- (Public Value) UCANR: Developing a qualified workforce for California
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
DroneCamp in Monterey County offers lessons in person and online
Want to learn how to use drones to map and collect field data? DroneCamp 2024 will be held at California State University, Monterey Bay in Marina on June 24-28. For people who cannot attend in person, there is also an online option available.
No experience is necessary. Training will accommodate beginners as well as intermediate users who want to learn more advanced flight, data processing and analysis skills.
Now in its 8th year, DroneCamp is a five-day short course covering everything you need to know to get started using drones for mapping and research. The curriculum covers equipment, safety and regulations, flight planning, manual and autonomous flight, photogrammetry, data processing, data analysis, data management and research talks.
New for 2024 is a concurrent track for educators. Within these breakout sessions, instructors will present topics and methods for teachers developing drone programs, and will discuss drone technology, safety culture and remote-pilot code of conduct.
DroneCamp is led by a team of 21 instructors from UCMerced, UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, Lakeland College, American River College and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Participants attending the presentations in person will get hands-on experience in flight workshops, where they will have the opportunity to:
- Fly a variety of drone platforms
- Directly engage with instructors and other participants
- Expand their networks
- Gain access to all the software used throughout the week
- Explore the iconic Monterey Bay Area
Light refreshments, daily lunches and a Monday evening dinner social are included with in-person registrations. Participants must make their own lodging arrangements as housing is not available through campus.
Registration for in-person classes will close on June 5 or when capacity is reached. The registration fee is $1,200 for in-person participants, $700 for academics and students, and $120 for virtual participants. To register, visit https://bit.ly/DroneCamp2024.
For more information, see the agenda at https://dronecampca.org/2024-agenda, watch video highlights from 2023 or contact info@dronecampca.org.
/h3>- Author: Toni Dowdell
- Editor: Suzanne Morikawa
Editor's Note:
At this time of year, Senior 4-H'ers are graduating out of high school and into their next step in life. As parents, we celebrate our children's accomplishments and are proud to share them widely! As our 4-H'ers graduate to their next adventure, we want to acknowledge all the parents, family members, and 4-H volunteers who have served as leaders and mentors to help our youth grow their skills for the future.
This post was written by Toni Dowdell. She is the mother of Eve Dowdell, our 4-H Communications Intern in the State Office. It was originally published in the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau News in October 2023 (p.22).
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4-H Member to 4-H Alumna to 4-H Intern
Aging out of 4-H is that sort of rite of passage at a time when young adult 4-H'ers are easing their way into full-on adulthood. These youth members continue in 4-H until they reach the age of nineteen and can no longer participate in 4-H as a youth member. While some move onto other paths, most go on to give back to 4-H in one way or another. Discovering a way to do both has become a delight for Eve Dowdell, a 2022 4-H alumna. She completed her 4-H youth career and is embarking on the road to 4-H adult volunteering and state internship.
Eve Dowdell was pinned “4-H Alumna” at the State Leadership Conference. During the ceremony, Eve was announced as a recipient of both the Golden Clover Award and the Diamond Clover, the highest achievement for which a 4-H member is recognized. As well, 4-H members, leaders, and representatives from all over California bid her farewell on her 2021-2022 term as State Ambassador. Eve is the first State Ambassador from Stanislaus County in five years; that's since Gabriella Germann, a Stanislaus County native, served on the 2016-2017 State Ambassador team.
Eve's notable 4-H skills and accomplishments enabled her to shine as State Ambassador. She and her team developed a campaign centered on encouraging youth to begin living their legacy now. While her team was responsible for implementing CA 4-H Youth Development Programs, creating educational workshops for County 4-H Ambassadors, and facilitating educational programs for other States' Ambassadors, Eve had the availability and specialized skillset to represent her team at Ag Day at the Capitol and on various State 4-H committees. She was invited to present informational sessions for the State 4-H staff towards advancing the CA 4-H social media platform. Using her talent for publicizing wacky Tiktok's to classy Instagram stories, Eve designed and shared content to boost the presence of the CA 4-H brand, the State Ambassador's platform, and CA 4-H Ag.
Eve's passion for 4-H, communication, and pink showed through in all of her social media promotions. With little effort, anyone could see how 4-H is an avenue to cultivate her sparks and share them with her community. She seized every opportunity to mention her favorite things and how they relate to her 4-H experience. Her videos supporting upcoming 4-H events or honoring heroes, National American Sign Language (ASL) Day, and National Pink Day were her way of connecting with her fellow members in her own unique way.
