Agriculture

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.

PlantingThe avocado is a shallow rooted tree (most of the feeder roots are in the top 6 inches of soil) that needs good aeration. It does well if mulched with a coarse yard mulch, which means one that is woody and in 2-inch pieces, Redwood bark will work and maybe cocoa bean husks and shredded tree bark…

2025 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay CompetitionSponsored by the Foundation for the Preservation of Honeybees, Inc.CA State deadline is April 14, 2025.Submit your complete essay entry by April 14, 2025 to Gemma Miner at gmminer@ucanr.edu.Theme: The Importance of Youth in Beekeeping: How 4-H members can make a…

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…

 Egg prices soar while dairy prices remain stable as H5N1 spreads through CaliforniaConsumers have faced reduced egg supplies and high egg prices. A recent article by University of California, Davis agricultural economists explore the reasons for reduced egg supplies and high egg prices and assess what…

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.