Ongoing research

Roundup Ready (RR) alfalfa was the fifth glyphosate-tolerant crop to be commercialized in the United States following canola, soybeans, cotton and corn (1996, 1997, 1997, and 1998, respectively). Its release has been more contentious and highly disputed than any of its predecessors.

No matter what insect you're interested in, you can usually find your favorite topic at one of the Northern California Entomology Society meetings. The group meets three times a year: once in Sacramento, once at UC Davis and once at Concord. Dues? $10 a year.

[The Chronicle 07 jan, 2012 by Bob Egelko] -- A federal U.S. judge has upheld the government's decision to let the nation's alfalfa growers plant the genetically engineered, herbicide-resistant strain manufactured by Monsanto Co.

When you try to attract leafcutting bees (Megachile spp.) to your bee condos, you may also attract something else. Wasps. Bee condos (wood blocks drilled with holes for native bee nests) are a favorite of gardeners and bee enthusiasts.

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The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) made its way to California through the Spanish missions in the late seventeenth century. In its native ranges of North Africa and the Middle East, the date provided food, fiber and shelter.

Have you ever observed how a honey bee swarm finds a new home? How a few of the worker bees turn into scouts, scour their surroundings, and then return to the swarm and dance to communicate their findings? Thomas Seeley has. Many times.

It will be like "old-home week" when Anurag Agrawal returns to the University of California, Davis, tomorrow (Jan. 18) to deliver a seminar on "Evolutionary Ecology of Plant Defenses.

This is the story of a remarkable avocado rootstock trial that was set up in 2004, lost to the freeze of January 2007, recovered (mostly) and had its first harvest in spring of 2010.

Just a quick plug for the 64th Annual California Weed Science Society Conference in Santa Barbara next week (January 23-25th). A conference flyer and finalized agenda is attached. This is always an excellent way to get updated on weed science issues in the state.