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Sudden-Death Question

Quick! What's the answer to this question? "I am a blood feeder; I have no hair but have a comb. What am I?" That was the final question posed when...

Practicing for the Games

COACH Larry Godfrey, Extension entomologist with the UC Davis Department of Entomology, calls out questions during a practice session. The graduate students (from left) are Matan Shelomi, Meredith Cenzer and Emily Symmes. Not pictured is James Harwood. The team just won the Linnaean Games at the Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America and will now compete in the nationals. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Webcasting

JAMES HARWOOD (right), who webcasts many of the UC Davis Department of Entomology seminars, served on the winning Linnaean team with teammates Emily Symmes, Matan Shelomi and Meredith Cenzer. Here he and graduate student Amy Morice set up a camera for a webcast. Both study with major professor James R. Carey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Farm advisor helps keep Napa County agriculture safe and strong

Napa County UC Cooperative Extension viticulture advisor Monica Cooper is critical to the local agricultural industry, but her role is not well understood by the public, according to a profile in the Napa Valley Register.

Cooper took the post two years ago, following the untimely death of her predecessor Ed Weber.

“Monica could not have arrived at a more important time for Napa’s winegrape industry,” the story quoted Jennifer Putnam, executive director of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers Association. “We were incredibly fortunate to have such an accomplished entomologist in the role just as the European grapevine moth infestation was being discovered. She, along with our ag commissioner and others, quickly developed and acted on a plan to control the spread of this devastating pest. Her sense of urgency and expertise were critical in our ability to get a handle on that outbreak.”

Cooper has a doctorate degree in plant medicine from the University of Florida, where she also studied entomology, plant pathology, weed and soil science, agronomy and horticulture, the article said.

“I think Monica has (been) a tremendous asset for the valley,” Whitmer was quoted. “I feel bad that right out of the gate she had to deal with the European grapevine month, but she’s been a tremendous help in providing the science to help fight it.”

A former Peace Corps volunteer, Cooper got her start at UC in the  Berkeley laboratory of biological control specialist Kent Daane.

Cooper told reporter Paul Franson she is happy with her job in Napa.

"I love working in an agricultural county,” Cooper was quoted. “The variety of work is most interesting, too. You never know what will happen and I could never sit in an office all day. I love working with growers. They’re always thirsty for information.”

Queen Bee to Be

One of the highlights of Susan Cobey's class on "The Art of Queen Bee Rearing" is a visit to commercial queen bee breeders in Northern...

Egg

TINY EGG, a future honey bee queen, is moved from a comb to a queen cell cup at the Strachan Apiaries in Yuba City. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Grafting

GRAFTING--The grafting procedure begins with a tiny egg. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Almost Finished

FUTURE QUEEN BEES--This frame shows queen cups tended by worker bees at the Strachan Apiaries in Yuba City. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up

CLOSE-UP PHOTO shows queen cells. They're being held here by Susan Cobey, bee breeder-geneticist at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at UC Davis. She teaches a popular class, "The Art of Queen Bee Rearing" and also an advanced instrumental insemination class. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Queen Bee and Her Retinue

QUEEN BEE and her retinue at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UCCE's Richard Molinar appointed to USDA advisory committee

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor Richard Molinar to a two-year term on the Minority Farmer Advisory Committee, said a USDA news release issued on Friday. Molinar is the only California representative on the roster.

The 15-member committee will advise Vilsack on implementation of outreach and assistance efforts to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, promote the participation of minority farmers and ranchers in USDA programs, and support civil rights activities with USDA.

"The Obama Administration is committed to ushering in a new era of civil rights at USDA," Vilsack was quoted in the release. "This advisory committee will provide guidance that will ensure that all eligible applicants for our programs are served in an equal and fair manner and will enable USDA to enhance opportunities for minority farmers and ranchers."

Under Secretary Vilsack's leadership, USDA is addressing civil rights concerns that go back decades, the release said. It listed the following examples:

• Vilsack communicated his commitment to improving the USDA's record on civil rights during a live webcast with employees on his first day in office.
  
  
• USDA worked with the Department of Justice to enter into a settlement with black farmers.
  
  
• USDA and DOJ settled a class action lawsuit filed by Native American farmers alleging discrimination by USDA.
  
  
• Last month, Vilsack and DOJ announced the establishment of a process to resolve the claims of Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who assert that they were discriminated against when seeking USDA farm loans.

News of Molinar's appointment was picked up by the Fresno Bee, Agri-Pulse.com, and AgNetwork.com.

Richard Molinar

Have a Drink on Me

Diners know that a napkin serves a good purpose: touch the lips with it or protect the lap.Well, honey bees occasionally use a napkin, too. A recent...

Honey Bee on Napkin

HONEY BEE sips water from a rain-soaked napkin. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Sipping Water

CLOSE-UP of honey bee sipping water from a soaked napkin. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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