May 2024

2024 Thelma Hansen Symposium

"Trees to the Rescue": Solutions for Climate Change



The Zoom webinars will be held on Tuesday-Thursday May 14-16, 2024 from 4:00-5:30 pm and aim to increase our understanding of the role of trees in mitigating climate change, how to plant the right trees and keep them healthy in urban environments, and challenges of increasing the number of trees at the local level. The program is available here. To register, go to: LINK

Field Day: Drip Irrigation for Strawberry Management

May 15, 2024

Where: 1980 S. Rice Ave. Oxnard, CA (Crisalida Berry Farms) 

Time: 9:00 am – 11:00am 

Register here, for free.

2.0 CEUs applied: Soil & Water Management

Complete agenda, English and Spanish

Image: UCANR

2024 Ventura County-California Women for Agriculture Scholarships

For the 2024 scholarship year, VC-CWA is thrilled to offer four $1,000 scholarships for Ventura County high school seniors or students currently attending an accredited university, junior college, or trade school program related to agriculture.

• VC-CWA Scholarship
• Elaine Cavaletto Memorial Scholarship
• Topa Topa Flywheelers Scholarship
• Lucy Vanoni Memorial Scholarship 

If you have any questions, please contact vccwainternalvp@gmail.com

Completed scholarship applications must be emailed or postmarked by May 15, 2024. 

Center for Agroecology will support new USDA Regional Food Business Center



The University of California, Santa Cruz will support the establishment of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Regional Food Business Center to support resilient food systems by providing coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state, and local resources, thereby closing the gaps to success. Continue reading

Photo: Erin Foley

Steam Use in Greenhouse and Nursery Systems

Authors: Emma Volk and Dr. Steve Fennimore

Steam has long been utilized to control soilborne pathogens, pests, and weeds. The question is not if steam can control pests and diseases, but if it can be efficient and cost-effective in agricultural settings.

Read the article...

Image: Emma Volk

Climate Corner

Author: Jill Sarick

Summertime is often the time for K-12 educators to seek out professional development opportunities that will enhance their lesson planning for the coming year. Environmental education has evolved to not only strive to inspire students to learn about the natural environment but also increase climate change literacy. I have provided a list of resources for teachers here

Trees play an integral part in everyday life, and no one can deny the many benefits we humans derive from their existence. However, anyone paying attention to climate related news might become a little confused about how these benefits outweigh the risks. Regardless, trees have become an integral piece to the climate mitigation conversation. Read more about it here

How much fruit is Up there?

Author: Ben Faber

Old crop, new crop. What's up there in the trees? Are they big enough to sell? Is there a good set for next year? These are questions every avocado grower has every year, and often all year long. What is up there in the trees is confounded by what is called the "Avocado Illusion." Continue Reading

Image: Ben Faber

May 16-17 · Noon to Noon

Join us for 24 hours of giving to connect the power of UC research and extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, and youth development with local communities.

In its sixth year as UC ANR’s own online giving campaign, UC ANR Giving Day will run from noon to noon on May 16-17, 2024.

Your gift helps ensure UC ANR continues to provide essential resources and trusted information to the people of California. Some of the projects funded by recent giving day donations include demonstration gardens, outreach teaching supplies and youth scholarships.

On UC ANR Giving Day—a day to give to the programs you care about—we invite you to support the vital services that sustain our state, country, and world.

Gifts of any size will have an immediate impact

Oh Woes, in a Wet Year - Anthracnose

Author: Ben Faber

So rain is great…as long as it doesn't cause problems like increased iron chlorosis, root rot, snails, erosion, too many weeds, etc., etc., etc, And now we are seeing more anthracnose. This disease is not normally much of a problem in dry California. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causal fungus of the disease, is widespread in avocado and citrus groves. We see it frequently on small stems and branches, but it is normally of little importance on fruit because unusually large numbers of spores are required to produce damaging infections. Read the full article here.

Image: Ben Faber

The University of California Cooperative Extension Ventura County uses

science-based information to enrich our agricultural industry.

Your support helps in many ways.

Thank you.