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Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Article

Preliminary Research - Smoke Risk to Vineyards from Prescribed Grassland Fires (UCCE Mendocino / UC ANR HREC)

March 27th, 2025

By Christopher C Chen

In West Coast climates, fuel load management in forests and areas of heavy foliage is achieved through many means. Of these methods, prescribed burning is an effective and implementable approach used across the state of California to mitigate the risk of wildfires. Fire is a perpetual risk factor in the…

An educator demonstrations food portions for preschoolers using MyPlate

Article

CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE reaches every Head Start student in Calaveras County

March 24th, 2025

By Michael Hsu

In addition to delivering nutrition lessons for the 113 preschoolers at eight Head Start sites across Calaveras County, the CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE team incorporates physical education activities, as well as useful newsletters and virtual meetings for family members.

Rod Stiefvater speaks at a Department of Plant Sciences seminar

Article

Gift extends UC Davis pistachio research on new scions, rootstocks

March 6th, 2025

By Emily C. Dooley

The University of California, Davis, is enhancing and expanding its Pistachio Breeding Program after a generous gift from philanthropist and pistachio farmer Rod Stiefvater, who is donating more than $335,000 over three years to develop new rootstocks that thrive under changing climate conditions.

Houses burned next to the beach

Article

UC ANR fire expert highlights materials, components and actions that saved homes from LA fires

March 4th, 2025

By Yana S Valachovic

Yana Valachovic, a member of UC ANR's Fire Network with a specialty in community resilience and the built environment, visited the sites of the L.A. fires to look for examples where surviving homes withstood the ferocity of the fire and for signs of defensible space and home hardening in action.

Hand turns on a tap with water splashing out of a glass

Article

Survey: Water system consolidations improve water quality, infrastructure

February 28th, 2025

By Michael Hsu

Kristin Dobbin, a UCCE specialist, is studying the consolidation of water systems, which can entail creating physical connections (such as pipelines) between water systems or administrative mergers that leave the physical infrastructure unchanged. Water system consolidation has become a top solution in…

A shepherd and dog move sheep across a field

Article

California producers: Climate change is real; we could use a little help

February 26th, 2025

By Trina Kleist

How can farmers and ranchers continue to grow our food while facing challenges of a changing climate, increasingly scarce water, land use pressures and rising costs? UC and UC ANR scientists are using surveys and interviews with people in the state's agricultural sector to learn what folks need to stay…

Cows gathering in the shade of a clump of trees

Article

Sweet molasses feed key to understanding grazing behavior in cattle

February 19th, 2025

By Emily C. Dooley

Researchers tempted grazing cattle with sweet molasses feed to discover whether cows would roam far and wide to graze or stick close to the herd, water supplies and feed stations.

A large field of green spinach under the irrigation equipment.

Article

Workshop highlights advances in desert irrigation, tech on Feb. 27

February 5th, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

The latest in irrigation research and technology will be showcased at the Advances in Irrigation Tools and Technologies Workshop in Holtville on Feb. 27.

Image of Black Oak acorns with description and harvesting guidelines

Article

The Principles of Indigenous Food Sovereignty

February 5th, 2025

By Kitty Oppliger

Indigenous Food Sovereignty: Opportunities and Importance in Extension work In 2007, the first global Forum on Food Sovereignty defined the concept as the right of peoples to healthy, culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define t...

Rob Bennaton grabs a handful of top soil from a mound.

Article

Urban wildfire impacts water, soil and wildlife

January 30th, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

As residents start to clean up after the Los Angeles County wildfires, the aftermath will continue to impact water and natural resources in and beyond the fire areas, according to water experts at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

A couple dozen black cows surrounded by hazy air hoof it through forested land.

Article

Climate, wildfire, wolves topics of Feb. 18 rangeland discussions in Davis

January 28th, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Ranchers, land managers, conservationists, policymakers and scientists will gather to discuss the evolving challenges and opportunities in managing the state's rangelands at the 2025 Rustici Rangeland Science Symposium on Feb. 18at UC Davis.

Carpophilus beetles in hullsplit almond

Article

Almond Day updates growers on new pest, disease in California

January 27th, 2025

By Michael Hsu

Late in 2023, California almond growers responsible for a crop valued at $3.88 billion in 2023 started to hear about a potentially devastating new pest, the carpophilus beetle (Carpophilus truncatus).

Swain office hour

Article

Swain to discuss rain in fire zone 3pm Friday, Jan. 24

January 24th, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Light rain is expected to dampen Southern California this weekend, easing fire conditions but also raising landslide risks in burn areas. It won't end local fire risk. The drizzle is enough to tamp down but not end fire season, says Daniel Swain, UC ANR climate scientist.

Gary Hayakawa and John Kabashima (Emeritus Advisor)

Article

UCCE Orange County Partners with Local Pest Management Services and Industry to Resolve Mouse Infestation and Highlight Community Impact

January 14th, 2025

By Niamh M Quinn

Social Media Summary: Through teamwork and expertise, UCCE Orange County, local pest control business and industry resolved a mouse infestation, showcasing sustainable pest management, community collaboration, and the importance of giving back.

Water diverted onto a crop field. Photo by Khaled Bali

Article

UCCE offers water measurement training Jan. 30 in Davis

January 14th, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

California water-rights holders are required by state law to measure and report the water they divert from surface streams.

L to R: Gerry Spinelli, Chris Shogren, UCCE Environmental Horticulture Advisor, Lindsey Pedroncelli and Natalie Levy, UCCE Soil Health and Organics Material Management Advisor, pose with a batch of fresh pesto.

Article

South Coast REC studies pesto profitability for small-scale basil growers

January 10th, 2025

By Saoimanu Sope

UC ANR advisors, staff research methods in conserving highly perishable product If you visited the greenhouse at the University of California South Coast Research and Extension Center in early fall, you would have smelled a sweet aroma with notes of lemon, pepper and licorice.

Helen Dahlke studies groundwater recharge in a flooded almond orchard.

Article

Floods, droughts, then fires: Hydroclimate whiplash is speeding up globally

January 9th, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Key takeaways Hydroclimate whiplash rapid swings between intensely wet and dangerously dry weather has already increased globally due to climate change, with further large increases expected as warming continues, according to a team of researchers led by UC ANR's Daniel Swain.

Strips of cover crop grows between rows of a young orchard.

Article

Young orchard water and nutrient management workshops offered in Madera, Stockton, Parlier, Tulare

January 2nd, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

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.

Cows gather amid trees as wildfire smoke lingers in the air above

Article

Wildfire takes toll on mental, physical health of food producers

January 2nd, 2025

By Trina Kleist

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.

Two people gardening in a community green space

Article

Growing Green Spaces and Community Health with the UC Master Gardener Program

December 20th, 2024

By Melissa G Womack, Jocelyn M Mobley

The UC Master Gardener Program improves community health and well-being by expanding green space and food gardening access across California.

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