The Vantage Point

Glenda Humiston 
Vice President
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources 

The train of storms that ushered in 2023 filled reservoirs and alleviated drought across the state – but also felled trees, knocked out power, forced evacuations and ruined crops. The bridge leading to our Elkus Ranch education center was swept away (thankfully all staff and animals are safe), and I appreciate the perseverance and patience of our colleagues there as we work to rebuild and restart programming. To help support all our communities, California Department of Food and Agriculture has gathered a list of flood-related resources and relief programs. 

At UC ANR, researchers are extending science-based solutions so we can better prepare for – and capture – extreme rainfall. Cover cropping, for example, can lessen flooding impacts, minimize erosion and facilitate crucial groundwater recharge.

Growers can learn best practices from others who have grown cover crops in the Sacramento Valley and North Coast viticulture region through an excellent database compiled by our Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP), alongside UC Cooperative Extension, the Napa Resource Conservation District and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers. UC ANR experts also will speak during tours of orchards and vineyards that integrate cover crops (Feb. 8 and March 8).

With the recent rains on our minds (and fields), it is especially timely to introduce Erik Porse, the new director of the California Institute for Water Resources, which supports applied research on a host of water policies and issues – from recharge to irrigation to water rights. Erik brings a wealth of experience in interdisciplinary, collaborative water management. He was most recently a research engineer with the Office of Water Programs at California State University, Sacramento and an assistant adjunct professor with UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Please join me in welcoming Erik!

Meanwhile, the UC Organic Agriculture Institute, one of the newest programs under UC ANR, was making connections at the EcoFarm conference (Jan. 18-21), the largest sustainable farming conference in the West. Many thanks to OAI researchers, staff and affiliates for continuing to build bridges with that pioneering community of organic growers – and for gathering invaluable feedback through a statewide needs assessment. I encourage you to share the survey link with your networks so we can better support organic agriculture in California by prioritizing our research and extension activities.

EcoFarm also shined a much-deserved spotlight on Gail Feenstra, the former SAREP director who retired last year. During the conference awards banquet, Gail was honored with a Sustie Award, recognizing her 33-year career advancing more sustainable, resilient and equitable food systems. Congratulations and thank you, Gail, for all your outstanding contributions.

Lastly, I hope you take a few minutes to watch our 2022 Year in Review video, highlighting just some of our accomplishments, all made possible by your continued support. In 2023, I look forward to sharing many more projects across UC ANR that are improving the lives of Californians in every county.