CA&ES Currents Newsletter

Chair and professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Richard Howitt received the Quality of Research Discovery from the American Agricultural Economics Association. Howitt’s paper, “Estimating Intertemporal Preferences for Natural Resource Allocation,” is published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics 87(4) (November 2005):969–983.

Richard Howitt
(530) 754-9533
howitt@ucdavis.edu

Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Quirino Paris received the Quality of Research Discovery from the American Agricultural Economics Association. Paris’s paper, “An Atemporal Microeconomic Theory and an Empirical Test of Price-Induced Technical Progress,” is published in the Journal of Productivity Analysis 24 (2005):259–281.

Quirino Paris
(530) 752-1528
paris@primal.ucdavis.edu

Daniel Sumner, director of the Agricultural Issues Center and professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, received the Quality of Communication Award: Honorable Mention from the American Agricultural Economics Association. Sumner’s paper, “Capitalization of Farm Policy Benefits and the Rate of Return to Policy-Created Assets: Evidence from California Dairy Quota,” is published in the Review of Agricultural Economics, 27(2) (Summer 2005):245–258.

Daniel Sumner
(530) 752-1668
dan@primal.ucdavis.edu

Professor Emeritus Bob Feeney, who retired from the Department of Food Science and Technology in 1984, passed away on September 21 at age 94. Services were held on October 2 in Davis. Feeney was an internationally recognized protein chemist and studied the mechanism of antifreeze proteins in suppressing and modifying ice growth. A prolific writer and reader, in addition to his many academic papers he wrote two books about his expeditions to the Antarctic.

The Department of Human and Community Development has planned a memorial service for Ted Bradshaw on Friday, October 20, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. in the Main Theatre on campus. A reception will be held immediately after the service at the University Club from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Bradshaw, who died August 5, was a professor of community development who helped California communities grapple with base closures, energy issues, and creating healthy social systems. He was a leader in the areas of rural and community development and energy policy. Most recently, Bradshaw chaired the effort to establish the new Center for the Study of Regional Change and was appointed last year as director of the Gifford Center for Population Studies.

Dinah Greenstreet
Human & Community Development
(530) 752-7204
ordgreenstreet@ucdavis.edu

Michael Pollan’s book, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” is the selection for the 2006 Campus Community Book Project. A large number of events relating to the project have been scheduled for October and November, culminating in the author’s visit to UC Davis on November 29.

Because so many of the events relate to individuals, programs, and activities in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, a copy of the events program will be e-mailed separately to “CA&ES Currents” recipients. For additional information, visit the Campus Community Book Project Web site, http://occr.ucdavis.edu/ccbp2006/.

Cynthia Kintigh
UC ANR
(530) 297-4434
cckintigh@ucdavis.edu

Open Enrollment for active employees and retirees will be shorter than in past years, from November 1–November 21, and will end at midnight on Tuesday, November 21, 2006. Benefits information for UC Davis can be found at http://hr.ucdavis.edu/benefits/ and for the UC system at http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/.

Staff, students, faculty, and community women can enroll in self-defense classes scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays, October 23, 25, 30, and November 1, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) class teaches strategies to increase awareness and reduce risk, as well as provide simple self-defense techniques designed for women of all ages, body types, and physical abilities. The course will enhance confidence, increase security, and help participants realize their own power.

Participants can make a donation of $10/student, $20/staff and faculty, and $30/community member, but no one is turned away for lack of funds. The program is sponsored by the Campus Violence Prevention Program, Campus Unions Programs, and the Women's Resources and Research Center (WRRC). For more information or to register for the class, contact the Women’s Resources and Research Center at (530) 752-3372.

Susan Kim
WRRC
slkim@ucdavis.edu

For more information, visit the arboretum Web site: http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

“Folk Music Jam Session in the Arboretum,” Friday, October 6 and October 20, noon to 1:00 p.m., Wyatt Deck (adjacent to the Arboretum Redwood Grove).
Campus and community folk musicians are invited to play together informally during this acoustic jam session. Pull out your fiddles, guitars, mandolins, penny whistles, pipes, flutes, squeezeboxes, and other instruments, and join your fellow musicians for a little bluegrass, old-time, blues, Celtic, klezmer, and world music over the lunch hour. Listeners are welcome!

