Agriculture

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A yellow-faced bumble bee,Bombus vosnesenskii, foraging on a tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

In Praise of Bumble Bees

June 17, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
When was the last time you sighted a bumble bee? Photographed it? It's National Pollinator Week and one of our favorite bumble bees is the yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii.
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A ceramic/mosaic sculpture, "Miss Bee Haven," anchors the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven on Bee Biology Road, UC Davis. It is the work of self-described rock artist Donna Billick of Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Let's Celebrate National Pollinator Week

June 14, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Did you know that next week is National Pollinator Week? It is. June 17-21 is the week set aside to celebrate pollinators and how we can protect them. Actually, National Pollinator Week should be every day. Launched 12 years ago under U.S.
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UC Davis Pollination ecologist Neal Williams working on a research project on blue orchard bees in a hoop house at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Entomology & Nematology News: Article

Neal Williams: Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences

June 13, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Pollination ecologist Neal Williams, professor with the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, is a newly selected Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, a group of world-class scientists known for their scientific impact or outstanding contributions.
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Bohart associate and entomology student Wade Spencer (left) shows Chancellor Gary May and Dean Helene Dillard a stick insect from the Bohart Museum of Entomology's petting zoo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

UC Davis/UC ANR Communicators Win ACE Awards

June 12, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Insects played a key role in the recent awards announced by the international Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Life and Human Sciences (ACE). Five entomology-related entries from UC Davis won awards.
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Alfalfa & Forage News: Article

2019 Annual UC Alfalfa and Forage Field Day at Kearney Scheduled for September

June 12, 2019
By Nicholas E Clark
2019 Annual Alfalfa and Forage Field Day Thursday, September 19, 2019 UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier 9240 S. Riverbend Ave. NO COST TO ATTEND Get ready for a half day of forage research demonstrations and educational presentations in the field and in the classroom.
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Bending of leaves in prometryn treatment
UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia): Article

Weed control options on onions explored

June 12, 2019
By Richard F Smith
Onions is a challenging crop in which to achieve good weed control. They are planted in high density configurations that preclude the effective use of cultivation.
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Rachael Long takes notes on sunflower seed production.
Food Blog: Article

California takes the lead on hybrid sunflower seed production

June 11, 2019
By Pamela S Kan-Rice
Enjoying a tasty sunflower seed snack? Cooking with sunflower oil? Thank a California sunflower seed grower for producing the hybrid seed that's used for planting sunflower crops throughout the United States and the world, for confectionery and oil seed production.
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In dairies with milking robots, cows voluntarily walk into a sophisticated, computerized box when they are ready for milking.
Green Blog: Article

UC helps California dairy farmers experiment with milking robots

June 11, 2019
By Jeannette Warnert
Early in the 20th century, dairy operators traded their milking stools for machines to produce enough dairy products to meet growing consumer demand. The technological developments were critical to the formation of California's enormous dairy industry, the largest in the nation. Today, more than 1.
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A lady beetle, aka ladybug, ready to devour aphids, its primary food source. Image taken in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Birds, Bats or a Bloom? But No Splat!

June 9, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Remember that massive green blob that showed up Tuesday night, June 4 on the National Weather Service (NWS) radar in San Diego, and NWS tweeted it was a a cloud of ladybugs (termed a bloom)? Wait! They may NOT have been ladybugs, scientifically known as lady beetles, family Coccinellidae.
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