Ongoing research

While domestication of plants has yielded bigger crops, the process has often had a negative effect on plant microbiomes, making domesticated plants more dependent on fertilizer and other soil amendments than their wild relatives.

Several years ago, the UC Weed Science group produced a series of training videos. In the next few days, I'm going to share links to the videos. The first topic is principles of weed control. The videos are broken up into smaller parts, so they are easier to view.

This past weekend was much like the weekend before, with more rain. The rain kept me inside most of the weekend. If I had ever wanted to be a recluse, now would be a good time to try it out. While indoors, I improved my face mask process considerably and managed to complete 45 over the 2-day period.

I'll be back! And, they are, with a vengeance! Just like the Terminator, those pesky blue alfalfa aphids are once again wreaking havoc in alfalfa fields, including those just breaking dormancy in colder climates.

Editor's note: Master Gardeners are keeping busy in their own gardens during Napa County's Shelter in Place directive.

(The current edition of the UC Davis Facilities Management Newsletter features Andrew Ross, staff research associate and safety officer.

by Penny Pawl , U.C. Master Gardener of Napa County As I sit down to write this article, my wisteria is in full stunning bloom. No leaves are present yet, but as the blooms fade, the leaves will appear. This plant and cuttings from it have been in my family for many years.

Have you ever seen a plume moth? Or has a plume moth ever seen you? We spotted a pterophorid plume moth (family Pterophoridae) yesterday on our back door in Vacaville, Calif.

With Californians sheltering in place to stop the spread of new coronavirus COVID-19, the annual citizen science project to map sudden oak death disease has been redesigned to ensure the safety of participants. The first in a series of SOD blitzes of 2020 will be April 11 in Napa.

Hello all, Please find the attached document to provide the previous weeks estimated water use report in terms of evapotranspiration for almonds, peaches, walnuts, established vineyard, alfalfa, and pasture in Stanislaus County.