News & Information Outreach

Originally Posted April 1, 2025. This year in Southern California the rainy season got off to a late start. Southern California has received about one half of the average precipitation total as of this writing (and that's not an April fool's joke). Last year we had over 50% more rainfall than the…

Newsletter from the Subtropical Tree Crop Farm Advisors in Californiahttps://ucanr.edu/county-office/cooperative-extension-ventura-county/collection/topics-subtropics     Topics in Subtropics Winter 2025  TOPICS IN THIS ISSUEDate Production OverviewGuidelines for Managing…

What Are the UC Ag Experts Talking About?Event NameDateUC Ag Experts Talk: Considerations for Cover Crops and Weed Management 3/19/2025UC Ag Experts Talk: Integrated Soil Health Management 4/30/2025UC Ag Experts Talk: Mealybug Management in Citrus Orchards in California 5/21/2025What is…

As previously announced, Associate Vice President Tu Tran will be retiring this year on July 1. During the 12 years that AVP Tran has been at the helm of UC ANR operations, UC ANR has doubled in revenue and size. Within the past five years alone, the organization has experienced significant growth with large…

 The Jason Bond lab, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, showcased its work at the annual meeting of the Pacific Branch, Entomological Society of America  (PBESA), held this week in Salt Lake City. PBESA encompasses 11 Western states, plus parts of Canada and Mexico, and U.S…

Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics, University of CaliforniaPresident Trump and Farm Labor: The OutlookPhilip Martin and Zach RutledgeDuring the 2024 presidentialcampaign, Donald Trump prom-ised to stop illegal migration overthe Mexico-U.S. border and todeport many of the unauthorizedforeigners in…

 Bugs reign, especially at picnics.And especially at the campuswide UC Davis Picnic Day.What will be buzzing, racing or crawling at Briggs Hall during the 111th annual Picnic Day on Saturday, April 12?Bees, cockroaches and maggots.The UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology encourages you to…

California relies on groundwater - water stored in underground aquifers and pumped through wells - for up to 41% of water supply in normal years and up to 60% during times of drought. In 2014, the California legislature signed into law the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) with the primary goal…

A quick repost to share a link to a recent January 14, 2025 webinar on Electric Weed Control in Organic Perennial Crops. The webinar was part of a multi-state research and extension project that includes researchers from Oregon State University, Cornell University, and UC Davis and outreach support from…

Sharing a recent post from the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) about a new page on the WeedCUT online decision support tool. -Brad--------------------------------------------------------------------New WeedCUT Feature: BMPs for Herbicide Application Techniques   Confused about…

A crop consultant brought in some stunted, seedling alfalfa plants and asked us to help identify the problem. The plants came from a field in the southwest part of San Joaquin County that was only planted about three months ago. After looking at them under the dissecting microscope, we came to the conclusion…

Blog by Patricia Matteson, UC Master GardenerAs observed in a Suisun City garden, the fruits and seed dispersal of the California pipevine, or “California Dutchman’s pipe,” Aristolochia californica Torr., turned out to be remarkable and beautiful. There are over 500 species of pipevine in the family…

General situation, thrips population developmentPlanting is in full swing. Temperatures and precipitation this spring are close to historic norms, and the thrips population predictions are very similar to those we saw last year. We’re currently at the peak of 1st-generation adults; they’ll be laying their…

 Interested in bumble bees?Native bee researcher Hollis Woodard of UC Riverside will discuss "Adventures in Bumble Bee Research and Conservation" at a spring seminar hosted Monday, April 7 by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology (ENT).Woodard, an associate professor, will speak at 4:10 p…

By Kerry Lozito Inyo-Mono Master Gardener Volunteer We've all been there. You meticulously plant your garden in spring, get side-tracked for a couple-three weeks, and come back to a carpet of weeds when the weather warms. Does this mean you can never take a spring vacation? Of course…

Vice President Glenda Humiston provides an update on the pending state budget, recent federal actions and the UC systemwide hiring freeze, along with the steps UC ANR is taking to navigate these issues.

Blog by Erin Mahaney, UC Master Gardener Sometimes, the simple pleasure of an early-blooming blossom can greatly minimize the doldrums of a chilly, grey winter day. Anemones are one of my favorite easy-to-grow flowers, brightening my yard and filling my vases in the early spring. There are dozens…

Blog by Heather Hamilton, UC Master GardenerI am always on the lookout to add something new and beautiful to my garden. A few years ago, I stumbled upon a wildflower called Corn Cockle, which is the common name for Agrostemma githago. A beautiful purple, pink or white herbaceous annual that would be…