Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Large cicada basking in the sun, Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Tony Wills, Wikipedia)

Article

UC Davis Postdoc to Share Research on 'Singing Cicadas'

May 14th, 2025

Ever heard a singing cicada? Want to know more about them?UC Davis postdoctoral scholar Mark Stukel will present a seminar on his research involving "the singing cicadas" at the next UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology seminar.Stukel will speak on "From New Zealand Hybridization to…

Beetle on a green leaf

Article

Volunteers needed for “blitz” to stop oak-killing beetle

May 14th, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

To save oak trees, University of California Cooperative Extension is organizing a GSOB Blitz, a community-powered effort to detect and map goldspotted oak borer infestations. Between June 1 and June 15, local survey events will take place across San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and…

Article

Spring Hanging Baskets and Other Garden Blooms

May 14th, 2025

Blog by Cindy YeeSome years ago, upon visiting the garden of new line-dancing friends, I was struck by the beautiful hanging baskets dotting their fence. The flower baskets with different-colored geraniums really added oomph to the lovely yard. I have since hung baskets on our own fence and am very happy…

Desert willow provides some shade to the succulents beneath it in the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden in May. Laura Kling

Article

Succulents

May 13th, 2025

Butte County has a Mediterranean climate where drought conditions occur naturally from May to October. A wide variety of succulent plants have become popular across the country in recent years, and our local gardeners are no exception. Not only are succulents drought tolerant, they grow almost anywhere. …

Demonstrating grafting. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

CAMBP Hosting These Fantastic Bee Classes

May 13th, 2025

If you're a beekeeper, mark your calendar! You may want to attend one or both of these two classes offered by the UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP) on queen-rearing techniques and instrumental insemination. Both will be held in the E. L. Niño Lab…

Article

Spring Flowers

May 13th, 2025

Blog article by Karen MetzDriving around town, lately I’ve seen so many flowers. First the trees were blooming, now the roses are everywhere, also irises, geraniums, rock roses, lavenders and callas. It seems like our winter rains this year have given us such an amazing profusion of blossoms. …

Nutrition Policy Institute team celebrates with a resolution recognizing their achievements

Article

Lorrene Ritchie, retiring in July, shaped evolution of nutrition programs

May 13th, 2025

By Michael Hsu

Ritchie, who will retire as Nutrition Policy Institute director on July 1, has made extraordinary contributions in the study of a wide range of nutrition programs.

Lady beetles, aka ladybugs, "keeping busy." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

'Insect Wedding Photography' at Bohart Museum Open House

May 12th, 2025

When the Bohart Museum of Entomology hosts its open house on Sunday, May 18, expect to see some "insect wedding photography."In other words, when insects "get busy."The theme: "Insects: Life Stages."The event, free and family friendly, takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge…

Article

In the Garden-A Time to "Do" and a Time to Just "Be"

May 12th, 2025

Blog article by Paula PashbyI enjoy kicking back and looking over the accomplishments from a hard day in the garden. However, I will usually end up noticing other things that also need tending; a little pruning here and there or some weeds that I did not see before settling down in my comfy chair. During…

Branch of orange tree with fruit on it

Article

Citrus in June

May 12th, 2025

By Help Desk Team

If you’re like me, in early summer you are looking with satisfaction and excitement at the new leaves and beautifully fragrant flowers on your lemon tree. And then, just as you start to have visions of the juicy lemons to come, problems start to appear. Two common problems, leaf miners and fruit drop, may…

Article

2025 No-Till Rice Field Day - Save the Date!

May 12th, 2025

No-Till Rice Field Day An in-depth discussion that explores no-till drill-seeded rice planting and management strategies June 10, 2025 9:00 am – 11:00 am694 Watson Road, Biggs, CA 95917Please click here for the agenda: Agenda Program8:30 am Registration 9:00…

Article

International Student and Scholar Townhall on May 14

May 12th, 2025

By Becky Sisman

We recognize that recent immigration actions are distressing for many and we want to make sure our international colleagues at UC ANR are aware of the immigration and travel resources that they may need. Although the situation remains fluid, employees sponsored by UC ANR receive ongoing immigration…

Queen bee of the hive. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

A Queen on Mother's Day

May 9th, 2025

If you were a honey bee queen, you'd be laying eggs all day on Mother's Day (not to mention the other days!).You'd be the mother of all the bees in the hive.During the peak season, the queen can lay up to 1500 to 2000 eggs a day. That can amount to about 50,000 to 80,000 workers (sterile females) and…

Anise swallowtail caterpillar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

UC Davis Groundbreaking Research Began with Caterpillars

May 8th, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Groundbreaking research that began with how caterpillars stay young drew acclamation and applause when the UC Davis School of Medicine (SOM) hosted its 2025 Convergence Research Celebration, held in the UC Davis Conference Center.The joint TEDx presentation, “Staying Young, Feeling Younger, and Slowing…

Five guys stand around a spray drone on an equipment stand. Headshots of a woman and two men are on the left side.

Article

University of Georgia wins top honors at 2025 Farm Robotics Challenge

May 8th, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

A fully automated spraying drone platform took the grand prize – a $20,000 Innovation Award sponsored by Farm-ng and Western Growers – in the third annual Farm Robotics Challenge.

Joy of Blooming Perennials

Article

PODCAST: Joy of Blooming Perennials

May 7th, 2025

This week on In the Garden with UCCE Master Gardeners, you are in for a real listening treat! A replay of a wonderful broadcast from 2016. UC Master Gardener and show host Teena Spindler devotes the entire hour to the “Joy of Blooming Perennials.” Her guest is Horticultural Consultant and “The Plantsman…

A bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenski, foraging on Echium at Bodega Bay. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

The Bumble Bees of Bodega Bay

May 7th, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Where are all the bumble bees?This spring they seem quite scarce in Solano and Yolo County gardens, but a trip to Bodega Bay, Sonoma County, reveals different results.They're all over the Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans), a species in the family Boraginaceae, and genus Echium, native to the island…

Thriving tomato plants. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

'Knot' What You Want in Your Tomato Plants

May 6th, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

If you grow tomatoes, you may have encountered root-knot nematodes."Knot" what you want.USDA-ARS research plant pathologist William Rutter will speak on "Investigating the Mechanisms that Underlie Host Plant Resistance Against Root-Knot Nematodes" at a seminar hosted by the UC Davis Department of…

QR code for survey

Article

survey on weed control technologies for tree and vine crops

May 6th, 2025

By Brad Hanson

Note: I'm sharing a survey request related to grower and industry needs related to novel weed control technologies in orchards, vineyards, and other perennial specialty crops. Our team of research collaborators is developing this information as a first step towards a future coordinated national…

Squash bug eggs on the underside of a leaf

Article

Squash Bug Season Approaches

May 6th, 2025

By Dustin W Blakey

It’s May, and that means gardeners in our area are planting melons, squashes, and cucumbers. These warm-season vegetables grow great in our climate. I’m convinced a single zucchini plant could feed a whole family, that is if it doesn’t get obliterated by squash bugs first. (Anasa tristis) …

Looking for more related content?

UC Cooperative Extension | Agricultural Experiment Station

UC ANR 2020-2025 Strategic Plan

UCANR Stategic Plan

Download the plan

Contribute for a Better Future