Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology is about to receive a major one-time funding deposit from the state of California for the 2022 to 2023 budget. In the size of $18.75 million in order to receive infrastructure in order to build programs that can likely prepare future generations for regenerative agriculture practices. This in itself can create long-term stability for agricultural systems and food in the face of changing climate patterns.
Dennis Nef, the dean of Jordan College at Fresno State University, had this to say: “The food and agriculture sectors are crucial to the future stability of our region, state and nation. Educating students and building resilience in these sectors is critical to the success of farmers and others in these sectors. This investment by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state legislature in climate-smart agriculture will benefit future generations by providing students entering the workforce with skills that will enable them to tackle the environmental challenges that face us and ensure the health of land, water and air resources into the future.”
With the budget being as it is, as decreed by Governor Gavin Newsom since June 30th of this year, the 2022-2023 budget for California’s state spending included about $75 million specifically reserved for every farm owned by California State University, in order to make infrastructure and equipment improvements for the university’s agricultural production units. Every campus is likely to receive about $18.75 million. And that’s how Jordan College got so lucky! The funding had been possible because of the efforts via Fresno State, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and California State University, Chico.
That’s a big deal considering what the students are entering in the workforce.
Beyond 1,900 students are engages in academic programs with ties to agriculture, while working directly on the 1,000-acre University Agricultural Laboratory on campus to manage the onsite operations of about 18 different enterprises while also gaining first-hand experience that can prepare them for successful careers. In the case of Jordan College, about 18 different enterprises and first-hand experiences can prepare everyone there for successful careers.
In 2020, the farms and ranches were able to generate sales of beyond $49.1 billion, with a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts being original to California soil. As it turns out, where Jordan College is located in the hearth of the San Joaquin Valley and it’s four counties, it accounts for 39% of California’s farm output.
Dean Neff went on to say “We maintain a laser focus on student success by using high-impact practices including jobs on the University Agricultural Laboratory, internships and case studies in the classrooms. This funding will help us make improvements that will leverage the support we receive from our industry partners who know that investing in the future workforce helps guarantee a bright future for our students.”
Funding will be specifically sent to automate irrigation technology and reduce the environmental footprint of varied animal units, among other things.