“Annual Plant Faire,” Saturday, October 7, 2006, Public sale 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; member sale 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; Arboretum Nursery at Orchard Park.
Gardeners throughout northern California look forward to the annual Plant Faire at the UC Davis Arboretum because they know they'll find a huge selection of outstanding plants for Central Valley gardens, including many unusual plants that can be found nowhere else. The sale features the arboretum All-Stars, tough and dependable plants that thrive in hot Central Valley gardens.

“Great California Native Plants,” Sunday, October 8, 2006, 2:00 p.m., Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.
Fall in the native plant garden brings mellow colors, beautiful seeds, and some late blooms. Join docent Bev Watros for a guided tour of the native plant collection in the arboretum and learn about some great native plants for Central Valley landscapes.

“Walk with Warren,” Wednesday, October 11, 2006, noon, Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.
Join arboretum superintendent Warren Roberts for a lunchtime stroll in the arboretum. Enjoy the crisp fall weather, learn about the arboretum’s collections, and get a little exercise.

“The Native Plant Garden in Fall,” Saturday, October 14, 2006, 11:00 am, Arboretum Terrace Garden.
Learn about native plants that thrive in Central Valley gardens during this tour of the arboretum. Native plants are popular with gardeners because they are adapted to our climate and they support native birds and pollinators. Docent Dean Wheeler will point out plants that stand out in the fall garden for glowing colors, ornamental seed pods, or other special features. The tour will start in the Arboretum Terrace Garden, next to Borders Books and Music at the Davis Commons retail center, on First Street.

“Native Plants and Wildfire,” Saturday, October 21, 2006, 11:00 a.m., Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.
Is California's wilderness going up in flames? Wilderness fires are not always a bad thing. Wildfires help maintain grassland as well as redwood forests. Chaparral has evolved to live with fire. Walk with docent Bev Watros through the California native plant garden and the redwood grove and learn about fire ecology.

“Practicing Native Culture,” Sunday, October 22, 2006, 2:00–4:00 p.m., Wyatt Deck.
Learn about Native Californian cultural practices at this special event in the arboretum. Maidu/Wintun/Hupa/Yurok cultural interpreter Diana Almendariz will explore traditional plant knowledge through stories and hands-on activities. Learn to make cord from cattail leaves and try your hand at grinding acorns. Enjoy informal tours focusing on plants important to Native Californians.

“The Oaks of the Arboretum,” Saturday, October 28, 2006, 11:00 a.m., Gazebo.
The UC Davis Arboretum contains one of the nation’s largest collections of oak trees. This tour will highlight the astonishing variety of tree forms, leaves, and acorns. The oak grove is now the center of a biological dilemma — it is home to a large colony of nesting herons and egrets, whose presence is damaging the trees in this important scientific collection. Docents Edith Vermeij and David Adams will lead the tour from the Gazebo on Garrod Drive, at the west end of the arboretum.

“Arboretum Volunteer Training,” Fridays, October 20–December 15, 2006.
The UC Davis Arboretum will conduct a training program for arboretum volunteers. For more information, contact Amy McGuire, (530) 754-9126, or almcguire@ucdavis.edu.

The 32nd annual UC Davis Arboretum Plant Faire will be held on Saturday, October 7, in the Arboretum Nursery at Orchard Park. The public sale is from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., but members can get an early start from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Gardeners throughout northern California look forward to the annual Plant Faire because of its huge selection of outstanding plants for Central Valley gardens, including many unusual plants that can be found nowhere else. The sale features the Arboretum All-Stars -- tough and dependable plants that thrive in hot Central Valley gardens. There will also be lots of new and different plants for adventuresome gardeners

For the best selection, the member sale starts at 8:00 a.m. Anyone may join at the door and enjoy early admission and reduced prices. Shoppers are advised to bring a cart or wagon for their purchases. Proceeds from the sale support maintenance and development of the Arboretum's gardens, collections, and educational programs for children and adults.

