Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro and Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology faculty, staff and students will be involved in multiple activities Thursday, Feb. 11, at the World Ag Expo in Tulare.

The Jordan College and its Ag Ambassadors will host the University’s information booth for prospective students, visitors and alumni from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday in the Hilvers Building.

Ag Ambassadors advisers Desi Molyneux, a University Outreach Services counselor, and Dr. Steven Rocca, associate professor of agricultural education, will staff the booth to share tips on admission and opportunities within the college.

On Thursday at 10 a.m., the Jordan College will host “Ice Cream with the Dean,” featuring Sandra Witte, interim dean of the Jordan College, Castro and other University leaders.

Castro and his wife, Mary, will make appearances on the final day of the expo that begins from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. with the 22nd annual California Agriculture Leadership alumni breakfast.

Castro will tour various exhibits Thursday morning before his live interview on the Ray Appleton Show from 11 to 11:30 a.m. at the KMJ News Talk Radio booth.

Among the 51 seminars offered at the event, Fresno State’s Center for Irrigation Technology will host 10 seminars from 10 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. on Thursday. Each presentation will last 20 minutes and will feature information on innovative methods and products to increase area irrigation efficiency.  View the entire seminar schedule, and an irrigation seminar schedule is included below.

Bill Green, education specialist for Fresno State’s Center for Irrigation Technology, will also host its mobile education unit exhibit in the PG&E Pavilion.

Dr. Bill Erysian, Jordan College manager of grants and international projects, took part in a global food security roundtable on Wednesday that included U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden, California cattle producer Jesse Larios of Foster Feed Yard and California Specialty Crop Council Executive Director Gary Van Sickle.

The world’s largest agricultural exposition expects to welcome 100,000 visitors from 50 counties to see the latest in farm equipment, chemicals, communications and technology from 1,500 exhibitors on 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. More event information is available at www.WorldAgExpo.com .

Irrigation Seminars at the World Ag Expo (Hosted by Fresno State Center for Irrigation Technology)

  • 10-10:20 a.m. – Agricultural Activities of the Irrigation Association: John Farner, Irrigation Association
  • 10:30-10:50 a.m. – AirJection Irrigation Increasing Yields and Water Use Efficiency: John Petrosso, Mazzei Injector Company
  • 11-11:20 a.m. – Innovations in Sprinkler Packages for Mechanical Move Irrigation Systems: Dan Schueler, Senninger Irrigation
  • 11:30-11:50 a.m. – Increasing Demand Response Participation Rates in Agricultural Customers: Reducing Crop Irrigation Related Risks During DR events: George McFadden, Observant
  • Noon-12:20 p.m. – Flow Control Emitters – Optimizing Both Flexibility and Uniformity: Inge Bisconer, Toro Micro-Irrigation
  • 12:30-12:50 p.m. – Reversing Yield Loss Through Restoration of Irrigation Efficiency: Kiah Tiftick, Meras Engineering
  • 1-1:20 p.m. – Understanding Soil Moisture Sensor Data: Diganta Adhikari, Irrometer
  • 1:30-1:50 p.m. – Utilizing Soil Moisture Monitoring to Schedule Irrigation: Christopher Sullivan, Jain Irrigation
  • 2-2:20 p.m. – Use of a Cloud-Based Data Management Utility with a Portable Soil Moisture Probe: Doug Kieffer, Spectrum Technologies
  • 2:30-2:50 p.m. – Keys to Constructing Efficient Ground Water Production Wells: Kevin McGillicuddy, Roscoe Moss Company