Among her role as State Ambassador, Eve has had many successes in 4-H that led to significant contributions during her 4-H years. Her service as County President of Hi 4-H (yes, the ones who make the delicious milkshakes at the county fair!), President of Shooting Stars 4-H (her home club of eleven years), and Staff/Counselor on the County Camp Committee are just a few of them. She served her third term on the State 4-H Advisory Committee and helped run the first State Camping Conference since the pandemic. Eve thrives on communicating with 4-H'ers across the state and supporting them in their endeavors. Whether through club work, county programs, or national opportunities, her caring and influencing attitude promotes a sense of belonging and gives 4-H members the prompting they need to believe they can achieve their goals, master skills, and positively impact their communities. She says seeing young 4-H'ers taking advantage of all that 4-H has to offer reminds her of her own early 4-H years, when her eyes dazzled at the sight of older 4-H'ers in the spotlight.
Over the years, Eve has been an outstanding role model who has connected to and affected the lives of many. With great compassion, competency, and character, Eve has shown that she embodies the essence of a true leader. Her influence has mostly been recognized in her commitment to 4-H project leadership. Particularly, projects such as ASL, Dance, Communications, and Embroidery, where she embraced her sparks, are her favorite projects to lead. Through all her project roles, her magnetic personality inspires others, adults and youth members alike, to succeed in facing life's challenges with integrity, determination, and a smile. Eve continues to serve 4-H members as an officer advisor for Shooting Stars 4-H club, county co-advisor for the Stanislaus Hi 4-H Committee, and assistant to County Ambassador teams. Most recently, she started as a student intern in Marketing and Communications for the UC ANR State 4-H Youth Development Program. In Eve's effort to give back through her internship, she creates and maintains marketing communications that showcase the best of CA 4-H members, and continues to promote State 4-H programs.
As Eve is no stranger to achievement, she is making headlines at Modesto Junior College (MJC), where she pursues Communication Studies. Her contributions on campus have put her in the spotlight as ASL Club officer, President of Alpha Kappa chapter of Sigma Chi Eta, and member of the 2022-2023 Intercollegiate Speech & Debate Team. Her time on the Speech & Debate team has earned MJC the Hornet Cup, 1st Place Sweepstakes Award, and the Phi Ro Pi 2023 National Award. Eve began her competition year as Top Novice at the Golden Gate Opener, then took two 1st Placings at the Mustang and the Paul Winters Invitationals for her persuasive speech performance. In her speech, she advocated for the deaf community by calling for ADA accommodations in drive-throughs. She went on to claim 3rd Place at the Northern CA Forensics Association Championship and 1st Places in both Communication Analysis and Persuasive Speech at the Hornet Tournament. These accomplishments are a credit to all her years of learning by doing in 4-H. Eve says she pulls from her experience toolbox, having learned and taught the value of resiliency, civil discourse, motivating others for impactful change, and building connections. Eve is a tremendous source of encouragement and guidance, with a tenacity for working with individuals from various cultural backgrounds, lifestyles, and mindsets. Eve adds
“Whether I am tutoring or facilitating a campus life event, I want to be an approachable light and friend to the students of MJC. I've been privileged with opportunities to employ self-management. Now I want to contribute my skills, insight, and perspective, and give back what I have been so generously given. As I develop my own passions and knowledge, I am only fulfilled knowing that I have also influenced another's growth and sparked their passions. Like 4-H, MJC has a powerful foundation, helping students grow in their field of study. I'm thankful to be a contributor to that growth.”
Eve's greatest passion remains in her faith. She regularly makes time to support youth mentorship and volunteers as a bible study leader and on the prayer team for her church, JC Fans.
Let's celebrate and thank Eve for sharing her time, gifts, and positive attitude for the benefit of our 4-H youth and our community.
/h1>- Author: Lauren Fordyce
May is here and with all the fluctuations in our weather lately, there is a lot going on in the landscape! Follow these general tips for the month of May to prevent pests. To see more tips specific to your region, visit the Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist on the UC IPM website.
- Look for the invasive Asian citrus psyllid on new citrus growth. If not known to occur in your area, report findings to your local county agricultural commissioner.
- Prune winter-flowering shrubs like camellia before next year's flower buds form.
