
Agenda &
Schedule
Please note that the schedule times are in Pacific Standard Time (PST).
ALL DAY OPEN POSTER SESSION
We will be featuring posters from students and faculty at academic and research institutions around the Central Valley working to address climate impacts on agricultural production in the valley. This includes topics related to water conservation, drought, agricultural land use for solar or wind production, agricultural land use for carbon sequestration, rewilding of agricultural lands, geologic carbon sequestration, biomass carbon capture and storage, reducing methane emissions from livestock operations, and other topics.
8:30 - 8:45 AM
Breakfast and
Networking
Open poster session presenting research by students and faculty, and exhibitor booths available to engage with.
8:45 - 9:00 AM
Welcome Address
and Introductions
Speaker: Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire (Dean, Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Fresno State)
9:00 - 9:30 AM
Keynote Address: The State of Agriculture in California
Keynote Speaker: Karen Ross (Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture)
9:30 - 10:00 AM
Setting the Stage
Locally and Nationally
What does California policy provide for farmers, producers, and ranchers in response to climate change? What opportunities exist to support farmers to transition to more carbon-friendly practices, and increase profits?
Speaker: Jennifer Pett-Ridge (LLNL)
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Farmer and Producer-Led
Discussion
What are farmers and producers already doing to support greater yield and climate smart practices? What challenges are they facing? What support do they need from scientists, academia, and policymakers?
Moderator: Louie Brown (Kahn Soares & Conway, LLP)
Panelists: Don Cameron (Terranova Ranches), Daniel Hartwig (Woolf Farms), Hector Lujan (Reiter Affiliated Companies)
11:00 - 12:00 PM
Profitable Repurposing
of Agricultural Lands
With drought conditions and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, some former agricultural lands are proving difficult to sustain. What lands should be repurposed and what economic opportunities exist for land owners willing and able to repurpose their land?
Moderator: Chantelise Pells (Stanislaus State)
Panelists: Jose Rodriguez-Flores (UC Merced), Susan Long (Tule Trust), Vicky Espinoza (The Nature Conservancy), Angel Santiago Fernandez-Bou (Union of Concerned Scientists)
12:00 - 12:15 PM
Economics of Carbon Geologic
Storage on Ag Lands
Speaker: George Peridas (LLNL)
12:15 - 1:15 PM
Lunch and Discussion
The State of Agriculture Policy in CA
Moderator: President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval (Fresno State)
Panelists: Joe Del Bosque (Del Bosque Farms), Dennis Parnagian (Fowler Packing Company), Bill Smittcamp (Wawona Frozen Foods), Sarah Woolf (Water Wise)
1:15 - 2:15 PM
Enhancing and Preserving Water
in the Central Valley
What techniques and technologies can be used to reduce water use in agriculture? What are the challenges to adopting new techniques, and what policies can support farmers in this adoption?
Moderator: Charles Hillyer (California Water Institute)
Panelists: Helle Petersen (WET Center, Fresno State) Richard Restucchia (Jain Irrigation), Caitlin Peterson (PPIC), Aaron Fukuda (Tulare Irrigation District), Claude Corcos (Netafim)
2:15 - 2:30 PM
Coffee Break
and Networking
Open poster session presenting research by students and faculty, and exhibitor booths available to engage with.
2:30 - 3:30 PM
The Business and Economics
of Agriculture
The war in Ukraine caused fertilizer costs to spike. How might climate change impact how and what Central Valley farmers are able to export (and import from) overseas? What funding is provided by the state and federal government to support farmers to adjust their operations?
Moderator: Aaron Hegde (California State University, Bakersfield)
Panelists: Abe Padilla (CSUB), John Deal (CSUB), Yuliana Lacsina (CSUB), Cayetano Urias (CSUB)
3:30 - 4:30 PM
The Experimental
'Smart Farm'
Learn about cutting-edge research into new technologies, new ways to gather, manage, and assess soil and water data, reduce farm costs and support better working conditions and higher yields.
Moderator: Thomas Harmon (University of California, Merced)
Panelists: Danny Royer (UC Merced), Humberto Flores Landeros (UC Merced), Leigh Bernacchi (CITRIS, UC Merced), Pauline Canteneur (FarmWise)
4:30 - 4:45 PM
Closing Remarks &
Forward-Thinking Address
Speaker: Mark Keppler (The Maddy Institute)
4:45 - 6:00 PM
Summit Wrap-Up
and Networking
Open poster session presenting research by students and faculty, and exhibitor booths available to engage with.