University of California Cooperative Extension made several appearances in California newspapers in recent days.

For last Friday's paper, the Contra Costa Times sought the comments of UCCE urban horticulturist Bethallyn Black about what appears to be a glut of acorns in local oak trees.

Black told the paper the acorn glut is part of a natural cycle. Once every few years when conditions are right, oak trees produce acorns in abundance, a botanical phenomenon known as a "mast."

"And is this ever a mast year," reporter Joan Morris wrote.

UCCE livestock advisor Glen Nader and UC Davis specialist Jim Oltjen were consulted for a story that appeared in the Sacramento Bee's business section today. The story, by Jim Downing, covers livestock producers' desire to improve "feed efficiency."

Downing wrote that Susanville rancher John Barnum is trying to build a herd of cattle that "sounds like something out a dieter's nightmare."
They eat less, but they still get fat.

"We started realizing that there's . . . the issue of how much feed does it take to get all those pounds, and maybe big isn't better," Downing quoted Nader.

Jim Oltjen told Downing a typical steer will eat 20 to 25 pounds of feed -- mostly corn -- and gain 3 to 4 pounds during each day of the typical three- to four-month stay at a feedlot. UC researchers have found that some steers beat the average by nearly 30 percent, though others have found improvements closer to 10 percent, Downing wrote.

The Monterey Herald ran a story today about the fact that the discovery of Light Brown Apple Moth in California has raised the profile for all the state's moths. Reporter Kevin Howe spoke to UCCE Monterey County staff research associate Frankie Lam about oak moths. The number of oak moths is usually linked to the number of nearby oak trees, he told the paper. Heavy hatchings usually occur about every five to 10 years, though the moths and their larvae are almost always present.

Yesterday the Modesto Bee reported on an honor for Stanislaus County UCCE director Ed Perry. Modesto Junior College agriculture students presented him the Honorary Young Farmer Degree. The notice goes on to say that Perry is an expert on environmental horticulture, helps with MJC's program in this area and writes a weekly column for home gardeners in The Modesto Bee.