Agriculture

Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense L.) is a problematic perennial weed that plagues California orchards and vineyards, spreading through seed production and perennial rhizomes. Established johnsongrass populations are typically controlled through use of systemic post-emergent herbicides (typically glyphosate…

On California’s Central Coast, where grassland and oak savannas stretch across rugged rangelands, one ranching operation is helping redefine what it means to steward the land. Founded in the early 1880s, the T.O. Cattle Company has weathered generations of California ranching history. In 1991, Joe and Julie…

While the main focus of the EDG (Edible Demonstration Garden) is growing edibles and sharing that knowledge with the public, we cannot forget the health and safety of our gardeners.Rattlesnakes have been particularly active this year with daily sightings all over the farm and in the EDG.  Protective…

Four factors impact level of successStarting a crop farm in California’s Central Sierra region can be a great opportunity, but long-term success depends on understanding the land and markets before planting. Unlike the flat agricultural areas of California’s Central Valley, farming in the Sierra foothills is…

June 19, 2026 - The University of California Cooperative Extension has monitored annual rangeland forage production throughout the central Sierra Nevada foothills since 1995. Our goal continues to be to accurately gauge the total forage production on an annual basis. Data is gathered at eight locations…

Barn Owls seem to be the go-to owl when it comes to biological control of rodent pests, dominating the literature on owls and IPM. According to several studies, pocket gophers, mice, and voles constitute most of the Barn Owl diet.

Research Brief • June 2026 • Download PDF (262 KB)CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL), California’s SNAP-Ed program, promotes healthy lifestyles through nutrition and physical activity interventions delivered in low-income communities across California. This program has been administered by four state…