News & Information Outreach

 That "passion butterfly," the Gulf Fritillary...Ever watched a Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, touch down on its host plant, the passionflower vine, Passiflora? Ever seen two Gulf Frits sipping nectar from a single passionflower blossom? We remember what UC Davis Distinguished Professor…

As the crop starts advancing towards heading, one concern is blast. So far I have not seen any leaf blast. Blast spores need free moisture on the leaves to germinate and infect. Leaf wetness is a good measure of free moisture. Typically, leaf wetness increases during the evening and stays high until early…

Dear Colleagues,I invite you to spend time in remembrance, reflection and connection on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m. as we honor Ken’s life, spirit and the love he shared with all of us. This will be a time not only to grieve our loss, but to celebrate the joy, laughter and legacy Ken leaves behind…

Toxic baits, or rodenticides, used to control rodents around the home and garden can harm nontarget animals, such as pets, birds, coyotes, and other wildlife. To reduce these negative impacts, California has passed several laws to limit what rodenticides can be used, how, and by who. Here’s what you need to…

We regret to inform you that the Rice Production Workshop originally scheduled for July 23–24, 2025 has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.If you have already paid the registration fee, we’ll be refunding your payment in full. The process is currently underway. If you have any questions regarding…

UC ANR will be making additional travel support available for UC Cooperative Extension specialists to collaborate directly with UCCE advisors and Research and Extension Center directors in FY 2025-26. Each specialist may apply for up to $2,000 for FY 2025-26 (travel reports must be submitted within…

 It's not Halloween yet, but you'll see a "witch" at the annual Moth Night hosted by the Bohart Museum of Entomology on Saturday, July 12.A White Witch, that is. It's the legendary moth, Thysania agrippina, from the family Erebidae.  It's also called the Ghost Moth, Great Gray…

This post provides updated information about upcoming rice meetings.

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…