Serving Fresno County

Chairman Poochigian Sponsors Resolution Proclaiming “4-H Club Week” in Fresno County

On Tuesday, September 1st Fresno County Board of Supervisors Chairman Debbie Poochigian sponsored an agenda item proclaiming September 13 through 19, 2015 as “4-H Club Week” in Fresno County.

4-H Pride at the Big Fresno Fair

4-Hers from around the Valley showed their 4-H pride at this year’s Fresno Fair. Arts, crafts, agriculture, fur, feathers and livestock were displayed throughout the length of the fair. Many best of show ribbons were won by our 4-Her’s as well as many other awards. Congratulations to all the participants!

Tomato Virus Disease Concerns

Tomato virus disease concerns at UC West Side Extension Center

Among the obvious concerns that vegetable crop growers face this season is the potential of a second consecutive year for curly top disease in tomatoes. In 2013, some fields in Fresno, Kings and Kern Counties were severely impacted by this beet leafhopper-transmitted virus disease. In some fields, the majority of the plants were lost early in the season and the fields were replanted, while in other cases, the impact was seen too late to replant and the fields may have been shredded or farmed to harvest, frequently, with disappointing yields.

Hey, What Are You Eating?

"Hey, What Are You Eating?”

In the small San Joaquin Valley agricultural town of Selma, approximately 17% of families live below the federal poverty line. Selma is located in Fresno County, where 36% of youth ages 12 to 17 are overweight or obese.

National 4-H Week

National 4-H Week!

Fresno County 4-H Youth Development celebrated National 4-H week! Celebrated locally September 8 – 15^th, 2013. National 4-H week is an opportunity to celebrate the various impacts 4-H has had locally, state-wide and nationally! In honor of the week clubs all over the Fresno County displayed what their Clubs have to offer.

Ag Heritage Day

Cooperative Extension celebrates its 100^th birthday at Ag Heritage Day

Cooperative Extension participated in Fresno County’s first Ag Heritage Day at Kearney Park on October 20^th, which was held in conjunction with the Civil War Reenactment.

Cotton Harvest Training

Cotton Harvest Safety Training RSVP deadline is this Friday, Sept. 20, 2013.

West Side Research and Extension Center

Southwest corner of Oakland & Lassen Ave., Five Points

CHST Registration Form 2013

Fresno County 4-Hers Learn Valuable Leadership Skills

Fresno County 4-Hers Learn Valuable Leadership Skills

Members of the 2012-2013 Fresno County 4-H All Star Team have been busy developing leadership skills and sharing them with their fellow 4-H members. In August of 2012, they organized and facilitated Leadership Training Day to help 4-H club officers learn their duties and to help Junior and Teen Leaders become more effective in their project groups.

Class Participants Make Healthy Food Choices!

Class Participants Make Healthy Food Choices!

EFNEP is a federally-funded program that offers nutrition education to limited-resource families and children. The issue: Families that resided in limited resource areas are less likely to get proper nutrition. As a result they often lack proper nutrition and eating habits.

Farm and Nutrition Day

Farm and Nutrition Day!

Fresno County receives national attention for its agricultural abundance. However, Fresno County is also in the spotlight for high rates of obesity. As part of ongoing efforts to turn the tide on childhood obesity and spark students’ awareness of and interest in agriculture, UC CalFresh partners with the Fresno County Farm Bureau and the Big Fresno Fair for a fun-filled day of agricultural education!

Small Farm Conference a Success

Small Farm Conference a Success

The California Small Farm Conference was a huge success in Fresno this year with around 500 in attendance. The weather was perfect, the facility very nice, and the tours and speakers were exceptionally good. The peaches, plums and nectarines were all in full bloom with pink, red and white flowers.

Welcome our new Nut Crop Advisor Gurreet Brar

Welcome our new Nut Crop Advisor Gurreet Brar!

We would like to introduce Gurreet Brar, the new UCCE Farm Advisor (Nut Crops/Pomology) for Fresno and Madera Counties. Before joining UC Cooperative Extension in January 2013, Gurreet completed his Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Earlier, he earned his M.S. in Pomology and a B.S. in Agriculture from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.

