University of California ~ Cooperative Extension
Sutter/Yuba Counties
142A Garden Highway, Yuba City CA 95991
Tel: (530) 822-7515 ≈ Fax: (530) 673-5368
February 2007
County Director’s
Prepared by: Mike Murray, County Director
University of California Cooperative Extension
Sutter & Yuba Counties
This is the first of a periodic newsletter I will send to our mailing lists in Sutter & Yuba Counties. There have been a number of activities and events impacting our Bi-County Extension office that you may not be aware of. As the County Director for the Extension office, part of my responsibility is to keep the local communities aware of changes in staffing or services. I hope you find the newsletter interesting and useful. I appreciate any feedback you might have.
Office fund-raising activity
Some of you might have received a letter from our office soliciting donations to support local Extension programs and are wondering what it’s all about. The funding for delivering applied research and education programs to the residents of Sutter and Yuba Counties is provided by a number of entities, including the Boards of Supervisors and the University of California. Recent times have been challenging for public programs funded by these agencies, as budget reductions have been the norm. However, the funding agencies have been fair to us and have provided sufficient resources to support basic aspects of our programming. University staff have been paying for expenses not covered by the county budget out of their program funds which are intended to fund applied research and/or educational programs. Putting the responsibilities on individual staff is not fair and we have looked for other ways to fund these business expenses.
Thus, we created the donation solicitation program in November 2005. We are overwhelmed by the community response and generosity. To date, 93 individuals or businesses have contributed over $10,000. We appreciate this support, which will help ensure our client’s continue to receive the high level of service they have come to expect. A list of contributors is on the next page.
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Our heartfeld thanks goes out to the
2006/2007 Contributors to Sutter/Yuba Cooperative Extension Programs
Roger & Susan AbeAgricultural Advisors
Ag-Seeds Unlimited
Akin Ranch
Alsco-Geyer Irrigation
R & J Anderson Properties
Stanley & Jane Anderson
Bahme & Associates
Jaswant Singh Bains
Bertolini Ranch
Big Valley Ag Services
Todd & Greg Bihlman
Breeding Ranch
California Dried Plum Board
Mike & Carol Churkin
Robert Coats
Danna & Danna
Linda Daugherty
Davit Ranches
DeValentine Farms
Robert & Sandra Derby
Mundeep S. Dhami
G & K Dhanota Farms
Milton & Barbara Emery
Enterprise Farms
Doug & Gayle Everhart
Walter & Robyn Fickewirth
Freedom Farms
George Gerst
Howard & Lorna Hanson
Hawn Ranch Company
Heenan Ranch
Allen & Marilyn Hill
A.J. Hyatt
I.P.S Farming LLC
Manual & Sally Kafkares
Sam Kamilos
Watson M. Laetsch
Chris & Cameron Lee
Gregory Leiser
Steven Lockett
William & Jean Lockett
Daniel Lucero
Laurence & Judith Marinel
Mc Clellan Farms
Steve & Terry Mendenhall
Bill Meredith
James Miers
Michael Miller
Dan & Corine Minatre
Neill R. Mitchell
Robert Mohammed
In Memory of Mary and Fathe (Joe) Mohammed
Garry K. Morris
Sidney & Margery Muck
Mike Noland
Norene Ranches
Oji Brothers
Joel Phelps
Guillermo Pulido
Quinco, Inc.
Rahul Family Farms
Narinder Rai
Rancho Cenendella
Reason Farms
Rio Oso Groves Inc.
Jane Sarah Roberts
Gordon Rohleder
Rohleder Orchards
Ellis & Marie Royat
Emil & Wanda Schubat
Thorban & Janet Sellers
Fred Shaeffer Jr.
Smith Ranches
Sohrakoff & Sons
Robert Sproat
Edware & Lillian Steele
Sundown Farms, Inc.
Sunrise Ag
Tarke Brothers Estate
Taylor Brothers Farms, Inc.
Thiara Orchards
Charles S Thompson TTE
Ed & Paula Tomei
V A Farms, Inc.
