UC Blogs
Industry leaders make the case for UC ANR funding
Research through university campuses, UC Cooperative Extension, and USDA Agricultural Research Service not only improves productivity and makes California growers more competitive in the international market, it also helps producers use resources more efficiently and minimize environmental and other societal impacts, wrote Bob Curtis and Gabriele Ludwig of the Almond Board of California in an op-ed published by Western Farm Press.
The article noted that grants have been helpful in recent years to conduct research, but they do not address the loss of "research capacity," a phrase the authors use to describe cuts to permanent funding that sustains faculty and staff.
"To date, 44 percent of the state’s almond acreage is not covered by a farm advisor, with current vacancies in Fresno, Madera, Kern and Glenn counties," wrote Curtis and Ludwig. "These farm advisors regularly conduct problem-solving research under regional growing conditions, often adapting and applying basic research findings, and also regularly communicate with growers and their PCAs, and farm managers through field days and farm calls. The lack of farm advisors in this important San Joaquin Valley region also puts significant strain on current farm advisors in other counties."
Merced Sun-Star puts local spin on almond story
In Merced County almonds have been the second leading commodity for some time, wrote Joshua Emerson Smith in the Merced Sun-Star.
David Doll, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Merced County, said the California Almond Commodity Board has successfully marketed the nut to the world.
"It's one thing to be able to produce a big crop," he said. "It's another to be able to sell that crop and make money."
Doll said technology has greatly improved almond yields and efficiency.
"The thing that pushed production beyond any of our hopes and dreams was the ability to apply both water and fertilizer at the same time through an irrigation system," he said. "We're able to get these nutrients in the right place at the right time."
My New Manzanita
Manzanita, properly known as Arctostaphylos of the Ericaceae family will hopefully be happy enough to survive and prosper on my backyard slope. I have chosen the variety A. densiflora 'Howard McMinn' which should grow to 5 or 6 feet in height and may spread to 7 feet. It should have whitish-pink flowers but I choose it because of the beautiful reddish bark. As a child I would go on hikes in the Southern California San Gabriel Mountains where the manzanita flourished. I have my fingers crossed.
The steep slope in my backyard continues to bewilder me and so far is winning the battle against supporting plant life. It doesn't help that our last winter didn't give much in the way of replenishment to the water table. Usually I need to provide supplemental water during the summer to the plants on my slope. I have some pop up sprinklers on manual valves and even pulled a long hose up the hill to add more, but this year most of the plants just gave it up. Even the very established foundation bushes that can stand a lot of neglect turned crispy.
I put two 'Howard McMinn' manzanita in the ground last weekend just before the rains started this past Monday. So far they are still in the ground and the leaves are still on the branches.
Wish me luck.
Sorry looking slope. (photos by Trisha Rose)
Just planted manzanita.
C'mon in, My LIttle Pretties
Insects and Halloween just seem to go together. What would Halloween be like without costumes depicting honey bees, ladybugs, butterflies, bumble...
Kara Handy of Davis wore this creative costume. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Maia Lundy of Davis Senior High School, an intern at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, spreads her monarch wings. At left is James Heydon, 11, of Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Entomologist Nick Herold chats with "black widow spider" Tabatha Yang. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Verticillium Wilt of Alfalfa
Verticillium wilt disease of alfalfa is relatively new to California, having first been found in isolated fields in Humboldt and Monterey counties in...
UCCE advisor writes educational children's book
Just in time for Christmas, UC Cooperative Extension advisor Rachel Long releases a book that will introduce children to the fascinating world of bats, said an article in the Woodland Record. "Gold Fever," the first in the "Black Rock Desert Trilogy," in already for sale at some outlets, but is scheduled to be officially released Dec. 4.
In the book, 9-year-old Jack is searching for gold with his dad in the Black Rock Range, when he falls into a cave. He befriends a bat named Pinta and a coyote pup named Sonny, who are determined to help him find his way home.
Tate Publishing quotes New York Times science journalist Jim Robbins as saying, "Bats play a little know, but vital role in the world. This book introduces young readers to their world in an engaging and entertaining way."
Long signed copies of the book last Saturday at the Common Grounds Coffee Shop in Woodland.
"Gold Fever" is available on the Tate Publishing website for $11.99.