News & Information Outreach

UC scientists are working with growers in Tehama, Butte, Lake, Amador, Contra Costa, Stanislaus and Yolo counties to test a new way of measuring the irrigation needs of walnut trees. Shackel and team think this new method will allow growers to use less water by not irrigating early in the season, and trees…

Blog article by Karen Metz, UC Master GardenerMany of us have plants in our gardens or yards that remind us of people or places.  Sometimes trees or shrubs are planted to honor the birth of a child, a milestone birthday, or in memory of a loved one.  We might have plants that we have grown from…

UC ANR expert: Agritourism serves as potential safety net for producersRachael Callahan, statewide agritourism coordinator for the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, recently returned from a trip to Puerto Rico where she and collaborators across the country convened for a project team…

General situationThe oldest tomatoes have been in ground for more than a month, and planting is progressing rapidly. The warm weather in the past two weeks has pushed thrips population projections forward by a few days compared to the last report. Thrips populationFirst-generation adults are still…

 Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley GarveyUC Davis doctoral alumna Fiona Goggin, professor of entomology and plant pathology at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, will return to UC Davis on Monday, April 21 to deliver a lecture hosted by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.Professor…

California Avocado Growers Seminars Series 2025 Our Next SeminarApril 16 (1 -3 PM)  Water Knowledge isPower KnowledgeIn-Person and Zoom Topics and Speakers Sources of ET information and their ReliabilityBy Ali Montazar - UCCE Irrigation Advisor, Imperial/San Diego/ Riverside counties…

 UC Master Gardeners are making a difference by combining their expertise in horticulture with a strong focus on climate readiness in their communities. Through innovative climate literacy and soil education, these dedicated volunteers work together with residents to empower them with the knowledge and…

Blog by Erin Mahaney, UC Master Gardener As a gardener, one of the charms of visiting zoos is not only seeing the animals, but the zoo plantings as well.  Even now that the children are grown, we have continued our family tradition of visiting a local zoo on the last day of a big trip when everyone…

Nature’s plan for delaying pest resistance decipheredA new study cracks the code for increasing sustainability of the pest-killing proteins in genetically engineered crops.University of ArizonaElena LopezUniversity of Arizonapelopez@arizona.edu Cell: 5203428712 Farmers in dozens of countries have…

In the wild areas on our planet, trees, bushes, and grasses grow on ground that has continual additions of new layers of dead and dying plant matter. Leaves fall from trees and shrubs, grasses dry in the summer: these materials cover the soil and gradually decompose. No Till gardening takes its cue from…

 Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley GarveySwing that net! Catch that butterfly!The Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC Davis encouraged people of all ages to show their skills at netting a butterfly replica on the Briggs Hall lawn last Saturday during the 111th annual campuswide UC Davis Picnic Day.The Bohart…

Blog by Michelle Schlegel, UC Master GardenersWalking through my garden gate, I am greeted by a happily blooming African Daisy. I bought it last year and planted it in the raised bed circle surrounding a Strawberry tree. It was hard to choose which African Daisy to buy, as they come in such an amazing…

Calibration might sound intimidating, but it’s critical for safe and effective herbicide application. Proper calibration ensures that the correct amount of pesticide is applied to an area while achieving the desired level of pest control. To support land managers and pesticide applicators, the UC Statewide…

Ashley, one of our California 4-H State Ambassadors, is now a semi-finalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation undergaduate scholarship! She attributes this opportunity to her involvement in 4-H. Her TikTok video shares more about her 4-H experience and opportunity, and she wants to especially thank the…

Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), also called buttercup oxalis or sourgrass, might be a familiar sight in winter and spring, particularly to those who live in coastal regions or the Sacramento Valley. Some people enjoy seeing this plant’s cheerful yellow flowers pop up in their spring gardens, but for…

UC IPMAgricultureCitrusEuropean Earwig Agriculture: Citrus Pest Management GuidelinesEuropean EarwigForficula auriculariaOn This PageDescription of the Pest Damage Management Description of the PestThe introduced European earwig is the most common of several earwig species that can occur in citrus…

  https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/styles/social_media_facebook/public/2023-08/387502.jpg.webp?itok=aIiJmULPWe often hear from Contra Costa gardeners this time of year who are eagerly anticipating their summer vegetable gardens. One of their most frequent questions is how to make sure their…

 Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley GarveyThe long-awaited UC Davis Picnic Day activities at Briggs Hall will begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, April 12 and continue until 5 p.m.It promises to be a fun-filled and educational event where roaches races, maggots crawl and the crowd cheers. And everyone learns more…

Blog by CIndy Yee, UC Master GardenerGreetings from a Road Scholar tour called “Tales of Iberia: Portugal and Spain”.  In Cordoba, our local guide Lucia took us to visit a few local home patio gardens, which are basically enclosed courtyards or atriums.  Annually, every May, Cordoba holds a…