Farms and Agricultural Fields

General situation, thrips population developmentPlanting is in full swing. Temperatures and precipitation this spring are close to historic norms, and the thrips population predictions are very similar to those we saw last year. We’re currently at the peak of 1st-generation adults; they’ll be laying their…

In the winegrape vineyards of northern California, fire and its associated smoke pose a unique threat in the form of smoke-taint damage to the fruit. A preliminary study looks at whether prescribed burning as a fire prevention method poses a risk to winegrape crops.

Dear Colleagues,1) California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Integrated Pest Control Branch is now accepting applications for the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Program (VPCRP). This funding opportunity is designed to support innovative research and education projects aimed at…

Los Contaminantes de Preocupación Emergente (CECs) son sustancias que representan un riesgo para la salud y el medio ambiente, pero no se monitorean regularmente en el agua potable. Este artículo examina varios tipos de CECs, incluyendo PFAS, microplásticos, pesticidas, productos farmacéuticos y…

Summary: This limited study indicated that a slight deposition of metals (Copper and Manganese) may have occurred in one agricultural field, but the increases measured in the surface samples were likely insignificant relative to normal background levels for these soil types. Other sites showed no increase in…

Update 5/27/25In response to the fire at Vistra's Moss Landing battery plant in January of this year a new data dashboard is now available online with data on environmental testing and monitoring. It will continue to be updated throughout clean-up operations.Moss Landing Battery Fire Dashboard Home…

Growers and others interested in growing table olives or olives for making olive oil are invited to a California Statewide Olive Seminar on Friday, April 4. The online seminar, a series of presentations from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., is sponsored by the University of California Cooperative Extension and UC…

The University of California, Davis, is enhancing and expanding its Pistachio Breeding Program after a generous gift from philanthropist and pistachio farmer Rod Stiefvater, who is donating more than $335,000 over three years to develop new rootstocks that thrive under changing climate conditions.

The 2025 California Date Palm Workshop will be held on April 23 in Palm Desert at the UC Riverside Palm Desert Center. Anyone who is interested in growing dates is welcome to attend. "This workshop brings together researchers, growers and stakeholders to discuss recent research data on the ‘state of the…