Agricultural Advice from UCCE Advisors | |
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Webinar: Spotted, Dotted, and Spongy: Have You Seen These Invasive Pests?
February 20, 2025
California's landscapes face growing threats from invasive pests, but informed action can make a real difference. This webinar offers insights into key invasive species, their distribution and impacts, quarantine measures, emerging threats, and resources to empower you in preventing and reporting these threats effectively.
Help California stay ahead of the invasion curve and tune in!
Image: UC IPM
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Rats!!!
Author: Ben Faber
Rodents, particularly rats, have wreaked havoc in California orchards and vineyards this year. Some growers have reported yield losses, damage to trees and destruction of irrigation lines, electrical wiring and other infrastructure.
Farmers face soaring costs to replace what has been destroyed or damaged, but also to control populations of the pests.
The rodent problem was initially reported in San Joaquin Valley nut orchards. But Roger Baldwin, a wildlife specialist and expert in rodent management at the University of California, Davis, said the problem is more widespread. He has heard about rodent damage on the west side of the Sacramento Valley and along the Central Coast, particularly in citrus orchards.
One reason for increased rodent activities this year could be abandoned orchards, which provide plenty of food and shelter for rodents to proliferate, Baldwin said.
“Rodent damage, if ignored, can lead to substantial losses,” Baldwin said. Rats and other rodents can damage trees by removing the bark, which can cause disease and, if severe enough, kill the tree. The animals also chew through drip hoses. Continue reading...
Image: Evett Kilmartin
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Save the Date: Carrot Research Symposium, A Virtual Event!
March 12, 2025 | 9 am - 12 pm
The annual Carrot Research Symposium will focus on the latest information in research and activities related to carrots. Attendance is free and open to the public.
Registration & Agenda TBA
Image: UC ANR
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UCCE Community Education Programs | | |
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UC Master Gardener Program | |
Pruning Grapevines
February 15, 2025
Join our Director of Hansen Agricultural and Research Extension Center, Dr. Annemiek Schilder, for a short talk on basic grape horticulture and after, a chance to prune grapevines.
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4-H Youth Development Program | |
UCCE Welcomes 4-H Rep
Janet Garcia graduated with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Environmental Science and Resource Management from California State University Channel Islands. During her college years, she attended summer research internships with an emphasis on macroinvertebrates in San Francisco, CA and New Mexico which ignited a passion for conservation and the outdoors. This led to her combined experience of environmental education, natural resource management, endangered species and long-term ecological research projects mainly in New Mexico’s Middle Rio Grande valley. Throughout these experiences, she discovered that one of her many passions, aside from working in field biology, is to connect communities from underrepresented backgrounds with nature and the great outdoors through equitable access. In her spare time she enjoys reading, paddleboarding, going for long walks and experimenting with fermentation.
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Author: Jill Santos
Eating more plants and sourcing food locally are two of the simplest ways to improve personal health, protect the environment, and even save money. By making small adjustments to our diets, such as incorporating more fruits and vegetables and reducing reliance on carbon-intensive foods like dairy, livestock, poultry, and highly processed grocery items, we can cultivate better health, conserve natural resources, and economize our budgets.
Why Eat More Plants?
Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Additionally, plant-rich diets have a much lower environmental footprint compared to energy-intensive meat and dairy-rich diets. Furthermore, research shows that eating either a vegetarian or Mediterranean diet can be up to a third less expensive than omnivorous diets. Continue reading...
Image: Our World Data
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Hansen Agricultural Research & Extension Center | | |
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3C-REN offers new agricultural program
The new Agriculture Energy Solutions (AES) program provides specialized support to CEA farmers with scoping energy-saving opportunities for their operations. The program delivers free technical assistance through three offerings: utility bill analysis, facility assessment, and benchmarking. Where available, farmers will also be provided with connections to complementary incentive programs that can help cover the costs of implementing identified energy projects.
For more information on this organization and the AES program visit the 3C-REN website.
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Online Training Available: Agricultural Pass Program
Take the US Fire Administration's online S-190 training to receive a certificate. Upon completion you can apply for Agriculture Pass.
This course provides instruction in the primary factors affecting the start and spread of wildfire and recognition of potentially hazardous situations. This course is typically taught in conjunction with or prior to "NWCG S-130, Firefighter Training (Wildland)."
The material is broken into 3 online modules (1 to 3 hours each).
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2025 California Small Farm Conference
February 23-28, 2025
The 37th annual California Small Farm Conference, a week-long event featuring over 40 online workshops as well as a dozen in-person gatherings around the state. This year’s theme, “Rooted in Place”, honors the vital relationship between farmers, communities and the land they steward. To view more information on this event visit the CAFF.org website.
Image: California Small Farm Conference
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CSU Channel Islands STEAM Carnival
March 8, 2025
The School of Arts and Sciences (A&S) STEAM Carnival is a FREE event for the public that will be held from 1 – 5 PM in the South Quad at CSU Channel Islands Campus.
Image: CSU Channel Islands
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The University of California Cooperative Extension in Ventura County conducts research and education activities in agriculture, natural resources, and positive youth development. We strive to promote a healthy food system, healthy environment, and healthy communities.
Your support helps in many ways.
Thank you.
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