The Fresno Bee ran a by-lined obituary about legendary UCCE farm advisor Leslie (Les) Stromberg on Saturday. Mr. Stromberg, who was hired as the Fresno County advisor for "soils and truck crops" in 1951, passed away Nov. 12 at the age of 89. According to the article, Mr. Stromberg sounded early warnings about the danger of San Joaquin Valley soil contamination, and helped growers fight plant disease, increase yield and establish Fresno County as the leading agricultural region in the nation.
The reporter who wrote the obituary, Jim Steinberg, sought comments from Mr. Stromberg's successor in the post of soils and water farm advisor, Dan Munk, and from one of Mr. Stromberg's colleagues in the Fresno County office, Bob Sheesley.
"It was a tremendous loss when he retired (in 1986)... He's remembered by growers. A thorough individual and kind man," Munk was quoted.
"He was the most knowledgeable soils and cotton adviser California ever had. He was my mentor, very practical, an original applied researcher," Sheesley was quoted.