Growers invited to discuss young almonds, pistachios, walnuts, olives, citrus and peach orchards starting Feb. 18

To help growers manage irrigation and nutrients for young and immature orchards, UC Cooperative Extension is offering workshops in Madera, Stockton, Parlier and Tulare. 

The workshops will feature presentations by various experts and researchers focusing on best irrigation and nutrient management practices tailored specifically for young orchards in the San Joaquin Valley. They will cover almonds, pistachios, walnuts, olives, citrus, and peaches.

“Attendees will gain insights into the irrigation and...

Farm Bill could support awareness of help available

The people who produce our food need support – especially in the areas of mental and physical well-being – to recover from increasingly widespread wildfire, scientists have found. The federal Farm Bill could help, but it is languishing in Congress (an extension of the previous Farm Bill was passed in late December 2024).

Postdoctoral researcher Natalia Pinzon Jimenez used surveys to hone in on the experiences of ranchers and farmers impacted by wildfire. Pinzon recently earned her Ph.D. at UC Davis and produced her...

Waterfowl Alert Network data help assess risk of avian influenza H5N1

Every winter, millions of migratory birds fly south to warmer locales, passing over California Central Valley dairies and poultry farms. Many of these wild waterfowl are carrying the virus that causes avian influenza, based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's wild-bird surveillance, says Maurice Pitesky, University of California Cooperative Extension poultry specialist in the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis.

Bird flu has killed millions of birds and disrupted milk and poultry production....

UC Organic Agriculture Institute visits area to hear innovations, needs of local producers

Modoc County, home to 8,500 people and tucked in the remote northeastern corner of California, has been a leader in advancing organic agriculture through its significant ranching and agronomic crop production, namely of potatoes and hay.

In fact, Modoc County is California's number one county for organic beef cattle production (119,782 acres in 2022), and consistently in the top five counties for total harvested certified organic acres in the state, according...