George & Katherine Van Ruiten
John Vertrees
James A. Waller Ranch
P. & M. Waltz Ranches
Bill Warnock
Whitney Warren Ranch
Mary Lou Whipple
E. D. Willey & Sons
Bernard & Elsie Zaboski
Dobbins 4-H Camp Clean-up
Yuba County and the Yuba/Sutter 4-H program have been operating a camp facility in Dobbins for over 70 years. Forty acres was originally donated for a “4-H” camping experience. This land was purchased by 4-H and the then Yuba County Farm Bureau. The county purchased an additional adjoining 50 acres, for a total of 85 acres. Capital improvements for the facility are funded through periodic timber harvests and ongoing expenses are paid by camp users and Yuba County. It has become a very rustic camping experience, with some non 4-H groups returning every year.
The camp caretaker resigned last fall and the University of California and Yuba County are developing an agreement that defines each entities responsibilities and liability. Until that agreement is signed, we are unable to allow non 4-H campers to use the facility. The problem is expected to be resolved by the 2008 camping season.
As part of an on-site inspection of the camp, we found a HUGE amount of trash and junk accumulated around the caretaker’s residence (perhaps 70 years worth!). By the time we were done, we hauled-off over 100 cubic yards of metal to the landfill (visualize a 100 yard football field, stacked 3 feet high and 3 feet wide). There were lots of refrigerators, stoves, water heaters and metal bed springs.
Many persons assisted in this Herculean effort. 4-H Advisor Isela Valdez coordinated the clean-up, along with County Director Mike Murray (and lots of input from Livestock Advisor Glenn Nader). The Sierra Foothills Research and Extension Center in Browns Valley donated two workers for three days and a dump truck/front-loader. Kudos to Center Director, Art Craigmill, Center Superintendent, Dustin Flavell, Principle Agricultural Supervisor, Martin Beaton and Farm Maintenance Worker, John Wedgeworth. They made it happen! We also appreciate the support and cooperation of Yuba-Sutter Disposal Inc., General Manager, Dave Vaughn and his crew for waiving some of the fees and facilitating deliveries.
New Staff at CE Office
There have been some staffing changes in the office. We lost some colleagues and gained new staff. On the University side, Dr. Chris Greer joined us as the rice advisor for Sutter, Yuba, Placer and Sacramento Counties, headquartered in Yuba City. Chris was formerly in the Colusa CE office for five years and has hit the ground running. Both his experience and education has exposed him to Sacramento Valley rice issues and he already knows many of the players. Stop by or phone Chris and introduce yourself.
Longtime clerical staff Patricia Bagley was promoted to the Office Manager position, replacing retiring Charla Eason. We wish Charla and her husband Dale the best in their new life. Pat has learned her job well already and is implementing all kinds of improvements in office functions.
Pat’s promotion opened-up her old job of Office Assistant III and 4-H secretary. Michele Searcy joined us in that capacity and has been busy learning about the ins-and-outs of Sutter/Yuba 4-H programs. She is a welcome addition to our staff.
Some sad news. Our receptionist, Agnes Puckett, passed away in late 2005. We miss her and send our condolences to her family. Replacing her, on an interim basis, has been Angela Bergstrom. Angela is a very creative and pleasant addition to our office. We are currently interviewing for a permanent replacement.
University Staff Contact Information
For Sutter & Yuba County
(530)822-7515
Crops Advisor Email Address
Rice
Walnuts, Peaches, Kiwifruit, Apricot, Grape, Nectarine, Chestnuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Persimmons, and
Vegetable Crops
Livestock, Forage Crops, Forestry, Fire, Water Quality, Fire Safe Council
Prunes, Almonds, Pears, Apples, Cherries, Olives, Plums, Pomegranates, Citrus
Integrated Pest Management
Alfalfa, Dry Beans, Wheat, Cereal Grains, Corn, Sorghum, Barley, Oil Seed Crops
4-H Youth Development,
FSNEP, After School program
4-H Community Club Program
Cooking, canning and Food Preservation
Chris Greer
Rice Systems Farm Advisor
Janine Hasey
Pomology, Horticultural Advisor & Master Gardener Coordinator
Mike Murray
Vegetable Crops Farm Advisor, Community Development and County Director
Glenn Nader
Livestock, Range and Natural Resources Advisor
Franz Niederholzer
Orchard Systems Farm Advisor
Carolyn Pickel
Integrated Pest Management Regional Advisor
Jerry Schmierer
Agronomy Farm Advisor
(530) 458-0570
Isela Valdez
4-H Youth Development Advisor
Willa Davis
4-H Community Club Program Representative
Susan Donohue
Butte County Home Economist and County Director
(530) 538-7201