UC Davis Arboretum
(530) 752-4880
http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/

A symposium, “Dairy Emissions: Recent, Ongoing, and Future Research in California: A Technical Discussion,” scheduled for Wednesday, October 11, will highlight the newest scientific findings about the ways that dairy farms affect air quality. The meeting is hosted by the UC Davis Agricultural Air Emissions Center in the Department of Animal Science and led by center director Frank Mitloehner. Featured speakers are from UC Davis, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, California State University, Fresno, and elsewhere.

The symposium will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center. There is no registration fee, and lunch will be provided to attendees who register by October 6. Detailed program and registration information is online at http://www.arb.ca.gov/ag/caf/dairysymp906.pdf. Register online, or contact:

Marie Kavan
California Air Resources Board
(916) 322-7142.
mkavan@arb.ca.gov

David Pellow, professor and director of the ethnic studies department at UC San Diego, will give the seminar, “Resisting Global Toxics: Transnational Movements for Environmental Justice,” on Wednesday, October 11, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Room 242, Asmundson Hall.

Pellow is author of “Garbage Wars: The Struggle for Environmental Justice in Chicago,” co-author of “The Silicon Valley of Dreams: Environmental Injustice, Immigrant Workers, and the High-Tech Global Economy,” and co-editor of “Power, Justice, and the Environment: A Critical Appraisal of the Environmental Justice Movement.”

Julie Sze
American Studies
(530) 752-3377
jsze@ucdavis.edu

On Friday, October 13, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will bestow its Awards of Distinction at its 18th annual College Celebration in Freeborn Hall. The event is held each year at harvest time to celebrate the advancement and accomplishments of our college and its impact on agriculture and the environment.

Mark your calendars for this fun event. For ticket and other information, see http://caes.ucdavis.edu/NewsEvents/Events/Celebration/Default.htm. Volunteers are still needed to help on the day of the event -- volunteers receive free admission. To volunteer or to get more information, contact:

Claudette Oriol
(530) 752-2120
cgoriol@ucdavis.edu

Horse fanciers, from hobbyists to breeders, will gather from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, for educational lectures, an obstacle training demonstration, and tour of the UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital. A farrier workshop and laboratory for horse enthusiasts and professional horseshoers will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 15. Saturday’s lectures will focus on horse behavior and training, contraceptives for wild horses, feed management, therapeutic horseshoes, emergency veterinary care, and saddle fitting and selection. Speakers will include veterinarians, professors, and a farrier from UC Davis and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, as well as a private veterinarian and professional saddle maker.

For more information, contact the animal science department, (530) 752-1250, or check the Horse Day Web site, at http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/events/horseday/.

The UC Davis Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science (RMI) has partnered with the Davis Downtown Business Association to bring to light many of this area's wine, beer, food, arts, and entertainment options at the only festival of its kind in Davis. The event, featuring food and entertainment for adults and children, will take place on Sunday, October 15, from noon to 5:00 p.m. Most of the afternoon can be enjoyed for free, but if you are interested in the unlimited wine, beer, and food tastings you can purchase a ticket ($25 before October 6; $35 at the event).

For additional information on the event, and for ticket information, please visit the Web site: www.davisfest.com.

Patricia Glass
RMI
(530) 754-6349
pglass@ucdavis.edu

Strip-till and No-till Workshops will be held on Thursday, October 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the UC West Side Research and Extension Center in Five Points, Calif. The conference, sponsored by the Conservation Tillage Workgroup, will feature field demonstration workshops on no-till/high residue and strip-tillage production systems for corn, cotton, and tomatoes.

The workshops will provide an opportunity for interactive discussions with farmers, researchers, and private sector partners who are actively working to develop and refine a variety of conservation tillage (CT) approaches. A panel discussion on “CT Systems: What’s Working and What Isn’t?” will precede the lunch, keynote address, and presentation of the Conservation Tillage Farmer Innovator Award. To view the complete program, please go to the Conservation Tillage Web site at http://groups.ucanr.org/ucct.

