|
For Immediate Release Contact: Media Advisory - 'Clean Air Demonstration' Nov. 19 UC is helping farmers do their part to clean up Valley air San Joaquin Valley homeowners who will be banned from wood burning on certain winter nights will be relieved to know the University of California Cooperative Extension is helping farmers also reduce their wood burning. In the San Joaquin Valley, 530,000 acres of almond trees are pruned in late fall or early winter. Prunings are typically placed in piles and burned green, generating large amounts of smoke. UC Cooperative Extension pomology farm advisor Brent Holtz contends chipping or shredding of almond prunings is a viable alternative to burning that also adds valuable organic matter to San Joaquin Valley soils. Holtz will gather with local agency officials and farmers in a Madera County almond orchard, 14507 Avenue 7, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon Wednesday, Nov. 19, to present the scientific benefits of wood shredding or chipping, review new air quality regulations and demonstrate equipment used to shred or chip rather than burn almond prunings. The presentations are as follows (times are approximate):
Directions from Fresno: Go north on Highway 99, take the Avenue 7 exit. Drive 19 miles west to the Andrew's farm. Directions from Merced: Go south on Highway 99 to Highway 145 south, toward Kerman. Take Avenue 7 west towards Firebaugh to the Andrew's farm. # # # |
