The federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children—commonly known as WIC—safeguards the health of pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children from low-income households who are at nutritional risk. The WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study, also known as the "Feeding My Baby Study," is the only national study to capture data on caregivers and their children over the first nine years of the child's life after enrollment in WIC, regardless of their continued participation in the program. The WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2: Sixth Year Report is the seventh in a series generated from this study. It focuses on children's dietary intake patterns, eating behaviors, and weight status during the child's 6th year, after WIC eligibility has ended. The report also explores whether patterns of WIC participation in early childhood are associated with dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes after WIC eligibility ends. Key findings from the report include:
- Consistent 5-year participation in WIC is associated with better overall diet quality at age 6 compared to participation during only the first year of life.
- Longer participation in WIC is associated with lower saturated fat intake at age 6.
- At age 6, study children consumed recommended amounts of macronutrients but had inadequate intake of certain micronutrients, including vitamin E, calcium, and vitamin D.
- Usual intake of fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein foods, and grains among study participants was consistent with that of a national sample but lower than recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The report was published by the US Department of Agriculture and includes Nutrition Policy Institute's Lorrene Ritchie as a co-author. Read a summary of the report online.
- Author: Dilcie Paschall
Oleander, also known as Nerium oleander, is a fascinating plant that often sparks curiosity and debate. Is it a toxic weed or a beautiful shrub?
Oleander is celebrated for its stunning flowers, which come in a variety of colors such as pink, white, red, and yellow. Its evergreen leaves and ability to thrive in hot, dry climates make it a favorite among gardeners, especially in regions with limited water. This hardy plant can grow quickly and form dense hedges, providing both beauty and privacy in your yard. My oleander is quite large and has beautiful white flowers that are abundant right now.
However, it's important to know that oleander is highly toxic. All parts of the plant contain substances that can be harmful if ingested. Symptoms of oleander poisoning include nausea, vomiting, and even serious heart issues. Because of this, some people might think of oleander as a "toxic weed," especially in places where it grows uncontrollably and poses a risk to pets.
Whether oleander is considered a weed or a shrub often depends on where it is growing. In some areas, oleander spreads easily and can take over natural spaces, making it seem more like a troublesome weed. But in a well-maintained garden, where its growth is monitored, oleander can be a delightful addition that brings vibrant color and greenery without much hassle. However, if you have pets or small children, oleander is surely a weed in your book and removal might be the best way to go. Good luck with removal efforts. Mine is reluctant to leave in spite of my efforts when my children were small and curious. They've since grown up and now I just keep an eye on the dogs. They seem to know better than to bother it.
Oleander can be seen as both a toxic weed and a cherished shrub. Its toxic nature means we need to handle it with care, but its resilience and beauty make it a popular choice for many gardeners. With proper knowledge and responsible gardening, you can enjoy the stunning oleander safely. This remarkable plant truly offers the best of both worlds—just remember to treat it with the respect it deserves!
![photo by Thanasis Papazacharias on Pixabay photo by Thanasis Papazacharias on Pixabay](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/107362.jpg)
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
We are happy to announce that we are approaching the go-live date for our new ServiceNow platform for Information Technology and Human Resources! This upgrade to ServiceNow replaces Zendesk that has been used by IT and HR. UC ANR's implementation of ServiceNow is the start and will provide a strong and recognized platform that can help us streamline how we manage requests and services.
ServiceNow will go live the evening of Friday, June 21, 2024.
Here's what you can look forward to with ServiceNow:
- Single Platform Convenience: Track and manage IT and HR tickets in one location, ServiceNow's Employee Center
- Secure Access: Log in securely using UC ANR's Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Improved Visibility: Stay updated on request status from submission to resolution
- Knowledge Base: Over time, UC ANR IT and HR will expand knowledge bases to provide information on common questions
As we move forward, it's important to recognize that, like any major transition, we may experience some initial bumps. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we fine-tune the system to better serve you.
