The Vantage Point
Glenda Humiston
Vice President
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
Over the past few years, we’ve seen the destruction caused by catastrophic wildfires in California: lives and properties lost, and vital assets for all Californians, such as forests, water supplies and clean air, at risk.
Effective forest management and biomass development (making greater use of forest materials) are top priorities to help reduce wildfire risks and boost economic opportunities in California.
One important tool to manage forests and prevent the buildup of fuel is
prescribed fire
.
Lenya Quinn-Davidson
, UC
Cooperative Extension (UCCE)
fire advisor, and
Jeff Stackhouse
, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor, along with Matt Cocking, forester with the local Natural Resources Conservation Service office, and Humboldt County rancher Dean Hunt
such, formed the first
Prescribed Burn Association
in the western United States.
The association is so successful that Stackhouse and Quinn-Davidson invited their UC Cooperative Extension colleagues from across the state to Humboldt County for a four-day workshop to learn how they might be able to replicate the concept in other fire-prone areas of California.
Utilizing biomass for high-value products is a big dream that I and many other people have; however, after many years of work on this, we are realizing we need to come together with all the sectors involved and develop the supply chain infrastructure and markets ourselves. Right now, too much is invested in the use of biomass in ways that are not economically viable. If we take a triple bottom line approach
—
people, planet, prosperity
—
we need to find uses for biomass that are profitable and that can create jobs.
Biomass can be used in cellulosic nanofibers, bioplastics and some of the advanced new wood products
—
all with a high potential to be very profitable. Because biomass can only be hauled about 40 or 50 miles before it becomes economically unfeasible, potential sites are currently being identified where early stage pre-processing can occur; for most biomass products, the first three or four steps in manufacturing are very similar. Once that’s done, the feedstock can be transported via highways, railways and ports and used to manufacture products. There are many benefits to using biomass:
- Reduce risk from fire
- Improve watersheds and expand water production
- Enhance rural communities
- Improve wildlife habitat
- Expand economic development opportunities
- Create jobs
- Enhance recreational opportunities
- Reduce climate change
In addition, buildings made of advanced wood products are more energy efficient, safer in earthquakes and fires (advanced wood products are coated and treated so they don’t catch fire and burn), and they sequester carbon. These buildings are the equivalent of taking thousands
—
even tens of thousands
—
of cars off the road every year.
If sustainably developed, rural resources can provide economic opportunities and more affordable housing; adaptation and resiliency to the changing climate and global markets; and a higher quality of life and greater well-being for all Californians. Maintaining healthy forests and watersheds and using biomass for new products can Increase our resilience to future disasters, creating fire-safe communities and sustainable local economies.
We look forward to seeing you and collaborating with you! Also, please share
Connected
with colleagues who would be interested in receiving it, and encourage them to
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. We thank you very much for your support!
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UC ANR in the Media
Popular Science
Cnet
Nature
Ag Alert
Morning Ag Clips
WebMD
AgNet West
KALW
Waste Dive
AgNet West
Western Farm Press
The New Yorker
Sonoma Index-Tribune
Western Farm Press
Highland News
Wine Business Monthly
Ukiah Daily Journal
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September 12, 2019
2019 Turfgrass & Landscape Research Field Day
UC Riverside Turfgrass Research Facility
Riverside, CA 92521
Learn about the latest turfgrass research, attend the tradeshow and network with others in the industry at this field day for sicentists, academics, managers of turf facilities and others interested in turfgrass.
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September 17, 2019
Elderberry Field Day
The Cloverleaf Farm
8946 Olmo Lane
Dixon, CA 95620
Come learn how plants typically grown for hedgerows can also serve as a source of income. We will tour on-farm hedgerows with elderberry plantings and facilitate a value-added product discussion and demo.
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September 19, 2019
2019 Alfalfa and Forage Field Day and Forage Beets Meeting
UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center
9240 South Riverbend Avenue
Parlier, CA 93648
Get ready for a half day of forage research demonstrations and educational presentations in the field and in the classroom. Topics will include irrigation, nutrient and pest management, crop production and breeding, and pertinent laws and regulations. A separate forage beet meeting will take place in the afternoon, following lunch (provided).
Register.
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September 21, 2019
Transforming to a Sustainable Garden
Rohnert Park Library
6250 Lynne Conde Way
Rohnert Park
, CA 94928
What is a sustainable garden and why is it so important for the future? Using visual examples of suburban gardens,
Sonoma County Master Gardeners
will suggest projects to transform a typical garden into a more environmentally friendly and sustainable garden that can be both a beautiful and enjoyable outdoor space.
Learn more
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This is just a sampling of our upcoming events. See more events in
our calendar
.
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Spotlight on Practical Resources
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California Agritourism Website
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UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR)
has taken the lead in California for many years in helping farmers and ranchers learn and connect as they grow their agritourism enterprises. Now, UC ANR offers a new website,
California Agritourism,
that compiles information for farmers, ranchers and everyone involved in California agritourism into one easy-to-use site. The site includes articles, worksheets, checklists, guides, webinars, presentations, contacts and other materials created by UC ANR advisors and staff; presentations and handouts shared by agritourism stakeholders and educators at UC ANR agritourism workshops; and links to useful agritourism resources created by other universities and organizations.
Materials on the site
are organized by activity, by region and by audience. Farmers and ranchers can
add their farm or ranch to the
California Agricultural Tourism Directory and you can
sign up for the email newsletter,
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Children are getting healthier, but the obesity crisis is not over
Real progress has been made in tackling the epidemic of childhood obesity since the first
California Childhood Obesity Conference
was held 20 years ago, but there is more work to be done. “Going forward, solutions to the obesity epidemic are multidisciplinary,” UC ANR VP Glenda Humiston said. “I'm looking forward to working with all of you – public and private organizations – to design a way to move forward,” she said.
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The
UC ANR Calendar
lists events hosted by our programs throughout California.
Check
to see what's happening in your neighborhood!
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University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
2801 Second Street
Davis, CA 95618
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