14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY July 25-31, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com It’s one thing to study agriculture in the classroom, but to really get an idea of how growing and harvesting work, students need to get their hands dirty. CSU Monterey Bay students in the burgeoning agricultural sciences major face logistical challenges getting out into the fields, but in the near future they won’t have to travel far. CSUMB officials are actively planning to add a small farm and greenhouses for handson experience and research to not only better train students, but also provide a much-needed research hub for the local ag industry. “We have the human talent but we don’t have the facilities to train them to the level that they deserve,” says JP Dundore-Arias, assistant professor of plant pathology. The agricultural sciences major program was launched in the fall of 2020 with just seven students. It’s grown to over 130—many first generation college students—and graduated approximately 70, Dundore-Arias says. It’s one of the fastest-growing majors at CSUMB, according to Thomas Horvath, interim dean of the College of Science. Many of the students enter the program with a goal of becoming pest control advisors, Dundore-Arias says, but some go on to local positions that range from breeding technicians to greenhouse managers or supervisors. Adding a greenhouse on campus became a major need. Besides greenhouses, they also knew they needed a modest amount of farmland, starting at around seven acres, to give students a chance to experiment growing and managing crops. They’ve been able to take field trips to farms around Monterey County, but due to time and distance, it’s been a challenge. “Having the facilities allows [students] to gain the experience and use their education to do whatever they want,” Dundore-Arias says. “They won’t be limited to jobs their family used to have…they’ll be able to create their own pathway to pursue the careers they want.” A feasibility study to determine a precise location on campus and other details is about 80 percent complete, Horvath says. The current cost estimate is $10 million. They expect it will be financed through donations from local ag companies and grants. The small farm will also give students and faculty a chance to do research that will benefit the local ag industry, Horvath says. “We need some research spaces, such as greenhouses, for controlled experiments and plots to do experiments and trials to get them to think about systems identical to those in the Salinas Valley.” Dundore-Arias, himself a plant pathologist, says a farm facility will help him further his own research into pathogens, both harmful and helpful, and find ways to reduce the reliance on pesticides. The campus farm will also bolster the university’s new mechatronics engineering major launching this fall. Students will learn how to build and use robots in agricultural settings. Once the farm is complete, “we expect they will be able to test robots in real field conditions,” Horvath says. Farm Life Greenhouses and a small farm are coming to CSUMB to boost ag students and research. By Pam Marino An artist’s rendering shows greenhouses CSUMB officials are proposing, in addition to farm plots, to give agricultural science students and faculty a place to conduct experiments. NEWS “We have the human talent but we don’t have the facilities.” IMAGE BY BRICK FOR MITHUN, COURTESY OF CSUMB Department of Toxic Substances Control July 2024 DTSC PUBLIC NOTICE Our Mission is to protect California’s people, communities, and environment from toxic substances, to enhance economic vitality by restoring contaminated land, and to compel manufacturers to make safer consumer products. EMERGENCY PERMIT TO MANAGE HAZARDOUS WASTE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM MOSS LANDING, CALIFORNIA 95039 The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has issued an Emergency Permit to Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA) for onsite treatment of expired chemicals at 7700 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, California, 95039. The item treated includes forty-two (42) 16oz containers and one (1) 5-liter container of Bouin’s Solution (Picric Acid). Clean Harbors Environmental Services (Clean Harbors) has been contracted to conduct the treatment. The chemical is potentially reactive and unsafe for transport in its present state. The treatment involves the addition of solutions to the containers to stabilize the chemical. Once the chemical is treated, it will be transported offsite for proper management. DTSC has determined that this chemical poses an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health and the environment if not properly managed. Therefore, an Emergency Permit should be issued. This Emergency Permit is effective from July 8, 2024, through September 08, 2024. The Emergency Permit includes measures to minimize any adverse impact to the community and the environment. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): DTSC has determined that the issuance of this permit is exempt from the requirements of CEQA and has filed a Notice of Exemption (NOE) with the State Clearinghouse. The Emergency Permit, NOE, and MBA’s request for this project is available upon request from the Project Manager or for review at the file room located at: DTSC Sacramento Regional Office located at 8800 Cal Center drive, Sacramento, California 95826; for an appointment call (916) 255-3758. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions or concerns, please contact: Hai-Yong Kang, Project Manager, (916) 255-6522, Hai-Yong.Kang@dtsc.ca.gov Tammy Pickens, Public Participation Specialist, (916) 255-3594 Tammy.Pickens@dtsc.ca.gov Russ Edmonson, Public Information Officer, (916) 214-2208, Russ.Edmondson@dtsc.ca.gov Hearing impaired individuals may use the California Relay Service at 711 or 800-735-2929 TTY/VCO/HCO to voice. QR code Additional information on DTSC sites can be found through our EnviroStor Real Men, Real Life, Real Results “At its core Breakthrough is about being the best man you can be” - Breakthrough Graduate Now registering for Fall Workshops Change IS possible. Start your best life now. LIFE TOOLS FOR MEN For information or to attend a FREE introductory session email enrollment @breakthroughformen.org
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==