Farm Water Toolbox in Merced

Date & Time
March 25, 2010, 8:00am - 3:00pm

Location:
Merced Ag Center
2145 Wardrobe Avenue
Merced, CA 95341-6445
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Cost:
$20

Contact:
Kristin Rosenow
831-763-2111
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Farm Water Toolbox: Know your Risks, Plan for the Future
A Regional Forum for the Northern San Joaquin Valley Farm Community


Co-hosted by the Ecological Farming Association, the California Agricultural Water Stewardship Initiative, and the East Merced RCD

 

Agenda

9:00 Welcome and Introduction

  • East Merced RCD
  • Kristin Rosenow, EcoFarm, Watsonville, CA
  • Joseph McIntyre, Ag Innovations Network, Sebastopol, CA


9:15 State Water Supply and Policy: Implications for Valley Growers

  • Water Supply Outlook and the CA Water Plan – Baryohay Davidoff, Office of Water Use Efficiency and Transfers, CA Department of Water Resources, Sacramento, CA
  • 2009 Water Bill and the Upcoming Bond Measure – Implications for California Agriculture – Dave Runsten, Policy Director, Community Alliance with Family Farmers and CAWSI, Davis, CA

10:00 Discussion of State Issues
            
10:30 Break

10:45 Regional Outlook:

  • California Partnership for the San Joaquin: Opportunities for Agriculture – Jim Tischer, Center for Irrigation Technology, California State University, Fresno, CA
  • Irrigation District Outlook - TBA
  • Groundwater - Thomas Harter, Robert M. Hagan Chair, Water Management and Policy, Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, CA


11:45 Discussion of Regional Issues    

12:15 Lunch

1:00 Research panel: Soil and Crop Management for Water Efficiency and Stewardship

  • Role of Soil Moisture Retention in Smart Water Management and Overview of Practices – Rex Dufour, National Center for Appropriate Technology, Davis, CA
  • Irrigation Management and Technology – TBA
  • Management Strategies to Improve Water Productivity: Deficit Irrigation, Crop ET Assessment, and Crop Production in Saline/se Soils  – Dong Wang, Research Leader, USDA-ARS Water Management Research, Parlier, CA   

2:00 Grower Panel

  • Aaron Barcellos, A-Bar Ag Enterprises, Los Banos, CA
  • Other growers to be announced

2:40 Break

2:50 Discussion

3:30 NRCS Funding and Technical Support for Water Management -

  • Malia Hildebrandt, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Merced, CA   

3:50 Final Remarks and Adjourn

 


 

Register by Phone: 831-763-2111, Fax: 831-763-2112 or Download and Mail form to:
EcoFarm, 406 Main Street, Suite 313, Watsonville, CA, 95076

More information about the California Agricultural Water Stewardship Initiative (CAWSI)

Please note that the March 23rd water forum in Winters has been canceled, please join us in Merced on the 25th.