September 1: Jon Holmquist discusses viticulture, agronomy, and pest management

Raised up in Modesto farm country, Jon Holmquist took a shine to entomology at San Diego State in the 1970s. Jon hung his own shingle throughout the ‘80s as an independent Pest Management Consultant, counted among an emergent cadre of professionals focused on agroecology and biological solutions vs toxics. For some three decades Holmquist distinguished himself in viticulture, agronomy, and pest management with two of the world’s largest wine companies. Join “Down on the Farm” host Tom Willey and Jon Holmquist in conversation.

> Learn more about The Association of Applied IPM Ecologists

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August 4: Lilian Thaoxaochay, Hmong diaspora and challenges of adapting tropical agrarianism to semiarid landscape

Our Central Valley hosts the largest Hmong population in the United States, approaching 100,000. Fresno native Lilian Thaoxaochay, child of Hmong immigrant farmers, is a Small Farms Community Educator with UC Cooperative Extension. Lilian holds degrees in Asian American Studies, as well as Cultural and Medical anthropology from UC Santa Cruz and Stanford. Join “Down on the Farm” host Tom Willey and Lilian Thaoxaochay discussing the Hmong diaspora and challenges of adapting tropical agrarianism to a semiarid landscape.

> Learn More about Hmong American Farmers

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July 7: Patrick Monreal, Oceanic and Terrestrial Life Systems

Landlubbers likely fail to appreciate that photosynthesizing organisms in Earth’s oceans supply half of the oxygen we breathe. Single-celled phytoplankton, a million of which can inhabit a teaspoon of sea water, draw as much carbon from our atmosphere as do all plants on land. What do oceanic and terrestrial life systems share and how are they interdependent? Join “Down on the Farm” host Tom Willey and aspiring Oceanographer-Astrobiologist Patrick Monreal in conversation.

> Learn More about the Ocean’s Biological Productivity

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June 2: Jennifer Deibert, DPRK Program Director for American Friends Service Committee

Most of us know more about the moon than North Korea. Reedley farmer Jennifer Deibert is an exception. As DPRK Program Director for American Friends Service Committee, Deibert’s delegations work with four North Korean cooperative farms and the Academy of Agricultural Sciences to raise productivity and implement sustainable agricultural practices, sowing peace through engagement. “Down on the Farm” host Tom Willey and Jennifer Deibert explore farm life in North Korea.

> Learn More about Jennifer Deibert’s work!

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May 5: Soil Microbiome Research with Dr. Jennifer Pett-Ridge

Dr. Jennifer Pett-Ridge leads a team of 35 soil microbiologists, ecophysiologists, and biogeochemists at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Her team is tasked with gaining deep insight into how carbon cycles through life systems in Earth’s marine and terrestrial environments. Such knowledge is vital to crafting an effective national response to climate change. Join Pett-Ridge and “Down on the Farm” host Tom Willey in plain English conversation.

> Department of Energy Soil Microbiome Research

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