News

March 27, 2024

The Arizona-based Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture, better known as YCEDA, has decided to tackle soil health research. One of the reasons we know so little about something that has been around for epochs stems from how soil health clashes with common research methods.

March 18, 2024 Members of the Office of Research, Innovation & Impact (RII) leadership team enjoyed an educational tour of University of Arizona key assets and partnerships in Yuma on January 18 and 19. Yuma has a critical role in feeding the nation, making UArizona integral in many ways.

November 27, 2023 To help address these issues, researchers in Arizona evaluated water efficiency and salt balances for 14 common crop varieties in the Winter Lettuce capital, coordinated by the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture.

November 1, 2023

“We’re looking ahead, working on an irrigation and salinity project, a desert agriculture soil initiative involving soil health and grower needs, and some monitoring technologies,” says YCEDA Interim Executive Director Stephaie Slinski. “We need to identify things we can bring to the desert.”

September 22, 2023 YCEDA is launching the Yuma Soil Health Initiative to help them unpack which research to prioritize, then conducting the studies. Some will be multi-year, multi-institution projects, says its Interim Executive Director, Stephanie Slinski.

September 18, 2023 AgTech promises to help farmers grow more crops with fewer resources, such as water, fertilizer, and pesticides.

August 30, 2023

The Yuma Center for Excellence for Desert Agriculture (YCEDA) is the result. It’s a unique public-private partnership. Five area growers, including JV Smith Companies, identify issues needing attention.

July 5, 2023 Large-scale, industrial agriculture dominates the landscape, as well as the economy, of Yuma County, Ariz. Farmers and scientists are working together to increase yield and conserve water. Credit: Ted Wood/The Water Desk

May 26, 2023 Paul Brierley of Yuma, Ariz. was appointed director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture by Gov. Katie Hobbs. As chief of the state’s agricultural regulatory agency, Brierley will also serve in the governor’s cabinet as her chief advisor on agricultural issues.