Yuba

Sometimes you get lucky. While watching floral visitors foraging last week in our rock purslane (Calandrinia grandiflora), we noticed a tiny black bee, something we'd never seen before.

The Spring 2012 edition of the Sacramento Valley Walnut News was recently made available at the Sutter-Yuba Cooperative Extension office. It's available here and is attached at the bottom of this post.

Every year variety trials are established throughout Californias rice production areas. The trials are a cooperative effort between UCCE and the Rice Experiment Station (RES).

During 2010 and 2011, the distribution of rice blast in California expanded considerably. The disease was found in areas where it typically had not been a problem in the past. Yolo County is one of these areas.

2012 Annual Rice Grower Meetings Sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension -------------- 4 Locations -------------- WHERE & WHEN Williams: Monday, Jan. 23, 8:30 am, Granzellas Banquet Hall, 457 - 7th Street, Williams Richvale: Monday, Jan. 23, 1:30 pm, Evangelical Church, 5219 Church St.

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 California. Cobey is a bee breeder-geneticist at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at UC Davis, and Washington State University.

First question: Concerned about the declining bee population and deteriorating bee health? Second question: Like to paint, draw, sculpt or photograph honey bees? Or craft bee jewelry? Or use another art medium?

The next time you enjoy a bowl of steamed rice, thank the California rice industry. And a University of California Cooperative Extension Team.

They did it.

When the Entomological Society of America's 56th annual meeting takes place Nov. 16-19 in Reno, UC Davis entomologists will be out in force. And they'll be highly honored.