Steady rain so far this fall has produced a verdant emerald green panorama on California rangeland, reported Capital Press this week.

Livestock producers are elated, said Josh Davy, a UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Tehama County.

"It's been nice to start the year with some big rains because it fills up the reservoirs, puts some drinking water out there and it helps build deeper soil moisture in case it doesn't rain later," Davy said. "We hope it keeps going until March."

The 2012 rainy autumn has helped much of Northern California emerge from drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Parts of the southern San Joaquin Valley are still in severe drought, but conditions have shown some improvement.

UC Davis olive center to look at ways to reduce wastewater
Melanie Turner, Sacramento Business Journal

The UC Davis Olive Center and USDA-Agricultural Research Service have been awarded a grant to develop innovative ways to reduce the amount of wastewater produced by the olive oil industry. Among the technologies to be evaluated is a “vibrating membrane system” patented by New Logic Research of Emeryville. The company will be providing the system for testing at no cost.