WRRC Conference 2017 Agenda

Tuesday, March 28, 2017
UA Student Union
Tucson, Arizona

Agenda

7:30 – 8:00 am

REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

8:00 – 8:15 am

 WELCOME ADDRESSES

 

  • Sharon B. Megdal, Director, UA Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona (UA)
  • Shane Burgess, Vice President, Agriculture, Life and Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension, and Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, UA

8:15 – 9:20 am

LEADERSHIP TO GET TO SUSTAINABILITY IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

 

Movie: Groundwater: to enact a law for the common good

 

Panel Discussion, led by Kathy Ferris, Senior Fellow, Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Arizona State University (ASU)

 

  • Mark Killian, Director, Arizona Department of Agriculture
  • Ron Rayner, 3rd Generation Farmer and Partner, A-Tumbling-T Ranches, and Board of Directors, Family Farm Alliance
  • John Sullivan, Deputy General Manager, Salt River Project (Retired)

9:20 – 9:35 am

 BREAK
9:35 – 9:55 am

 AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION VS. EFFICIENCY

 

 Keynote, Noel Gollehon, Senior Economist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA

9:55 – 10:55 am

 WHOLE FARM MANAGEMENT FOR EFFICIENT WATER USE

 

Panel Discussion, Wade Noble, Coordinator, Yuma County Agriculture Water Coalition - Moderator

 

10:55 – 12:00 pm

 IS FALLOWING THE ANSWER TO WATER SUSTAINABILITY?

 

Panel Discussion, Amelia Flores, Tribal Secretary of the Colorado Indian Tribes - Moderator

 

12:00 – 1:10 pm

 LUNCHEON AND CELEBRATION OF TUCSON’S DESIGNATION AS A UNESCO CITY OF GASTRONOMY

 

Introduction: Karen Dotson, Manager, Organic Farming Program, BKW Farms

 

1:10 – 1:55 pm 

POSTER PRESENTATIONS, DESSERT

1:55 – 2:15 pm

 ROLE OF THE NRCS IN IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN ARIZONA 

 

 Keynote, Keisha Tatem, Arizona State Conservationist, NRCS, USDA

2:15 – 3:15 pm

PLANNING FOR CENTRAL ARIZONA’S LOOMING AGRICULTURAL WATER SHORTAGE

   Moderator Katosha Nakai, Manager, Stakeholder Relations & Strategic Development Central Arizona Project

 

3:15 – 3:30 pm

  BREAK

3:30 – 4:50 pm

AGRICULTURAL WATER CHALLENGES OUTSIDE OF CENTRAL ARIZONA

 

 Keynote, Clint Chandler, Assistant Director, Water Planning and Permitting Division, Arizona Department of Water Resources
 Keynote Presentation Video

 

Panel Discussion, Joe Sigg, Chief Administrative Officer, Arizona Farm Bureau - Moderator

 

  • John Hart, Vice President, Cochise County Farm Bureau, and Farmer
  • Doug Dunham, Legislative Liaison, Arizona Department of Water Resources
  • Richard Searle, Cochise County Pistachio Grower, and Rancher
  • Mark Clark, Manager, Mohave Valley Irrigation District, and Bullhead City Councilman

4:50 – 5:20 pm

CLOSING REMARKS: WHERE WE ARE HEADED: WHAT CAN ARIZONA AGRICULTURE DELIVER IN THE FUTURE?

 

Panel Discussion, Sharon B. Megdal, Director, WRRC - Moderator

 

  • Kevin Rogers, Arizona Farm Bureau, and Farmer
  • Jeff Silvertooth, Associate Dean, and Director of Extension & Economic Development, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, UA
  • Tom Davis, President, Agribusiness and Water Council of Arizona, and Manager, Yuma County Water Users’ Association

5:20 – 5:30 pm        

POSTER PRIZES

  • Claire L. Zucker, Program Director, Water, Environmental, and Energy Solutions (WEES) Initiative
  • John Kmiec, President, Southern Arizona Water Users Association, and Utilities Director, Town of Marana

CLOSING COMMENTS

  • Jean E. McLain, Associate Director, Water Resources Research Center, UA