Sacramento

Agricultural advances draw opposition that blunts innovation (Science) Anne Q.

The 69th annual Solano County Fair, located at 900 Fairgrounds Drive, is themed "Blue Ribbon Fun"--and that includes bugs. The two-day fair, downsized from years past, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1. Admission is free; parking is $5 per vehicle. (See schedule.

Jim Downing has been chosen to lead Communications Services and Information Technology's publishing group, succeeding Ann Senuta, who retired June 28 as director of Publishing and Production.

Leadership of UC ANR Communications Services and Information Technology publishing group is changing: Director of Publishing and Production Ann Senuta is retiring, and California Agriculture journal Executive Editor Jim Downing is assuming her director duties.

Gene Miyao was named the UCCE vegetable crops farm advisor for Yolo County in 1980. In 1990, Solano County was added to his territory and about 10 years later, he also took on responsibility for Sacramento County. Miyao had been exposed to UCCE farm advisors from a young age.

A group of 4th and 5th graders sat in a line on the floor of the school cafeteria, quietly waiting for the guest to set up his model. Hello, everyone, Dr. Sandoval began. Hola! Cmo estn?," he continued, and immediately a boy sprang to his knees.

Meet mosquito researchers Olivia Winokur and Maribel Mimi Portilla. Both are seeking a doctorate at the University of California, Davis.

Guest authors Tunyalee Martin, with the UC IPM Program, and Gene Miyao, farm advisor, describe a parasitic plant that has been found in some parts of Yolo County and the Delta.

[This story was updated July 5 to add Jennifer Henkens, 4-H community educator for UCCE Sacramento County, to the list of 4-H eLearning team members. Her name was inadvertently omitted in the original announcement.

Soil compaction is often a problem in field crop production and occurs when soil particles are pressed together, reducing available pore space for air and water. About half the soil volume is composed of particles, the other half is soil pores.