Connected - Newsletter of UC ANR

November 2019 Volume 3, Number 11

The Vantage Point

Glenda Humiston

Vice President

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

What value do California’s working landscapes bring to the state’s economy? UC Agriculture and Natural Resources collaborated with the California Community College’s Centers of Excellence and the California Economic Summit to release a report that shows that California’s working landscape represents the sixth largest economic sector in the state, outpacing the healthcare, real estate and construction sectors. In addition to agriculture, the working landscape includes fishing, forestry, mining, outdoor recreation and renewable energy. Check out this video on the report!

A key finding of this study is that California’s working landscape supports more than 1.5 million jobs and nearly 70,000 business establishments. In 2018, the nine working landscape segments paid workers $85 billion in earnings and generated $333 billion in sales.

California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross said, “It is gratifying to see such a comprehensive study – the first report we know of that quantifies the full economic contribution of California’s working lands. It’s much more than just agricultural production — it’s the full range of products, services and jobs, and it all starts with dedicated stewardship of lands that sustain us.”

We’re going to share this report and these numbers far and wide. As the sixth largest segment of our state’s economy, it’s important that our policymakers begin making investments in California’s working landscape . It is critical to the state’s economy. And the numbers in the report don’t even include the value of ecosystem services .

In other news, UC Regent Cecilia Estolano and State Senator Anna Caballero joined UC Agriculture and Natural Resources in Fresno on September 25, 2019 to see the power of UC research and statewide programs at work to serve urban and rural communities. The UC Regents are asking for a chance to see what we do in person, so we have been organizing tours like the one shown in this video . They’re even tweeting here and there about their tours, getting the word out about ANR’s work to more people!

As we begin to celebrate the season of gratitude and giving, I want to express how grateful we at UC ANR are for our partners and supporters. Our partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture allowed us to put community educators around the state to provide technical assistance on Climate Smart Agriculture.

W e also have many examples of visionary gifts over the last couple of years:

UC Intermountain Research and Education Center celebrated the grand opening of a multipurpose conference and laboratory building thanks to a gift from the Staunton family, who donated $25,000 to support the building project and recognize the late John Staunton and his long-standing support of agriculture and research.
UC Lindcove Research and Education Center kicked off its fundraising campaign “Sweetening the Future of Lindcove.” Donations from the campaign will create an endowment to support a community educator, expand the outreach capabilities of Lindcove REC and help train the next generation of citrus growers and consumers. The Ray Copeland and Jim Gorden families together generously contributed $150,000 as a match for funds donated by others to the fundraising campaign. Lindcove officially named its conference center the “Ray Copeland Citrus Center” after the late Ray Copeland, who, as superintendent of the field station from 1965-1987, was instrumental in developing the orchards, facilities and the relationships with the first group of scientists who conducted research there.
The Citrus Research Board and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources established a $1 million endowment to fund the Presidential Researcher for Sustainable Citrus Clonal Protection at the UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center. This is the fifth $1 million UC ANR endowment to support California agriculture. The other endowments are: the UC Cooperative Extension Presidential Chair for Tree Nut Genetics, formed with the California Pistachio Research Board in October 2015 along with the UC Cooperative Extension Presidential Chair for Tree Nut Soil Science and Plant Water Relations; the UC Cooperative Extension Presidential Chair for California Grown Rice, formed with the California Rice Research Board in September 2016; and the UC Cooperative Extension Presidential Chair for Agricultural Education in Orange County, formed with the Orange County Farm Bureau in October 2017.
A $500,000 gift from a visionary donor led the UC California Naturalist program to launch its Climate Stewards Initiative certification program.

Wherever you are in California, so are we. Our programs and research serve your communities—bringing practical, science-based answers to Californians across the state. Consider a gift to UC ANR on #GivingTuesday to support our mission—and share your support on social media! Whether you choose to donate your time or money, I’d like to sincerely thank you for supporting UC ANR and creating a healthier California!

Engage with Us!

December 12, 2019

Fall Desert Crops Workshop

Farm Credit Services

Southwest Ag Center Room

485 Business Park Way

Imperial, CA 92251

Join UC Cooperative Extension Imperial County for this 30th annual workshop. Info on irrigation, salinity, water treatment, grazing, vegetable crop diseases, pest management, and laws and regulations about growing hemp will be provided. For more information, download the full agenda. CA DPR, AZ Department of Agriculture and CCA continuing education credits approved.

December 13 - 14, 2019

Citrus Fruit Display & Tasting

UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center

Copeland Conference Center

22963 Carson Avenue

Exeter, CA 93221

Join UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center for its citrus fruit display and tasting event. The December 13 date is for growers , and the December 14 date is a family-friendly event with $5 and $10 bags of freshly picked citrus for sale. Meet UC Cooperative Extension researchers and UC Master Gardeners and taste more than 100 citrus varieties that are grown at Lindcove.

This is just a sampling of our upcoming events. See more events in our calendar .

Spotlight on Practical Resources

Guest Lodging on Your California Farm or Ranch: A Practical Guide

Offering a farm stay, where working farms and ranches provide lodging to urban or suburban travelers looking for a country experience, can be a win-win for both parties. The farm or ranch diversifies its product offering, thus reducing risk and bringing in additional revenue; the traveler has a unique lodging experience. This free guide provides advice and resources for farmers and ranchers considering offering on-farm lodging and includes information on permits and regulations, staffing, reservations/booking, liability and insurance, finances, pricing, marketing, hospitality and customer service, a budget template, sample waivers and forms, and more . UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP) , a statewide program of UC ANR, created the guide as part of its California agritourism program .

Notes From the Field

California's working landscape generates $333 billion in sales, 1.5 million jobs

“When people think of California's economy, they think of entertainment, information technology and other industries. They may not think of working landscape,” said Glenda Humiston, University of California vice president, agriculture and natural resources. “People may be surprised to learn that California's working landscape accounts for 6.4 percent of the state's economy, supports more than 1.5 million jobs and generates $333 billion in sales.”