Shulamit Shroder, Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist in Kern County, describes the biomass builder cover crops at the field day
In a partnership with the Strategic Growth Council and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) is providing outreach, education, and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers across California.
Many under-resourced communities across California lack awareness of California Climate Investments funding opportunities or the knowledge, tools, or capacity to access them. The Technical Assistance program helps level the playing field for applicants lacking the capacity to access funds successfully, particularly those living in the most disadvantaged communities.
To provide this assistance, UC ANR hired a team of 10 Community Education Specialists assigned to different counties across the State to work with agricultural communities and Resource Conservation Districts to understand and implement locally relevant climate smart agriculture practices. In addition to hosting field days and workshops, the team provides one-on-one technical assistance of the CDFA Climate Smart Agriculture grant programs, including the Alternative Manure Management Program, the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, and the Healthy Soils Program.
Alli Fish, a Community Education Specialist for Ventura County, hosted a large-scale demonstration at the Hansen Research and Education Center in Santa Paula highlighting regionally suitable cover crops. The first field day drew over 100 growers from throughout the county along with 40 master gardeners and community educators. Participants rotated through stations that showcased different categories of cover crops and healthy soils. They also learned how to take advantage of technical assistance resources in time for the upcoming Healthy Soils Program solicitation period.
Alana King, co-owner of King & King Ranch in Fillmore, CA, was grateful for the help: “Alli was absolutely instrumental as a mentor and guide through the bewildering Healthy Soils grant application processes. As small family farmers, we find it hard to find time to sit at a computer and research details and write comprehensive applications. We couldn’t have gotten through them without Alli’s knowledge, positivity, and research help.”
Jamie Whiteford, with Ventura Resource Conservation District, talks about cover crops that promote pollinator habitat.