Soils. Speaker: Dr. David Johnson
Topic: Microalgae as Foundational Stimulators of Soil Health. Speaker: Dr. Kristine Nichols
Part 2: Watch Video
Topic: Biochar Production and Application to Soils. Speaker: Dr. Catie Brewer
Topic: Biochar Application and Development. Speaker: Dr. Ataullah Khan
Part 3: Watch Video
Topic: Alternative Soil Amendments Speaker: Tim Lichatowich
Topic: FDA Perspectives on Soil Health Speaker: Dr. David Ingram
Part 4: Watch Video
Topic: Intersection of Soil Health and Food Safety Speaker: Dr. Michele Jay-Russell
Topic: California Organic Vegetable Farmers are Not Messing Around When it Comes to Soil Health. Speaker: Dr. Jeff Mitchell
Topic: Targeting Programs for Soil Health. Speaker: Sharma Torrens
Soil Pest Control (Module 3)
Part 1: Watch Video
Topic: Soil-applied insecticides in Desert Vegetables and Melons. Speaker: Dr. John Palumbo
Topic: The Persistence of Herbicides in the Southwestern Deserts. Speaker: Barry R. Tickes
Part 2: Watch Video
Topic: Soil Health and Plant Disease. Speaker: Dr. Stephanie Slinski
Topic: Impact of Agriculture Water Treatment for Waterborne Pathogens/Indicators Speaker: Dr. Channah Rock
Part 3: Watch Video
Topic: Point Injection Systems: Minimal Soil Disturbance Applicator. Speaker: Dr. Mark Siemens
Topic: Conclusions Speaker: Robert Masson
soil pores
USDA Investigating Packages of Mysterious Seeds
Have you had unexpected seeds show up in the mail? Unknown seeds could be invasive plants, contain invasive insects, or have plant disease causing agents. Here's what the United States Department of Agriculture Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) has to say about it.
USDA Investigates Packages of Unsolicited Seeds
USDA is aware that people across the country have received suspicious, unsolicited packages of seed that appear to be coming from China. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection, other federal agencies, and State departments of agriculture to investigate the situation.
USDA urges anyone who receives an unsolicited package of seeds to immediately contact their State plant regulatory official or APHIS State plant health director. Please hold onto the seeds and packaging, including the mailing label, until someone from your State department of agriculture or APHIS contacts you with further instructions. Do not plant seeds from unknown origins.
At this time, [USDA does not] have any evidence indicating this is something other than a “brushing scam” where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales. USDA is currently collecting seed packages from recipients and will test their contents and determine if they contain anything that could be of concern to U.S. agriculture or the environment.
USDA is committed to preventing the unlawful entry of prohibited seeds and protecting U.S. agriculture from invasive pests and noxious weeds. Visit the APHIS' website to learn more about USDA's efforts to stop agricultural smuggling and promote trade compliance.
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What is a Healthy Soil?
Join the discussion July 23
About this Event
Three part webinar lecture series, staring speakers in industry, government, and the university system; covering the following soil health topics:
soil organic matter – interpreting soil test results – structure & function of plant roots – Mycorrhizae 101 – compost & cover crops – microalgae – biochar – FDA soil health perspectives – conservation tillage – organic production – pesticide effects – soil borne pathogens – ag engineering pest control.
PCA, CCA, and Pest Control continuing education credits requested for AZ, CA, NM, and NV.
More details to come on the CEU process.
Zoom webinar link will be posted soon,
Module 1: Defining Soil Health
8:00am - 10:30am
Geoff Koch
Soil Science PHD Student: UC Davis
Defining Soil Health in the American Southwest
Dr. Joey Blankinship
Soil Science Professor: University of Arizona
Soil Organic Matter in Desert Agriculture
Sherri McLane
IAS Laboratories
Interpreting Soil Test Results
Dr. Glenn Wright
Extension Horticulturalist: University of Arizona
Structure and Function of Plant Roots
Scott Inman
Director of R&D: Mycorrhizal Applications LLC
Mycorrhizae 101
Module 2: Practices to Improve Soil Health
10:30am - 3:00pm
Dr. David Johnson
Adjunct Professor: New Mexico State University
Composting and Cover Crops
Dr. Kristine Nichols
Research Director: MyLand Company
The Role of Microalgae in Soil Health
Dr. Catherine Brewer
Assistant Professor: New Mexico State University
Biochar Production and Application Methods
Dr. Ataullah Khan
Senior Research Scientist: InnoTech Alberta
Biochar Application Development
Tim Lichatowich
Consultant: BioAg Product Strategies
Alternative Soil Amendments for Soil Restoration and Sustainability
Dr. David Ingram
Consumer Safety Officer: FDA-CFSAN Produce Safety Staff
FDA Perspectives on Soil Health
Dr. Michele Jay-Russell
Project Director: UC Davis Western Center for Food Safety
Organic Production Soil Health Considerations
Dr. Jeff Mitchell
Cropping Systems Specialist: UC Davis
Conservation Tillage in Vegetable Cropping Systems
Sharma Torrens
Conservation Education Director, AZ Association of Conservation Districts (AACD)
Funding for Soil Health Programs
Module 3: Soil Pest Control
3:00pm - 6:00pm
Dr. John Palumbo
Extension Entomologist: University of Arizona
Soil Applied Insecticides
Barry Tickes
Extension Weed Scientist: University of Arizona
Persistence of Herbicides in the Soils of the Low Desert
Dr. Stephanie Slinski
Associate Director: Yuma Center for Excellence in Desert Agriculture
Soil Borne Pathogens
Dr. Channah Rock
Extension Water Quality Specialist: University of Arizona
Water Treatment Effects of Soil Borne Pathogens
Dr. Mark Siemens
Extension Ag Engineer: University of Arizona
Point Injection Systems – Fertilizer/Pesticide Application with Minimal Soil Disturbance
root system in the soil