Tom Haller Award

Tom Haller Award

We’re pleased to announce that Fresno County Small Farms Advisor Richard Molinar is this year’s recipient of the Tom Haller Award which will be presented at the California Small Farm Conference in March.

Nutrition Success Story

Youth EFNEP: Food for Thought Served Up at Holy Cross Center

In downtown Fresno, there is a refuge for homeless women and their children serving up more than just food! The Holy Cross Center for Women is a shelter that not only provides food and clothing, but offers valuable education on health and nutrition.

Classical Plant Breeding (Traditional) and Genetic Engineering – A Primer

Classical Plant Breeding (Traditional) and Genetic Engineering – A Primer

Richard Molinar, Farm Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno County

For centuries, people have tried to improve the varieties of fruits and vegetables offered to farmers and consumers by making them better tasting, higher yielding, different looking, longer storing, or resistant to diseases, nematodes, and insects. We hear a lot about traditional plant breeding versus Genetic Engineering (GE) / Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). Let me explain.

It’s Time to Plan Your Tree and Vine Herbicide Program for the 2013 Season

It’s Time to Plan Your Tree and Vine Herbicide Program for the 2013 Season

With tree nut and grape harvest in full swing in California’s Central Valley, now is a good time to plan your herbicide program for the 2013 season. While Rely 280 herbicide has played an important role in burn-down control of glyphosate-resistant hairy fleabane, horseweed, and other problem weeds, supplies in 2013 are expected to be extremely limited. This makes it even more important to start planning now. Fortunately, there is an array of herbicide products available to help combat winter and summer weeds that will inevitably invade our orchards and vineyards.

Children To Parents: “What ‘New(tritious)’ Things Did YOU Learn at School Today?”

Children To Parents: “What ‘New(tritious)’ Things Did YOU Learn at School Today?”

Providing nutritionally adequate food for growing children can be very challenging for parents. Thankfully, EFNEP teaches concerned parents how to
practice food safety and make healthy food choices at the grocery store without spending much money.

Fresno County’s Diverse Harvest – Focus of UCCE Master Gardener September Event

Fresno County’s Diverse Harvest – Focus of UCCE Master Gardener September Event

Harvest fare made from watermelon, corn, cucumbers, peppers, apples, basil and more will be prepared for you to enjoy at A Taste of the Harvest, Saturday, September 8, 2012 at Garden of the Sun. Each September, the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners host the event featuring prepared samples of harvest foods, a salsa tasting competition, educational seminars on gardening topics and other activities.

UC-CalFresh Increases Science Literary through Nutrition Education

UC-CalFresh Increases Science Literary through Nutrition Education

Educators have concluded that science literacy is essential in the 21-century economy. However, nearly 50% of Fresno County 5^th, 8^th and 10^th grade students lack basic science literacy. In Fresno County, UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program leverages UCCE resources to address science literacy through experiential learning.

Hmong Farmers in Fresno Honor Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor

Hmong Farmers in Fresno Honor Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor

Richard Molinar, Small Farm and Specialty Crop Farm Advisor in Fresno County, was presented with a “Lifetime Achievement” award at the National Diversity Conference held in Fresno in March of this year.

University of California Vegetable Crops Pest Management Meeting

University of California Vegetable Crops Pest Management Meeting

An educational event organized for vegetable producers and consultants will be held at West Side Research and Extension Center at Five Points on Thursday, 28 June 2012 from 9:00 to 11:00 am.

Fresno Students Spring into Health!

Fresno Students Spring into Health!

The rate of overweight and obese individuals is now 42.7% in Fresno County. *1 Research shows that children gain more weight during summer months than during the school year2. So we are preparing students for summer break by helping them adopt new healthy habits.

Healthy Crops and Safe Water

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources is working to ensure that all Californians have access to safe drinking water and to ensure that the state’s farmers can grow enough food to help meet the world’s increasing demand. Research had shown that nitrogen (N) fertilizer used in agriculture production can over many years move from a plant’s root zone into groundwater.

