News & Information Outreach

 Federal funding of scientific research in our academic institutions is in jeopardy, but interest is swelling for the UC Davis-based webinar,  “Beyond the Headlines: The Invisible Power of Academic Research,” set from 1 to 3 p.m., Tuesday, July 1 (Pacific Time).Today UC Davis Distinguished…

Dear Colleagues,I’m pleased to share good news – Gov. Newsom and the State Legislature have finalized the state’s FY 2025-26 budget. The budget maintains the same level of funding for UC and UC ANR that we received last fiscal year. This is a remarkable improvement from earlier budget proposals that proposed…

 Houseplants can add beauty and a sense of well-being to any indoor space. Studies from the National Institute of Consumer Horticulture (NICH) show that plants help clean air indoors, and that being around plants helps raise productivity, boost creativity, lower stress hormones, accelerate healing, and…

Article by Patti BrantleyAs I stepped out to hang a hummingbird feeder earlier this year, during the last months of winter, I began to notice that the hummingbirds preferred the real flowers of my orange tree and then soon after my Apricot tree, and later I began to think about how our garden blooms and the…

Article by Melissa NestlerodeThe world's pollinators are in trouble. Nearly all Earth’s ecosystems depend on the pollination of flowering plants for survival. Seventy to seventy-five percent of all flowering plants require pollination. Pollination is crucial to our food supply, as at least thirty-five…

Article by Vincent HughesDid you know that you could grow one of the world’s most valuable spices right here in Solano County? The spice I’m talking about is none other than vanilla, or Vanilla planifolia, and yes, you can grow it for yourself right here at home. V. planifolia is a vining orchid native…

The dotted paropsine leaf beetle (Paropsis atomaria), an invasive pest native to Australia, was first discovered in California in 2022 and is rapidly spreading throughout Southern California targeting eucalyptus trees. Both adult beetles and their larvae feed on eucalyptus leaves, causing significant…

Blanking (floret sterility) can occur during meiosis (pollen formation) when nighttime temperatures drop below 58 oF. Blanking can cause reduced yields. The cooler it is and the more nights during this period with low temperatures have an increasingly negative effect.  You can see in Figure 1, where in…

 UC Davis doctoral student Iris Quayle of the Department of Entomology and Nematology is heading to the Namib Desert of southwestern Africa in October to do research on darkling beetles.And she could not be more excited.Quayle, advised by Professor Jason Bond—he is the Evert and Marion Schlinger Endowed…

by Trina Tobey, Inyo-Mono Master Gardener Volunteer If someone asked you, “Why do you garden?” what would you say? Maybe you would respond that gardening makes you happy and keeps you healthy. If you did, you would be correct. There is a plethora of research showing that gardening is great for your…

Blog article by Jenni DodiniMy first encounter with Lewisia was at the Botanic Gardens in Reykjavik, Iceland. I was mesmerized, but alas, Fairfield doesn't have the same climate as Iceland. Honestly, though, at the time we were in Iceland in June, it was much the same as a nice day in San Francisco. …

 What's that bug?If you're painting your house, a mural, or your vehicle, you have a better chance of seeing it.Vacaville artist Joi McNeill, who is painting a mural on a building in the 300 block of Merchant Street, Vacaville, saw one today. She's working on a mural that includes the Old Town Hall, a…

 Houseplants are amazing! They brighten up your home and bring nature indoors. But sometimes, a pest makes an appearance. Enter the pesky little fungus gnat. Fungus gnats (Orfelia and Bradysia species) can be quite a nuisance. These dark, tiny (1/16 to 1/8 inch long) almost delicate-looking flies…

Dear Colleagues,I am pleased to announce that the University of California will provide a general 3.2% salary increase for eligible policy-covered staff employees and academic appointees at all locations. UC President Drake confirmed the salary program today with the following details:Policy-covered…

In 2024 we had eight variety trial locations. Four locations were in what we refer to as warmer locations (north of Hwy 20) and four in the cooler locations (south of Hwy 20 and into the Sacramento Delta region). These trails are funded by the Rice Research Board and fulfill at least two purposes. First,…

What happens when nutrition experts team up with gardening pros? Communities across California get healthier, one garden at a time.The partnership between CalFresh Healthy Living, UC, and the UC Master Gardener Program combines the best of both programs under UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. The UC…

Blog by Karen MetzI have had a Sago Palm, Cycas revoluta, for many years. Initially, I had it indoors as a houseplant. It survived , but it didn’t thrive. So, I eventually moved it outdoors and planted it in the ground.It was much happier there and grew for years. But as it aged, the leaves grew longer and…