Ventura participants enthusiastic

Those participating in the collaboration among SAREP, the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation, Ventura County and UC Cooperative Extension are glad to be a part of it. Here is what they say:

"We have a growing number of organic growers in Ventura and surrounding areas, not just because organic is an expanding consumer market, but because we always need to explore new ways to sustain agriculture. In the last 15 years of diminishing resources within the UC, it has been very difficult to begin new initiatives. This grant from the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation allows the UC to get involved in organic agriculture, an area that needs support in a more focused and comprehensive fashion." —Larry Yee, Ventura County Cooperative Extension director.

"The Heller funding of Oleg Daugovish's position is really a great opportunity here for farmers and institutions to pay attention to the potential for organic growers in this area. We're very enthusiastic about what he's doing because his work formally introduces organic and sustainable concepts to an important and diverse production area. He's offering us science-based information on smother crops, weed prevention and organic matter. We've previously had to depend upon the efforts of information sources that are stretched to their limits. More research of this type will lead to solutions that benefit farmers as well as address issues confronting agriculture on the edge of urban development."—Steve Sprinkel, organic vegetable crops farmer, Ventura County, owner of the restaurant/grocery "The Farmer and The Cook," ACRES, USA columnist.

"I thought the workshop I went to that Oleg Daugovish presented was extremely helpful. As a new farmer without a farming or technical background, it gave me tangible information that I need. At workshops and field days you get to hook up with other experienced farmers, which is invaluable for information sharing, and I know that the University of California is there as a resource for me to call. Oleg is doing the trials and I don't have to. It's the essence of what research should be about, and we all benefit from it. It's putting public dollars to use for public gain."—Paul Herzog, organic vegetable crops farmer, Ventura County.

"Larry Yee and Oleg Daugovish sent everyone who has expressed an interest in this topic notices about the new organic/sustainable outreach. No one has done this before here. There have been two meetings so far with a total of about 60 people. I am very happy to know that this a much bigger group than I thought it was going to be. I grew up with conventional farming, but now I'm throwing myself full-force into organic and direct marketing. This program is helping my efforts." —Phil McGrath, farm manager, McGrath Family Farms, strawberries, vegetables and flowers, Ventura County.

"In the meeting I attended on sustainable agriculture and organic production we had a cross-section of growers represented, including small-scale and large-scale farmers. Several chemical companies representatives and Pest Control Advisers (PCAs) were present, who are trying to increase their knowledge about sustainable agriculture and crop production. The increased demand for sustainable and organic agricultural products is beneficial to the industry. In fact the organic farming industry is one of the few areas of the ag industry that has been growing and expanding in recent years."—Mojtaba Zaifnejad, agronomist/PCA, Ventura County.