It's the Season for Swarming

It’s the Season for Swarming

Spring brings an abundance of phone calls with often panicked people wondering what to do about masses of bees that have moved into their neighborhoods. The arrival of a swarm of bees isn’t really great cause for alarm. Swarming is a natural means of colony reproduction.

A Busy Spring For Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Fresno County

A Busy Spring For Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Fresno County

The Master Gardeners kicked off a busy season of gardening education events by hosting more than 350 guests at the Smart Gardening Conference on February 28 at the Ramada University Hotel.

Pedro Ilic Award Honors Early Adopter of 'Local' Marketing, Olive Oil

A farm advisor who has been instrumental in developing profitable niches for farmers was named "Outstanding Agricultural Educator" with the 2012 Pedro Ilic Award, for his dedication to small-scale farming.

Horticulture Farm Advisor - Nut Crops

Horticulture Farm Advisor - Nut Crops

The University of California is hiring a new Cooperative Extension farm advisor that will focus on nut crops that will be housed in the Fresno County office.The advisor will work with a diverse network of colleagues and clientele and provide leadership in addressing many of ANR’s Strategic Initiatives.

Teens Take Part in Creating Leaders for Tomorrow

Nearly 400 California 4-H members “Reel[ed] in Success” at the annual Leadership Conference for Regional Teens (LCORT) on January 27-29^th at Wonder Valley Ranch in Sanger, CA. The 2012 LCORT conference challenged teens to step outside their comfort zone, learn new skills and network with other teens.

UC Ag and Natural Resources Seeks Advice as it Wrestles With Ongoing Budget Cuts

The University of California has a long and multifaceted relationship with the people of California. Many of you graduated from UC, and many of you have children studying on one of our 10 campuses now. In addition to its direct benefits, UC generates $46.3 billion in annual economic activity for California, and contributes $32.8 billion to the gross state product.

Fresno Master Gardeners to Host Smart Gardening Conference

Registration is now open for the biennial Smart Gardening Conference to be held February 25, 2012 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Ramada Hotel, 324 E. Shaw Avenue, in Fresno. Early registration is $30 until February 17, then $40 at the door.

For a full description of the conference, go to http://ucanr.org/sgc where you can register online or print a form to mail in.

Fresno County: Children Following Mom’s “Food-Steps”

The motto of Parlier, California, a small town, is “A Community with a Vision to the Future!” EFNEP helps this vision currently materialize and for future generations as well.

Fungal Disease Moved With Soil is Expanding it's Presence in Fresno County

Fungal Disease Moved With Soil is Expanding it's Presence in Fresno County

White rot of garlic and onion is caused by a fungus that produces a resting structure that is capable of survival for decades in dormancy. Once a field is infested, the most common means of control is to avoid planting susceptible crops in that area. Fortunately it only attacks garlic and onions. However the acreage documented as infested in the Central Valley has increased during the 2011 season to top 16,000 acres, which is limiting the ability of some growers to produce these crops in the desired quantities.

What’s Learned in Vegas Shouldn’t Stay in Vegas

What’s Learned in Vegas Shouldn’t Stay in Vegas
If you have anything to do with alfalfa - from production to consumption - the place to be in early December is Las Vegas, Nevada for the 2011 Western Alfalfa and Forage Conference. The program begins with an optional bus tour of an agricultural region one hour south of Las Vegas. There, at Two Hawk Ranch in Sandy Valley, you’ll see alfalfa production under pivot irrigation and learn about irrigation management, weed control, forage quality, harvest and cubing operations, and fertilizer practices. The 1½-day conference begins with a series of presentations covering hay industry trends and moves to the larger issues of world trends and markets.

