News & Information Outreach

This article provides information about the upcoming 2025 UC Dry Bean Field Day.

This article provides information about the upcoming 2025 UC Dry Bean Field Day.

Haikus by Mike Gunther  Summer has arrivedPlants growing in all gardensWater Sun and ShadeSome early harvestStrawberries ready to pickVeggies ready too

 What a delight to see!When Fairfield resident and butterfly aficionado Marilyn Sexton spotted on her patio a butterfly that she'd never seen before, she grabbed her cell phone and took some images and a video.Brown-black wings, each lined with a row of white spots. Orange tips on the forewings. …

Blog by Nancy ForrestI recently had the pleasure of taking a trip to Maui. The scenery was breathtaking; the weather was perfect, and the food delicious. The fauna and flora were spectacular. Anyone who has been to the Islands and owns a Hawaiian shirt already knows this. There were 3 plants, in…

My name is Mandeep Singh, and I’m honored to serve as the Agronomy Advisor for Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo counties, based at the UCCE Capitol Corridor office in Woodland. I grew up on a farm where my family raised diversified row crops and livestock. I obtained my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in…

In the last two years, California has experienced a surge of invasive fruit fly infestations. Invasive fruit fly outbreaks endanger our state’s agriculture and economy, as well as homegrown fruits and veggies. They can infest many different fruit, nut, and vegetable crops. Adults lay their eggs under the…

Blog article by Michelle SchlegelLast month, I was wandering through a nursery, knowing that I usually get myself in trouble looking at the plants. Looking at all the vegetables, I came across a Cucamelon. What is that, I thought?  I’ve never seen or heard of these!  A Cucamelon (Melothria…

Time to round up the usual suspects! When talking about arthropod control in California, the usual suspects are rice seed midge, tadpole shrimp, and armyworms. I will focus on rice seed midge and tadpole shrimp in light of recent pyrethroid exceedances detected in the Sacramento Valley. The challenge…

 What's buzzing? What's fluttering? What's crawling?Planet Bee Foundation is encouraging all folks interested in native bees and native pollinators to join its Buzzwatch 2025, which it launched June 1 during National Pollinator Month and will continue through Aug. 31."Use iNaturalist to document native…

Plumerias! Maybe the most coveted of the tropical flowers grown and blooming now in Southern California! While more likely identified as Hawaiian being a favorite flower for leis, they are actually endemic to Mexico and Central America. But any tropical environment in the world is ideal for the growing…

California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) mandates a 75% reduction in organic waste disposal (compared to 2014 levels) to reduce methane emissions from landfills. This ambitious law requires residents, businesses, and local governments to divert organic waste—including food scraps, yard trimmings, and soiled…

En la feria de Del Mar en San Diego, el Programa Ampliado de Educación Alimentaria y Nutricional (EFNEP) y los UC Master Food Preservers ofrecieron educación práctica para preparar comidas nutritivas y conservar alimentos de manera segura y económica. A través de demostraciones y charlas, enseñaron a las…

 Ever held a tobacco hornworm?You can when the Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC Davis hosts its annual "Moth Night" open house on Saturday, July 12. It takes place from 7 to 11 p.m. and it's free and family friendly, Parking is also free.Bohart Museum scientists will be displaying, among other live…

In Part 1 of this story, we covered some basics of biological control. Now let’s talk about some of the good bugs helping to control invasive pests in California. Controlling yellow starthistle one weevil at a timeYellow starthistle (YST) is a harmful invasive plant that is established and widespread in…

Branched broomrape (Phelipanche ramosa) is an invasive parasitic plant that poses a significant threat to California’s processing tomato industry. Known for its ability to attach to and draw nutrients from host roots, this pest can cause yield losses and trigger strict quarantine measures in California…

On our hot summer days, shady garden areas can offer welcome respite from the heat. One of the challenges of gardening in shade, though, is adding interest through color, because it can be difficult to find plants that bloom in shade. Incorporating native plants in your garden can greatly increase the…