FREE Growers Workshop

FREE Growers Workshops

Irrigation water availability and water quality protection have emerged as critical issues for agriculture. These workshops will provide concepts, tools, and examples for optimizing irrigation and nitrogen management efficiency in row, tree, and greenhouse crop production.

The workshops will also focus on records and acquiring data needed for water quality regulation and reporting.

Irrigation Management: Efficient Systems, Plans and Scheduling

Thursday, Jan. 29, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

AND

 Nitrogen Management: Fertilizer, Soil, Crop and Irrigation Water Quality

Thursday, Feb. 12, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Instructors: Dr. Marcus Buchanan and Michael Johnson

Dr. Buchanan has experience in soil fertility, plant physiology and nutrition in many irrigated annual and perennial, warm and cool season crops in the Central Coast. During the past 20 years, he has worked as a University of California and Oregon State University faculty member and as a independent agronomy consultant. He has worked privately for growers, food processors, wineries, and for public water and irrigation districts. In the last two years he has increasingly supported grower clients in responding to water quality planning, monitoring, and reporting requirements.

Mr. Johnson has led and performed over 200 irrigation system evaluations privately for growers and as part of region-wide efforts sponsored by water districts and public agencies throughout the Central Coast area.  He also manages the Santa Clara Valley Water District Ag Mobile Irrigation Lab program and is the instructor for the Irrigation Systems Management course at Cabrillo College.

To register call Shawn Novack at the Water Resources Association of San Benito County.  He can be reached at: (831) 637-4378 or by email at: snovack@sbcwd.com

Both workshops will be held at the San Benito County Water District at 30 Mansfield Road in Hollister.