AGRONOMY CONTINUING CONFERENCE
February 24-25, 2010, UC Davis Campus

Including:

Alfalfa & Forage Systems Workgroup

Biofuels Workgroup

Grain Legumes Workgroup

Agronomy Continuing Conference (all commodities)

The Purpose of the Agronomy Continuing Conference is to provide a framework for a continuing dialogue between UC Agronomy faculty, and CE Farm Advisors and Specialists on issues of mutual importance. This is an outreach effort and an excersize in team-building. In addition, this conference can provide a catalyst for increased interdisciplinary research work and joint projects. This year's conference will be held on February 24-25, 2010. There is a Grain Legume Workgroup meeting from 9-noon in PES 3001 on Feb 24. PLEASE NOTE the room change for the Grain and Legume meeting. The remainder of the entire conference will also be held in PES 3001.

You can REGISTER HERE  *(you must register for meals and parking passes)

You will find a link for a campus map  PES is highlighted in this segment of the campus map . It is the building south of the tennis courts, just west of Hunt Hall. Park either in the parking structure on Howard Way, in Visitor Parking Lot 15, or in the alley along the tennis courts. To get to the parking structure on Howard way (whether coming east or west on I-80) take I-80 to Hwy. 113 North.  Go about one mile and exit on Russell Boulevard. Go east to the 3rd stop light and turn right on Howard Way.  The parking structure is on the left.  

From the parking structure go to the intersection of Howard Way and the tennis court alley, turn right (west), pass Hunt on the left and look for PES, which is the next large building. 

There will be a limited number of parking passes are available from Bette Lerol in PES 1210 between 8:00AM-12:00PM and between 1:00PM-5:00PM. Parking after 9:00 AM can be more of a challenge. 

Agenda:  Click here for complete AGENDA (in MS Word)

Sponsored by:  UC Ag and Natural Resources (ANR) and Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis

Overall questions: How can the broad agronomic groups cooperate to put together larger, complex interdisciplinary teams to address critical issues within the umbrella of the strategic vision?  How can we strengthen the continuum between campus and county-based professionals, and our non-UC partners?  How do we better address the important issues facing our clientele and the public of California?

AGENDA:

February 24 (Wednesday)
9-noon (2004 PES) 
GRAIN LEGUME WORKGROUP (Steve Temple, Chair)
• Statewide research update on dry bean production: limas, commons, and garbs 
• Garbanzo disease update
• Lygus, mites, and UC IPM guidelines year round for dry beans
• Blackeye irrigation studies at Shafter and KAC
• Blackeye variety and other breeding activities
• Blackeye nematode management
• Common dry bean production publication update
• Dry bean genetics

12:00 Noon LUNCH 3001 PES

1:30 pm – 5:30 pm (3001 PES)
ALFALFA & FORAGE SYSTEMS WORKGROUP (Dan Putnam, Chair)
• Nutrient Measurement Project – Alfalfa
• Irrigation ET Project (Hanson)
• IPM – Pest Management Initiative
• Roundup-Ready Alfalfa Status
• Biotech innovations Pending for alfalfa
• Variety Innovations/Testing
• Demands by industry to improve Quality testing
• Alfalfa Symposium Evaluation (Meuller, Orloff)
• Alfalfa Symposium Planning (Putnam, Frate)
• Corn Silage – objectives for research/education

6:00-9:00 pm RECEPTION and DINNER -
Joint reception/dinner with local farmers

February 25 (Thursday)
7:30 a.m. Refreshments
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 Noon Agronomy Continuing Conference  3001 PES
8:00 am - 10 am COMPUTER TOOLS TRAINING: On-line Learning and improving Presentation Skills (Mike Poe, Communications Services).  This includes introduction to the on-line learning management system (for conducting on-line training), narrated and remote presentations.
• Learning Management System, what is it, how to use it.
• Demonstration of Adobe Presenter Training (narrated Powerpoint files).
• Adobe Connect Training (remote presentations)
• Other tech tools that you find might be of interest, as time permits.

10:00 am BREAK
10:20  AGRONOMY CONTINUING CONFERENCE (All Commodities)  3001 PES
10:20   Departmental Update Plant Sciences Update (Chris Van Kessel, Ken Tate)
10:30  Analytical Lab Update (Dirk Holstege)
10:40  The ANR Initiatives – What are the Possibilities?  Joe DiTomaso, Leader, Food Systems Initiative.
11:20  Funding issues and Reorganization Initiatives (What are the important CE positions on campus and in counties for agronomic crops?)  D. Putnam and D. Klingborg (invited).

12:15 LUNCH (Some discussion continuing during lunch)

1:00-5:30 BIOENERGY WORKGROUP (Steve Kaffka, Chair)  3001 PES    
1-1:20 New biomass energy policy developments, an overview for CA and the US (Steve Kaffka)
1:20-2:00 Combined BioEnergy Work Group Project on the economic potential of new biofuel crops on California’s farms (Mark Jenner, California Biomass Collaborative)
2:00-2:20  Miscanthus and Switchgrass Research in California (Dan Putnam, Bruce Lindquist, Plant Sciences, UC Davis)
2:20-2:40 New CDFA/CEC grant for work on new biofuel crops (Bob Hutmacher, Dave Grantz, Steve Kaffka, Casey Walsh Cady)
2:40-3:00 BREAK
3:00- Reports from crop-based bio-energy projects:  (1) Mendota Energy Beet Cooperative, (2) Great Valley Energy, (3) Bio-Energy Alternative Solutions (1.Jim Tischer, 2. Brad Pellens, 3. Richard Gillis)
4:30-5:30 Transgenic crops and Roundup Ready canola and Roundup resistant weeds in transgenic cropping systems.

***

Location:  Plant and Environmental Sciences Building, UC Davis Campus (directions: take Rt 113 N from I80 or south from Woodland, take the Russell St. Exit, go east on Russell, take right on Howard Way, see parking garage on left (parking available), turn right past tennis courts, PES is the newer larger building in back of the tennis courts).