A significant portion of the agricultural industries in California is centered in "desert" regions of the State. In order to address issues pertinent to these regions, a new academic unit, known as the Agricultural Research Institute for Deserts (ARID), was formed at UCR. One of the objectives of ARID is to form a DANR workgroup, which would focus on agricultural issues/problems in desert regions. The specifics of the workgroup are listed below:

Name of Workgroup: Workgroup on Desert Agriculture

Topical workgroup areas: Ag Policy and Pest Management/Ag Productivity

Co-chairs of workgroup: Milt McGiffen (Assoc. CE Specialist, Vegetable Crops, UCR) and Mike Stanghellini (Professor of Plant Pathology, Director of ARID, UCR)

Level of activity: Stage 1 --start-up activities to get organized and established as a workgroup. Initial objectives are to:

1. identify and prioritize critical agricultural issues (aesthetic/amenity/production) in desert regions,
2. initiate and expand linkages with other stakeholders in desert agriculture, and
3. serve as a focal point for agricultural research, service and education programs in desert agriculture.

Pertinent question: Would you like to be a member of the Workgroup on Desert Agriculture? If interested, please submit the information on this form by August 30, 1999.

Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, please contact either of the above co-chairs of the workgroup. Please feel free to distribute this information to other interested parties.

Thank you for your consideration,
Milt McGiffen, Assoc. CE Specialist, Vegetable Crops, UCR.
Mike Stanghellini, Professor of Plant Pathology, Director, ARID, UCR