Seminar on Alternatives in Agriculture
(PLS 190/IAD 290)

 This course meets each week for a two-hour seminar with a guest lecturer. The subject matter of the course varies from year to year but generally focuses on topics related to alternative theories, practices and systems of agriculture and the relationship of agriculture and food systems to the environment and society. In recent years, the focus of the course has included topics such as community food security, indigenous agriculture systems, participatory research, farmer-to-farmer networks for developing sustainable agriculture and agroforestry. Scientific, technological, social, political and economic perspectives are considered. This winter quarter course is graded on a pass/no pass basis.

The title of the series and schedule for Winter 2008 is:
Agricultural and Natural Systems Interfaces: True Stories of Grapes, Greens and Grazers

Grapes:

Jan 08. Sarah Greenleaf, CSU Sacramento & Josh Viers, UC Davis

• An ecosystem approach to understanding and managing Pierce's disease in Northern California
  

Jan15. Cliff Ohmart, Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission

• Promoting sustainable winegrowing with producers, communities, and consumers

Jan 22. Monica Cooper, UC Berkeley

• Mealybug management in California vineyards: An integrated ecosystem approach

Jan 29. Paul Dolan, Mendocino Wine Company

• An industry perspective on vinegrowing going green
  

Grazers:

Feb 05. Ken Tate, UC Davis

• Rangeland livestock production: Implications for healthy streams and safe drinking water

Feb 12. Craig Thomsen, UC Davis

• Managing rangelands for productivity and biological resource conservation

Feb 19. Morgan Doran, UC Cooperative Extension, Solano, Yolo and Napa Counties

• Trends, opportunities and challenges in livestock grazing production systems
  

Greens:

Feb 26. Jo Ann Baumgartner, Wild Farm Alliance

• Habitat restoration to benefit farms and wildlife and potential impacts of proposed food safety measures

Mar 04. Linda Harris, UC Davis

• Food safety issues in fresh produce and industry responses to recent outbreaks

Mar 11. Dan Cohen, Maccabee Seed Co. and Community Alliance with Family Farmers

• The politics and biology of leafy green safety: the shock doctrine for farmers and wildlife