Organic Agriculture in Fresno

Organic Agriculture in Fresno

Anyone who sells agricultural commodities as “Organic” must register with the State of California and be certified by a 3^rd party certifier. The only exception to this are those who produce less than $5,000 in gross annual sales; however they must still be registered by the state. In 2010 Fresno County had 184 certified organic farms with gross sales totaling more than 81.6 million dollars. Sounds like a lot? Organic sales in the US actually makes up less than 5% of the total agricultural production across the nation. In the State there are 3,079 registrants in the National Organic Program (NOP). The national program began in 2002 in order to bring more uniformity with all of the 50 states. The NOP program in the state is regulated by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

UC-CalFresh Supports School District Menu Changes Through Nutrition Education

UC-CalFresh Supports School District Menu Changes Through Nutrition Education

If you’ve ever asked a kindergarten student to flex their muscles, you know the smiles and giggles that follow. Their eyes grow wide when they learn about protein foods that help to keep their muscles strong. The UC-CalFresh Nutrition Education Program has the privilege of working with low-income students in Fresno County to combat childhood obesity through nutrition education.

Hmong Hunger For A Healthy Plate

EFNEP Adult Nutrition Education Program

Hmong Hunger For A Healthy Plate

In the late 1980s, many Hmong people came to the United States after the Vietnam War. They relocated to a country with a completely different culture. Majority of the Hmong people who came to the United States settled in Minnesota and Fresno, California. Many still embrace their culture and continue to visit markets that sell fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, but over the years they have gradually gravitated from a simpler to a richer western diet as well as gain a more sedentary lifestyle.

Taste of the Harvest 2011

Taste of the Harvest 2011

Join the UC Cooperative Extension Fresno County Master Gardeners for A Taste of The Harvest celebration September 24, 2011 from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM at the Garden of the Sun, located at 1750 N. Winery in Fresno.

Annual Alfalfa and Forage Field Day

Annual Alfalfa and Forage Field Day

Once again, alfalfa and forage producers will gather at the Kearney Ag Center to learn about recent advances in production systems and management of pests and diseases. This year’s Field Day will take place on Thursday, September 8^th. The half-day meeting will begin at 8 AM with a tour of the alfalfa and sorghum variety trials hosted by Dan Putnam, UC Davis Extension Agronomist and Forage Specialist, and Jeff Dahlberg, Director of the Kearney Ag Center.

Healthy Lifestyle Fitness Camp 2011

UCCE Fresno is currently collaborating with the Healthy Lifestyle Fitness Camp through the City of Fresno Parks and Recreation Department to deliver nutrition education, encourage physical activity and provide food demonstrations at Holmes Recreation Center and Ted C. Wills Community Center. Our efforts promote well-fed, healthy, secure families by teaching good food habits and decision- making skills.

Food Safety - The Tester Amendment Exemption

Food Safety - The Tester Amendment Exemption

Two small family farmers in Fresno County recently went through a ‘mock’ food safety audit. This was a learning experience for them and for the other farmers that attended.

Grape Day 2011

Grape Day 2011
2011 represents 60 years that University of California (UC) researchers have extended viticulture information to the grape industry.

Statewide Master Gardener Conference

Statewide Master Gardener Conference
A contingent of UCCE Fresno Master Gardeners attended the Statewide Master Gardener Conference held in Santa Rosa on June 1-3.

Learn More About Conservation Tillage:

Although conservation tillage acreage is relatively small in California, an increasing number of growers are looking into various types of conservation tillage, including no-till to reduce farming costs, maintain high yields and reduce the farms impact of natural resources. A public field day will be held June 28th to discuss research progress and future opportunities to expand no-till and other CT practices particularly aimed at cotton and tomato cropping systems.

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a new concern for California Agriculture. BMSB is now found in 33 States. Although not established in California, it has been identified in Los Angeles and Solano Counties. BMBS can fly, but they primarily move into new areas by hitchhiking on vehicles and equipment. Native to Asia, its thought that BMSB arrived in packing crates shipped to the Eastern US. It has a large host range that includes grapes and many of the fruits and vegetables grown in California.

European Grapevine Moth

First detected in Napa County in 2009 the European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) has been confirmed in Fresno County. On April 28, 2010 two moths were found in separate traps 0.5 miles from each other.

In the News

"Hey, What Are You Eating?”