BIFS Advisory Review Board Committee members
An increasing number of California farmers and livestock producers representing many agricultural commodities are maintaining yields and quality while reducing their reliance on agricultural chemicals through Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS). BIFS, established in 1995 by the UC Regents at the request of the California state legislature, uses a “whole system” approach to demonstrate innovative farming practices that enhance biological processes while reducing degradation of natural resources.
In partnership with farm advisors and researchers, participating farmers implement alternative growing practices that include pest management, soil building, irrigation, waste management and other biological and cultural practices. These practices are designed to reduce negative environmental impacts such as pollution from agricultural chemicals, animal waste, and soil erosion.
A 13-member Program Advisory Review Board reviews BIFS project proposals and provides program guidance. In addition to two UC members, the board is composed of representatives from relevant state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, as well as growers and a pest control adviser. The following individuals make up the BIFS board. (For more detailed information on the history, approach and accomplishments of the BIFS program, see www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/BIFS/overview.htm.)
Grower representatives
SHERMAN A. BOONE is a fourth generation Stanislaus County farmer who grows almonds in the Denair area, where he and his wife have raised four daughters. Boone has been a member at both the local and state level of the Farm Bureau, a school board member and a local fireman. In order to make the family farm management and custom nut harvesting operations more profitable, he became an accredited agricultural consultant and a real estate salesman. He was among the first participants in the Community Alliance with Family Farmers’ Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) program in Merced County; he also enrolled his Stanislaus County acreage in a similar management program. Currently he is serving on the Yosemite Farm Credit ACA and the East Stanislaus Country Resource District.
STEPHEN GRIFFIN is president of Misionero Vegetables in Salinas. He started working in his family’s farming business after graduating from UC San Diego, and has extensive experience in year-round production and shipping of high quality fresh vegetables in California and Arizona. He has been responsible for managing his family business through a period of changing agricultural laws and regulations, and has transformed it into a value-added farming, processing, and shipping specialty salad business. He has also guided his company in the development of its in-house state-accredited laboratory. Griffin has served as a board member of Western Growers Association, chairman and board member of United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, board member of the Arizona Citrus, Fruit, Vegetable Advisory Council and of the Iceberg Lettuce Research Council.
GREGORY T. NELSON is the president and ranch manager of Nelson & Sons, Inc., a farming operation on the North Coast of California that grows winegrapes, pears and Christmas trees. Nelson received a bachelor of science degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and has served as the director of the county and state Farm Bureau, a Ukiah Unified School Board trustee, and as a director of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. He is currently a California North Coast Grape Grower director, a commissioner for the Mendocino County Planning Commission and a member of the McNabb Creek Restoration Committee. Nelson is interested in sustainable agriculture and has implemented a variety of biological and cultural practices on his ranch as alternatives to pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer use. The ranch offers educational farm visits for local school children that provide information on the ranch history, reforestation practices and fish restoration in the property’s three streams.
Federal agency representatives
TISH ESPINOSA is an agronomist/plant resource specialist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. She received a bachelor of science degree in animal production and a master of science degree in agricultural science/agronomy at Cal Poly Pomona. She works at the Plant Material Center in Lockeford, where she provides technical assistance in areas such as cover crops, soil quality, erosion control, range and pasture, wildlife habitat, culturally significant plants, field boarders and hedgerows. Espinosa also raises goats for show and meat.
KATHERINE TAYLOR is the associate director for agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9, San Francisco. She has served with the EPA since 1985. Currently she provides leadership and direction on regional cross-media agricultural issues emphasizing and promoting multi-program and place-based approaches. Working with others on the Region 9 Senior Management Team, she coordinates and promotes strategic management of the broad range of agricultural activities within the region. Previously, she managed the Pesticides and Toxics programs and created the Ag Initiative and Merit Partnership teams in order to address broad environmental issues using a wide variety of regulatory and incentives-based tools. She has bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degrees from the University of Maryland and has a master of science degree in public administration.
PAUL (“AUGIE”) FEDER (US-EPA, Region 9, San Francisco, alternate representative) has worked on agricultural and environmental issues for 15 years. Since 1992, he has been an agricultural policy specialist for the San Francisco office of the US-EPA’s Agriculture Initiative. The Initiative has promoted voluntary programs in biological farming for nine years. He was instrumental in building agency recognition and support for the BIOS and BIFS program. He has a bachelor of arts in geology and a master of science in environmental policy and management.
LORI ANN THRUPP (US-EPA, Region 9, San Francisco alternate representative) is an EPA life scientist. Her work involves education, outreach, and partnerships with agricultural stakeholders (growers, scientists, commodity organizations, agencies, non-profit organizations, community groups) to support the development and adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, pollution prevention, and environmental stewardship. Thrupp received her doctorate and master of science degrees from Sussex University in development studies, and a bachelor of science degree from Stanford University. Before joining EPA, she was the World Resources Institute director of sustainable agriculture for nine years.