How to Request IT and HR Support:
- Upon go-live, the UC ANR Portal will be updated to link to ServiceNow at https://ucanr.service-now.com/esc, where employees must login using UCANR Single Sign-On (SSO) to access our new Employee Center where you can create tickets for HR and IT
- Remember the HR (humanresources@ucanr.edu) and IT (help@ucanr.edu) emails will remain available to create tickets in ServiceNow
Preparing for Go-Live:
- Be Aware - Open tickets will be forwarded to ServiceNow, so if you have an open ticket, you will receive notifications as part of the move to ServiceNow
- Validate Access - For UC ANR employees, verify your access to UCANR Single Sign-On (SSO) with DUO as it is required to access UC ANR's ServiceNow
- Review Training Materials – Learn about our new UC ANR Employee Center, how to submit tickets and how to view tickets – https://ucanr.edu/sites/servicenow
- Office Hours will be available June 24, 25, 26 1-1:30 p.m. for support:
- Join Zoom Meeting: https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/91385989113?pwd=M2VwZHN1VzVDbVhQTEdjM3FOOTNwUT09
- Meeting ID: 913 8598 9113
- Passcode: 570931
Thank you for your continued support as we move forward with our implementation of ServiceNow!
Tu Tran, Associate Vice President for Business Operations
Bethanie Brown, Interim Executive Director of Human Resources
- Author: Taiyu Guan
Date: July 18, 2024
Location: Granzella's Banquet Hall,
457 7th St., Williams, CA
Registration Required! (Please Click Here for Registration)
Free (Lunch & refreshments provided)
Meeting Agenda:
8:30 Coffee and light breakfast items
9:00 Welcome and Introduction
(Bruce Linquist, UC Rice Specialist)
9:05 CA industry perspective of rice quality
(Rick Rhody, President & CEO of Farmer's Rice Cooperative)
9:20 Rice quality parameters in rice breeding
(Dustin Harrell, Director of the Rice Experiment Station)
9:35 Calrose rice varieties and rice quality
(Dustin Harrell, Director of the Rice Experiment Station)
9:50 Effects of climatic stress, variety type, main vs ratoon production, and yield on grain quality
(Ted Wilson, Professor, Director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center)
10:10 Agronomic impacts on rice milling quality
(Bruce Linquist, UC Rice Specialist)
10:30 Break
10:45 Effect of field pests on the quality of rice
(Luis Espino, UCCE Farm Advisor Butte and Glenn Counties)
11:05 Rice handling in a warehouse and settlements
(Carl Hoff, President/CEO of Butte County Rice Growers Association (BUCRA))
11:15 Sampling methodologies
(Timothy Blank, Director of Seed Certification Operations, Executive Director of Foundation Seed Program, and Advisor of the Certified Seed Program)
11:25 The USDA grade: CalAgri inspections, how are they done and what do they mean?
(Vic Anand, President/CEO of the California Agri Inspection Co., Ltd)
11:40 How to dry rice for good quality
(Eddie Gaspard, VP, Drier and Seed Division Manager (BUCRA))
11:55 What pesticide MRLs Mean to You
(Roberta Firoved, Pesticide Regulatory Consultant)
12:15 Factors affecting the spoilage in stored rice and shrink
(Zhongli Pan, Adjunct Professor Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering,
UC Davis)
12:35 Lunch
*DPR Credits: Pending*
***Applied for CCA Credits***
2024 July Rice Quality Workshop Agenda
A new set of data briefs developed by the Nutrition Policy Institute showcases the impactful programming carried out by local health departments through California's SNAP-Ed program in Federal Fiscal Year 2023.
- FFY 2023 CalFresh Healthy Living Program at a Glance: Learn more about the community context and overall reach of local health department CalFresh Healthy Living in FFY 2023.
- Policy, Systems, & Environmental Change Efforts: Learn about the audiences local health departments reached with policy, systems and environmental change—commonly known as PSE— efforts, as well as common settings and PSE approaches.
- Educational Activities: Learn about the audiences local health departments reached with CalFresh Healthy Living education, as well as common settings and educational approaches.
- Partnerships & Multi-Sector Coalitions: Learn about the ways local health departments engaged with community partners and multi-sector coalitions to support and sustain impactful interventions.
- Program Effectiveness: Learn about the PSE practices in place at CalFresh Healthy Living sites as measured by site-level assessment questionnaires, behavioral outcomes of school-based interventions as evaluated via Impact Outcome Evaluation and outcomes from adult direct education.
The data briefs were created by NPI's CalFresh Healthy Living Evaluation Unit.