- Check plants for leaf stippling or webbing from spider mites. Irrigate adequately, mist leaf undersides daily, reduce dustiness, or spray horticultural oil to manage them.
- Monitor for grape diseases like powdery mildew, Eutypa dieback, Phomopsis cane and leaf spot, and others. Prune, remove, or treat as appropriate.
- Cover fruit trees with netting to exclude birds and other vertebrate pests.
- Watch for yellowjackets and other wasps building nests in undesirable locations. Knock down newly started nests and use lure or water traps to control populations.
- Fertilize caneberries, citrus, deciduous fruit trees, palms, and heavily-flowering shrubs with a slow-release product if not done in March or April.
- Monitor stone fruit trees for pests such as aphids, borers, brown rot, caterpillars, powdery mildew, and scale insects.
- Manage ants. Plants infested with honeydew producing insects like aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs may attract ants who take that honeydew back to the nest to feed the colony. Manage ants around landscape and building foundations using insecticide baits and trunk barriers.
Don't see your county on the checklist or want to provide feedback? Let us know!
/span>- Posted by: Gale Perez
Job #JPF01902
Location: Riverside, CA
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: April 17, 2024
Next review date: Wednesday, Jun 12, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Sunday, Jun 30, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Job Description: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF01902
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Department of Botany and Plant Sciences at the University of California Riverside invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Extension (Assistant Specialist in Cooperative Extension) in the area of weed management in agronomic crops. This is a fiscal year position available July 1, 2024 with an 80% Cooperative Extension and 20% Organized Research Appointment in the Agricultural Experiment Station (http://cnas.ucr.edu/about/aes/). The position will be housed at the University of California Riverside campus in Riverside, CA. The successful applicant will develop an internationally recognized, extramurally funded basic and applied research program on the management of non-aquatic weeds using chemical and non-chemical strategies that decrease weed competition, minimize environmental impacts from weed control practices, and reduce the economic costs of weed management. Preference will be given to candidates conducting research at the forefront of their field who have a strong working knowledge of weed management and control and a desire and ability to work with diverse clientele. Cooperative extension (CE) responsibilities include the development and implementation of educational programs on weed management in agronomic crops, which may include extension publications, newsletters, web pages, blogs, field days, participation in CE Advisor meetings, organizing workshops, and contributing to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) workgroups and teams.
The current base pay range for the Assistant Professor of Extension position is $84,100 to $110,100 and the Agronomist/ Organized Research position is $86,500 to $112,800. Additional off-scale to be commensurate with market value, qualifications and experiences.
Required qualifications for this position that must be met by the date of application include: a Ph.D. in Weed Science, Agronomy, Plant Sciences or a related discipline, demonstrated experience in applied research, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Preferred qualifications for this position include: Postdoctoral experience, experience in research and outreach with demonstrated productivity in publishing in journals related to weed management, and a track record of success in obtaining extramural funding.
Advancement through the Professorial ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input.
To apply: submit the following to https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/apply/JPF01902.
- Cover Letter – short cover letter describing background and interests
- Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Teaching and Mentoring - This statement should be a concise description of the applicant's teaching and mentoring philosophy and include past experience and future teaching and mentoring plans (2-page maximum)
- Statement of Research interests and goals (3-page maximum)
- Statement of Extension interests and philosophy (2-page maximum)
- Statement of Past and/or Planned Future Contributions to Advancing Diversity and Inclusive Excellence (2-page maximum)
- 3 Letters of Reference – At time of submission, applicants should provide contact information and request letters of recommendation from 3 referees to be submitted through AP Recruit, Letters will need to be submitted to AP recruit from the letter writers by June 12, 2024.
- Up to 3 select reprints of publications or manuscripts in press (optional)
Review of applications will commence on June 12, 2024, and proceed until position is filled. For full consideration, applicants should submit their complete applications prior to the above date.
For the FULL JOB DESCRIPTION: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF01902
For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Milt McGiffen, Chair of the Search Committee, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, at milt@ucr.edu. For questions on application procedures and requirements, please contact Mrs. Naudia Samuels Johnson, Academic Personnel, at naudia.samuelsjohnson@ucr.edu.
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Mark your calendar...
Diagnosing Herbicide Symptoms 2024 link
https://wric.ucdavis.edu/events/diagnosing_herbicide_symptoms_2024.html
Weed Day 2024 link
https://wric.ucdavis.edu/events/weed_day_2024.html