Food Blog

The Food Blog covers our latest research and extension work to advance and optimize the production and vitality of California's abundant agricultural commodities.

The new Net Zero Initiative project will examine the effects of value-added dairy manure products. Composted dairy manure used as fertilizer shown in an almond orchard. Photo by Sat Darshan Khalsa

Food Blog: Article

Dairy’s Net Zero Initiative gets boost with $10 million research grant

July 1, 2021

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research has awarded a $10 million grant to support U.S. dairy's Net Zero Initiative as a critical on-farm pathway to advance the industrywide 2050 Environmental Stewardship Goals set through the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

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Food Blog: Article

Using vegetation barriers to reduce transmission of foodborne pathogens from livestock operations to fresh produce fields

June 30, 2021

By Emmanuel Okello

Approximately 48 million people are sickened by foodborne illnesses leading to 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths every year, according to the CDC estimates. A foodborne disease outbreak occurs when two or more people get the same illness from the same contaminated food or drink.

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Grape growers can save between 60% to 80% of labor operation costs per acre by using mechanical pruning instead of hand pruning alone. Photo by Hector Amezcua, UC Davis

Food Blog: Article

Machines can help wine grape industry survive labor shortage

June 7, 2021

Wine grape growers in California and elsewhere face increasing labor costs and severe labor shortages, making it difficult to manage and harvest a vineyard while maintaining profitability.

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A group of kids water their school garden.

Food Blog: Article

CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE educators and promotoras teach children gardening to encourage healthy eating

May 13, 2021

When local promotoras - volunteer health workers - team with CalFresh Healthy Living, UC Cooperative Extension educators, magic happens in school gardens.

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A new UC cost study shows potential profits in growing alfalfa organically for the organic dairy market. Photo by Rachael Long

Food Blog: Article

Organic alfalfa hay cost study released

April 26, 2021

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

A new study that outlines costs and returns of establishing and producing organic alfalfa hay has been released by UC Cooperative Extension, the UC Agricultural Issues Center and the UC Davis Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

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