Program News

Retirement

After more than 20 years as a farm advisor for UC Cooperative Extension, Placer and Nevada counties, Garth Veerkamp retired April 1, 2000. His retirement plans include traveling and spending more time on his Christmas tree farm. The Small Farm Center staff thanks Garth for his many contributions to the Small Farm Workgroup during the years, and wishes him great luck in the future.

Travel

Benny Fouche, farm advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County, has been selected by the Winrock International Foundation Farmer to Farmer Program to serve on an assignment in Nepal for two weeks in June 2000. He will be working with eight village development committees in the Terhathum district to help improve their integrated pest management program in cole crops, and to learn from them as well.

Visitors

Members of the North Korean Agricultural Research Team visited the Small Farm Center and met with technical assistant Solomon Teklu to discuss small farmer assistance programs. Teklu also met with severalVietnamese Economic Reform Project members to discuss small farm information and marketing support.

Sabbatical

Marita Cantwell, postharvest Extension specialist and Small Farm Workgroup member, is on a sabbatical leave through June 2000. She is collaborating with colleagues at the University of Mexico on protocols for postharvest management of specialty crops.

Presentations

Desmond Jolly, Small Farm Program director and agricultural economist, made a presentation on size biases in agricultural research to a committee of the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences at a special session held at the University of California, Irvine, January 17. The board will issue a report later this year.

Jolly also attended the North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association Professional Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, in February, and presented the paper, "FarmersÕ Market Manager Professional Development Curriculum" at the direct marketing workshop.

On February 26, Jolly presented the keynote speech at the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Washington, D.C. The campaign is involved in developing positions on and proposals for policies for the next Farm Bill.