Ongoing research

 Water is the very definition of life. It is the source of all life on Earth; it is what we search for on other planets to prove the possibility of life there. Without water, everything dies. Extreme heat and drought are the enemies of all life.But we are running short on water. Droughts are becoming…

Plant and tree grafting is an ancient and worldwide practice. I was fascinated on a recent trip to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam by a demonstration of jackfruit tree grafting by a family nursery supplying trees to nearby Saigon markets. What struck me most about this demonstration, half a planet away from…

by Cheryl Schmidt Who doesn’t love this vibrant plant in December? It comes from Mexico and is pronounced "poin-set-te-uh."  It loves warmer weather, between 65 °F and 70 °F. What do you do with these plants after the holidays? Many throw them away, but you don’t have to. You could keep it as…

Every Wednesday morning, something extraordinary happens. Nearly 300 pounds of sun-warmed tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and freshly picked herbs travel just a few short miles from soil to table—not to a farmers market or grocery store, but directly into the hands of local families who depend on this harvest to…

 As of 11:59 p.m. on GivingTuesday 2025, UC ANR’s generous donors contributed over $142,000 to Cooperative Extension and the statewide programs, institutes, and research centers that make up the UC ANR network. That included more than $33,000 to support California 4-H youth.This was…

The UCCE San Diego team decorated gingerbread houses with UC ANR themes as a team-building exercise.

 Are you hanging out beneath the mistletoe? Or know someone who is? Maybe Mommy kissing Santa Claus?Scales and ants may be hanging out, too.The two insects maintain a classic mutualistic symbiosis in which ants "farm" scale insects for their sweet honeydew.  It's a beneficial arrangement: scales…

Farm Smart personnel, UCCE advisors, CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE educators and UC Master Gardeners are partnering on a CDFA Farm to School project to foster students’ knowledge in food, nutrition and agriculture.

UC ANR colleagues won awards, participated in events and celebrated together.

 More than 200 farmers, technologists, researchers, students and partners gathered at Lindcove Research and Extension Center on Dec. 5 for the fourth and final VINE Connect Field Day of 2025.The event marked a milestone: one year since the program launched, with attendance more than doubling since the…