August 06, 1999
Ken Giles Receives Rain Bird Award
Professor D. Ken Giles, Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, and Graeme W. Henderson, president of Capstan Ag Systems, Inc. of Topeka, Kansas, were presented the Rain Bird Engineering Concept of the Year Award by the Canadian Society of Agricultural Engineers at its international meeting in Toronto. The award recognized development of The Synchro System, an electronically controlled spray nozzle system that provides a quick and independent control of flow rate and spray droplet size for successful variable rate applications in precision agriculture. The spray-delivery system can give a 10:1 change in flow rate at a constant pressure. Pressure also can be rapidly adjusted to change droplet size for reduced drift, without sacrificing efficiency of the chemical. The delivery system is compatible with current sprayer electronics and spray nozzle hardware. It accurately applies controlled amounts of chemical sprays to the target.
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John Bruhn Honored
Dairy Foods Extension Specialist John Bruhn, Department of Food Science & Technology, was honored by the International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians for his dedication to the ideals and objectives of the society and his accomplishments in the field of food safety. Bruhn is being presented the Harry Haverland Citation Award.
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Miguel Marino Elected to Commission
Professor Miguel A. Marino, Department of Land, Air & Water Resources, was elected vice president of the International Commission on Water Resources Systems of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences. He is organizing an international symposium on integrated water resources management. It will be held on the UC Davis campus April 9-12, 2000. "My goal as vice president is to close the gaps between theory and practice and between science and technology," Marino said. "I also intend to focus on adoption of a systems view of the hydrological cycle. The problems are becoming increasingly complex (environmental pollution; extreme events; impacts of new technology; and economic, social and political changes). If we understand how different components of the complex systems work, we can at least anticipate the problems and prepare to cope with them."
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Dennis Raveling Scholarship
The Dennis G. Raveling Scholarship for Waterfowl Research is awarded annually to a student with a desire to pursue a career in waterfowl or wetlands ecology. Awards are based on the candidate's resolve, high academic achievement and project merit. Candidates must be pursuing an advanced university degree in wildlife, zoology, botany, ecology or other pertinent biological science. The scholarship is intended to provide field experience and training in the tools, methods and concepts of waterfowl and wetlands research and management. A committee comprised of previous students and professional colleagues of Dennis Raveling will select the winning candidate. Deadline: October 1, 1999
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Ag/Urban-Issue Town Hall Meeting
UC Davis will host a public town hall meeting on Tuesday, August 17, 1999, in Exhibit Hall D of the Sacramento Convention Center. Titled, "Environmental Health on the Ag/Urban Frontier," the meeting will highlight issues such as air and water quality, land use and agricultural practices and the economics of environmental management. The meeting, scheduled from 12:00 noon to 4:30 p.m., is an attempt to address environmental issues related to agricultural and urban sprawl. The meeting is sponsored by the Center for Environmental Health Sciences and is held in coordination with the International Congress on Ecosystem Health. Key speakers include: Kenneth Olden, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health; Richard Rominger, deputy director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a CA&ES alumnus and farmer in Winters; Robert Costanza, an economics professor from University of Maryland, College Park; and Byron Sher, state senator from California's 11th district and co-author of the recent headwaters agreement. A moderated
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"Integrated Pest Management for Stone Fruits"
UC's Statewide Integrated Pest Management Project just released its much anticipated reference book for growers of stone fruits - apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums and prunes. The 264-page manual contains comprehensive information developed by UC Cooperative Extension specialists, county farm advisors, experiment station scientists and industry representatives. It has more than 300 color photographs and more than 100 line drawings and tables to assist the reader in identifying, monitoring and managing more than 140 pest problems. The manual is written to help commercial growers and pest control advisors incorporate integrated pest management practices into the orchards they own or manage. However, home gardeners will find the information useful.
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Water Facilities & Fisheries Tour
The Sacramento River and its tributaries supply 35 percent of the state's water. California's two largest water delivery projects, the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project, begin in the Sacramento Valley north of Sacramento. A three-day tour titled "Northern California Water Facilities & Fisheries Tour" is planned for October 6-8, 1999. It leaves Sacramento International Airport at 9 a.m. on October 6, travels the length of the Sacramento Valley and returns to the airport by 6 p.m. October 8. Travel is by air-conditioned bus equipped with video monitors. Activities include a salmon barbecue and houseboat cruise on Lake Shasta. The tour is co-sponsored by the California Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region. Reservation deadline: September 10, 1999
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RFP: California Potato Research Advisory Board
The California Potato Research Advisory Board (CPRAB) announces its annual invitation for research proposals to be submitted for the period January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2000. Proposals will be reviewed by the UC Advisory Committee to the CPRAB previous to submittal to the Potato Research Board that meets September 2 to consider the proposals. Deadline: August 16, 1999
Kent J. Bradford
Professor
Department of Vegetable Crops
kjbradford@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-9098
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RFP: California Cut Flower Commission
The California Cut Flower Commission has issued a call for research pre-proposals in 18 targeted research areas. Contracts are awarded to those research projects that have the greatest potential for achieving the objectives of the 2000 CCFC Program. All types of research organizations, including researchers affiliated with public and private institutions of higher education or with other public or private research organizations, and individual investigators are encouraged to submit proposals. Deadline: September 16, 1999
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RFP: California Cancer Research Program
Cancer Research Program (CRP) priorities for funding of research are aimed primarily at fostering research on gender-specific cancers, such as prostate and ovarian cancers. The program is particularly interested in funding meritorious applications that propose to apply innovative approaches to the prevention, detection and treatment of these cancers, i.e., cancer control. The program will fund, innovative and creative research with special emphasis on research that complements, rather than duplicates, the research funded by the federal government and other entities. Deadline: September 22, 1999
CRP Online
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RFP: Sustainable Agriculture Competitive Grants Program
Pre-proposals are the first step in requesting competitive grants funding from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University. Pre-proposals must summarize project ideas and budget needs. Iowans associated with educational institutions of all kinds and/or nonprofit organizations - such as soil and water conservation districts and regional development groups - may submit proposals. Pre-proposal Deadline: September 2, 1999
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RFP: Western Region SARE
The administrative council of the Western Region USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is accepting proposals for it's competitive grants program. The council has recognized the importance of whole-farm/ranch system projects and will continue to target this type of project for SARE funding for fiscal year 2000. Deadline: September 30, 1999
Robert Newhall
Deputy Western Coordinator
SARE
bobn@ext.usu.edu
(435) 797-2183
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RFP: SARE Professional Development Program
The administrative council of the Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is seeking proposals for projects addressing the educational needs of agricultural professionals as part of the implementation of the national SARE Professional Development Program. Professional development projects must be aimed at helping Cooperative Extension Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service and other appropriate agency personnel and agricultural professionals within the Western Region, to increase their understanding and proficiency in sustainable agriculture. Deadline: November 19, 1999
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CA&ES Currents, the faculty/staff newsletter of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis, is distributed every other Friday. News deadline is noon Monday preceding Friday publication. Send inquiries to Ann Filmer, afilmer@ucdavis.edu
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Issue Editor:
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Contributors: Donna Gutierrez, Thomas Kaiser, Susan Kancir, Rhoda McKnight, Neal Van Alfen, John Weston.
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