Nonprofit organizations representatives
JOHN CARLON is the president of Sacramento River Partners and the owner/operator of Sierra Cascade Blueberry Farm. Carlon received his master of science degree in agriculture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and worked as a farm manager for five years in Saudi Arabia and Sudan. When he returned to the United States, he purchased his farm, planted blueberries and certified the land as organic in 1988. As president of Sacramento River Partners, Carlon is involved in large-scale riparian restoration projects and works to integrate natural resource conservation with production agriculture.
DAWIT ZELEKE is the agricultural and restoration programs manager for the Sacramento River Project of The Nature Conservancy. He has worked for The Nature Conservancy for over ten years. His specialty is restoring natural ecosystems and creating riparian transition zones along the Sacramento and Cosumnes rivers.
California EPA Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) representatives
PAUL GOSSELIN is the chief deputy director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), which is part of the California Environmental Protection Agency. DPR is responsible for regulating, monitoring, and controlling the use of pesticides in California, including evaluating the public health and environmental effects of pesticides. DPR also develops and promotes pest management practices that reduce the problems associated with pesticide use. Previously at DPR he was the assistant director of the Division of Registration and Health Evaluation, and assistant director of the Division of Enforcement, Environmental Monitoring, and Data Management. He has a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a master of science degree in biochemistry, both from the University of Massachusetts.
BOB ELLIOTT (DPR alternate representative) is responsible for administration of DPR’s Pest Management Grant programs. He works with commodity groups, growers, university researchers, non-profit groups, government agencies and others to promote adoption of alternative, reduced-risk pest management practices. He was the interim coordinator of DPR’s food safety program, prepared its annual pesticide residue report, and assessed statewide compliance by pesticide users. Elliott has a bachelor of science degree in horticulture from California State University, Fresno, and previously worked as a research technician for the Fresno County UC Cooperative Extension, as a pest control adviser for Wilbur Ellis Company, and as an agricultural biologist for the Yolo County Agriculture Department.
BELINDA MESSENGER (DPR alternate representative) is an associate environmental research scientist for DPR. Her specialty areas are plant pathology, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and biopesticides. Messenger has a doctorate in plant pathology from UC Riverside. She is particularly interested in sustainable agriculture, IPM and agroecology.
Pest Management Advisory Committee member representative
MATT BILLINGS is a fourth generation farmer from California’s Central Valley. He received a bachelor of science degree from UC Davis and returned home to work, where he is marketing director for all domestic and international sales for his family’s almond operation. He also started a new company, Sterling Nursery & Insectary, which focuses on raising and selling beneficial insects and wholesale grapevines and orchids.
California Department of Food and Agriculture representative
JOHN STEGGALL works for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) where he analyzes the economic impacts of pesticide regulatory decisions. This work is done in conjunction with agricultural economists at UC Berkeley and CDFA, as well as UC Cooperative Extension faculty. Steggall has also worked at DPR, where he analyzed pesticide alternatives and trends in pest management. Steggall has degrees from Colorado College, University of Michigan, and a doctorate in entomology from UC Berkeley.
Licensed Pest Control Adviser
The representative from the pest control adviser (PCA) community has recently stepped down; a new PCA representative is being sought.
University of California representatives
Representatives from the University of California have recently stepped down; new representatives are being sought.
Retiring BIFS Board members
SAREP would like to thank the following founding BIFS board members, who are now retiring, for their generous participation. Their wise counsel and advice has been an invaluable asset to the BIFS program.
LONNIE HENDRICKS retired in the fall of 2001 from his position as Merced County UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor and from the BIFS Advisory Board after devoting 41 years to improving almond, walnut, pistachio, and apricot production in the San Joaquin Valley. Hendricks’s work in integrated pest management propelled significant changes in nut crop pest control. Over the years, he has worked on a wide variety of research projects in the area of pest control and other cultural practices important to farmers. Hendricks has traveled the world to share his expertise in nut crop production, speaking or working with farmers in Italy, Turkey, Hungary, France, Budapest, Spain, and Australia. He authored or co-authored 29 peer-reviewed publications.
JUDY STEWART-LESLIE is a pest control adviser with Pest Management Associates, an Exeter firm started in 1968 by her father, Jim Stewart, and Jim Gorden. Pest Management Associates’ specialty is integrated pest management and biocontrol; the firm received a California Environmental Protection Agency Department of Pest Management IPM Innovator award in October 2001. Stewart-Leslie is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
STEVEN WEINBAUM is a professor in the pomology department at UC Davis. His areas of specialization include fertilization practices, nitrogen use and best management practices in tree fruit culture and management. Weinbaum is particularly interested in fertilization practices as they impact nitrate pollution of groundwater. He received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees from Penn State University and his doctorate from the University of Illinois.
