- Author: Taylor Nelsen
- Author: Gabriel Rosa
- Author: Justin Merz
- Author: Mark E Lundy
The growth stage of a crop is a critical piece of information for growers and agronomists. For small grain crops like wheat and triticale, many field management decisions are sensitive to the stage of crop development. These include irrigation, fertilizer additions, herbicide and pesticide applications, and harvest timing. In addition, the planting date, the amount and timing of rainfall and/or irrigation, and cumulative seasonal temperatures all impact how rapidly a crop emerges, develops and matures. Because of the extreme variability in winter weather in the state, rates of development for small grain crops in California are not always consistent from year-to-year and farm-to-farm. This can make precision management and planning more difficult.
As a result, we have created a new interactive website, The Crop Growth Stage and Forecasting Web-Tool, to improve the understanding of crop growth stages for fall-planted small grain crops in California. Users of this tool can input site- and time-specific information (e.g. location, planting date, crop type, irrigation) and receive a growth stage estimate for their wheat and triticale crops.
The growth stage estimate is based on a model developed from multi-season observations of wheat and triticale development in University of California field trials. The web-tool utilizes site- and time-specific weather to produce a predicted growth stage, alongside interactive graphs related to seasonal water and nitrogen (N) uptake patterns. The graphs include historical data (10-yr average), making it easy to compare the current season to average conditions. Forecasts are also available for the main crop-growing regions of California enabling users to anticipate changes in crop growth and development in the near-term. Users can also download their location-specific data for further exploration.
The Crop Growth Stage and Forecasting Web-Tool is one of a growing number of interactive, decision support web-tools available on the UC Small Grains Research and Information Center Website. These tools feature interactive user experience and communicate spatiotemporally specific information on a growing number of topics related to the management of small grains in California. Check them out at https://smallgrains.ucanr.edu/Decision_Support_Tools/. Also, sign up for updates related to UC small grain crop research and extension at the UC Small Grains Blog.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
All early-career academics are invited to register for the upcoming UC ANR Programmatic Orientations.
Early career UC Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists, academic coordinators, academic administrators and AES faculty who have been hired within last three years or who have not attended in the past are strongly encouraged to register for both Zoom sessions.
ANR Leadership will discuss the mission of UC ANR and our varied roles in California and the University, as well as show examples of successful research and outreach programs.
You can engage in discussions with colleagues about the resources and opportunities available through UC ANR. The two sessions are not the same so participants are highly encouraged to attend both orientations.
Virtual meeting via Zoom
Part 1: Feb. 21, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Part 2: March 2, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
To see the agenda and to register, visit https://ucanr.edu/sites/orientations/Programmatic_Orientation_819.
If you have questions about the orientations, contact UC ANR Program Support at ANRProgramSupport@ucanr.edu or (530) 750-1361.
- Author: Lauren Snowden
Submissions for the UC Master Gardener Search for Excellence (SFE) competition are now being accepted thru May 1, 2023. The SFE competition happens triennially and coincides with the statewide UC Master Gardner conference taking place October 2 - October 6, 2023 at Granlibakken Tahoe. UC Master Gardener volunteers, program coordinators and advisors from around the state are invited to submit their innovative educational and outreach projects for consideration.
The Search for Excellence guidelines and submission guide are available on the 2023 UC Master Gardener Conference website: ucanr.edu/sites/23MGConference/SFE/. For questions about submitting a project, contact your local program coordinator or advisor to discuss and get approval.
Search for Excellence Recognition and Prizes
The top three winning submission are individually recognized and celebrated at the conference during the awards banquet dinner. Winners are given the opportunity to present their project to fellow UC Master Gardener volunteers from across the state during the Search for Excellence Session at the 2023 Conference. Cash prizes will be awarded to the three highest scoring entries among seven counties. 
1st place = $1500 GRAND PRIZE
2nd place = $1000
3rd place = $500
Important Dates
- Submission Guideline and Guide posted online January 2023
- Submissions accepted February 1 – May 1, 2023
- Winners contacted end of June 2023
- Winners announced publicly July 2020
- Conference: October 2 – October 6, 2023, 2020
Explore past winners
- 2020 UC Master Gardener Search for Excellence Winners
- 2017 UC Master Gardener Search for Excellence Winners
- 2014 UC Master Gardener Search for Excellence Winners
Questions? Contact:
Search for Excellence Chair
Email: mgsfe@ucanr.edu
Include county name in subject line for all email communications
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