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- Current Projects -
Updates and progress reports about ongoing CAB research.
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New Survey to Obtain More Information from Farm Workers
The possibility of seasonal farm labor shortages continues to be a concern
to those involved in California crop production. In response, social
sciences professor Andrew Alvarado will lead a research team in a labor
force survey. Information to be obtained includes demographics of the farm
labor force in the western region, availability of workers, recruiting and
hiring methods of employers, legal status, living arrangements and earning
of workers.
Study to Focus on Mechanized Grape Harvesting
Another researcher will approach the labor shortage issue from a different
perspective. Agricultural economics professor Lynn Williams will conduct
economic feasibility studies of several different raisin production
operations in the San Joaquin Valley. The goal is to determine whether
systems featuring mechanized drying and harvesting offer more economic
promise that traditional hand-labor systems, given current world production
and marketing trends.
Hand Lotion for Field Workers Gets More Trials
Animal Science professor Michael Thomas will continue studies of a new
polymer-based hand lotion that may protect field workers from
pesticide-related chemicals that can be absorbed through the hands when the
workers harvest crops.
Quickbooks®
in California Agriculture
Agricultural economics professor
James Cothern has developed a set of slides and accompanying data files
that can assist a beginning user in learning Quickbooks® for agricultural record keeping purposes.
Quickbooks® is a computerized accounting and record keeping system designed for
small to medium-sized farming operations. The slides and data files, which
include a self-paced tutorial, can be downloaded from the website, titled Quickbooks®
in California Agriculture.
Agricultural Risk Management Portfolio to Be Developed
Rising costs of water and energy, combined with world market competition,
make agricultural production a tricky venture even for the experienced
producer. With those challenges in mind, agricultural economics professor
James Cothern plans to develop a professional educational portfolio that
makes use of computer and Internet programming to analyze risk management in
agricultural production. The portfolio will be offered through a series of
risk management seminars next year.
Agricultural Safety Program
CAB’s Agricultural Safety Program has encouraged many agricultural
businesses to make safety issues a top priority in planning and
policy-making during recent years. That program is slated to continue again
this year sponsoring events and services such as the annual AgSafe
Conference, regional safety meetings, the Agricultural Safety Certificate
Program, and human resource management training seminars.
Below are related events, articles and publications:
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