Jeff Mitchell
(559) 303-9689
mitchell@uckac.edu

Janice Corner
(530) 752-7091
jecorner@ucdavis.edu

The official start-up of the Biogas Energy Plant (anaerobic phased solids digester system) will occur at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 24. The plant will test and bring to market an advanced anaerobic digestion technology that focuses on organic waste recovery and conversion for the production of biogas fuels and bio-based products. Working on the project are Ruihong Zhang, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, and Dave Konwinski, Onsite Power Systems, Inc.

If you plan on attending this event, or need additional information, please contact:

Jackie Archibald
jackieannarchibald@yahoo.com

Campus Sustainability Day celebrates sustainability in higher education through events that draw participants for the exchange of ideas and knowledge among faculty, staff, and students. UC Davis celebrates its commitment to sustainability and environmentally preferable purchasing through a national Webcast and Vendor Fair on Wednesday, October 25. Activities begin in the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) at 9:30 a.m. with a national Webcast featuring case studies from four universities. For more information on the Webcast, see http://www.scup.org/csd/4/.

The Sustainable Products Vendor Fair takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the ARC. Exhibitors will showcase sustainable, environmentally preferable products including office and laboratory supplies. For more information on the vendor fair, see http://purchasing.ucdavis.edu/events/SDvendorfair06/.

The WateReuse Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Washington State University invite you to attend “Opportunities and Challenges in Agricultural Water Reuse,” a specialty conference to be held October 29–31, at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek in Santa Rosa, Calif. The conference will cover success stories in agricultural water reuse, the USDA’s role in water management, regulations and health aspects of using recycled water on edible and nonedible crops, economics, technology, and public perception.

For program and registration information, see http://www.watereuse.org/2006Symposium/index.html.

Christine French
UC Center for Water Resources
(951) 827-4327
christine.french@ucr.edu

The Aquatic Weed School is a two-day course focusing on weed management strategies in a variety of aquatic ecosystems. The course covers ecological classification, biology and impacts of aquatic weeds, physical and chemical characteristics of aquatic ecosystems, weed management, and hands-on aquatic weed identification including potentially new invasives. The course will also focus on regulatory issues concerned with prevention strategies, the Aquatic Nuisance Species State Plan, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permitting Program, and endangered species.

The school is for those involved in consulting, research, and management of aquatic weed systems in the western United States. Lecture notes plus an identification diagnostic CD for grasses and broadleaf weeds will be provided. For more information, visit http://wric.ucdavis.edu and click on “Aquatic Weed School”

Gale Perez
Weed Research and Information Center
(530) 752-1748
wric@ucdavis.edu

Dennis Downing, CEO of Future Industrial Technologies, will present “Ergonomics vs. Bionomics for Injury Prevention” on Monday, November 6, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Room 3201, Hart Hall. The seminar is part of the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety monthly seminar series.

Elizabeth Noceti DiDio
Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
(530) 754-8678

Shankar Prasad, deputy secretary for Science and Environmental Justice, California Environmental Protection Agency, will give the seminar, “Cal/EPA's Vision and Plans to Achieve Environmental Justice,” on Wednesday, November 13, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Room 242, Asmundson Hall.

Julie Sze
American Studies
(530) 752-3377
jsze@ucdavis.edu

The 2006 Western Alfalfa and Forage Conference will be held December 11–13 in Reno, Nevada. The conference covers 11 states in the western area.

A field tour, by bus, will visit special features of Nevada agriculture (alfalfa, dairy, and specialty crops) and tourist sites. Session topics include emerging issues and market trends, economics and profitability, pest management, utilizing forage crops, irrigation and soils, future trends, harvesting, and risk management in forage production. The conference will feature a full trade show and an auction featuring farming supplies and equipment.

General registration is $120 prior to November 21. Full program information and registration materials are available on the conference Web site: http://alfalfa.ucdavis.edu/2006AlfalfaConference/.

Dan Putnam
(530) 752-8982
dhputnam@ucdavis.edu