Recent californiaagriculture items

Grassland biomass thresholds critical to fire behavior in California

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Anecdotal and fire behavior modeling evidence indicates that livestock grazing can reduce herbaceous fuels and improve ecosystem resilience in an era of expanding and intensifying wildfires. To quantify these effects in California, we established a statewide, multi-year (2020 to 2022) study manipulating herbaceous biomass levels within prescribed fire footprints to examine the relationship between herbaceous biomass levels and key fire behavior metrics. We identified multiple biomass thresholds that may be incorporated into land management and planning documents. Grasslands with fewer than 384 pounds (lb) per acre (43 grams per square meter [g/m²]) biomass had greater than 90% probability of stopping a fire before reaching 33 feet (ft) (10 meters [m]) while grasslands with biomass greater than 1,248 lb/acre (140 g/m²) had a near zero probability of stopping a fire before reaching 33 ft. Biomass values below 2,496 lb/acre (280 g/m²) had only a 3% probability of reaching 4 ft...

California sheep and goat ranchers adjust to wage increases

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

California’s Assembly Bill 1066 overtime-for-farm workers law increased minimum sheep and goat range herder wages by 250% in 6 years, from less than $2,000 a month in 2018 to almost $5,000 in 2025. However, higher wages did not attract domestic U.S. workers to herding: most herders in the United States are workers from Peru and Mexico who have H-2A visas. Sheep and goat ranchers responded to higher herder wages by assigning more animals to each herder, switching from monthly to hourly wages where feasible, and expanding their herds or exiting the business. More became vegetation managers, earning payments from clients when their sheep and goats consume vegetation on crop lands and solar farms and grass and brush in the urban–wildland interface to reduce wildfire risks.

The benefits of oak woodland restoration can exceed the costs of treating conifer encroachment

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Woody encroachment is a common threat in many fire-dependent ecosystems throughout the world. In northwestern California, conifer encroachment threatens the survival of deciduous oak woodlands and rangeland habitats, resulting in many negative impacts to flora and fauna biodiversity and livestock production. This study characterizes the benefits and costs of oak woodland restoration projects where Douglas fir is removed, weighing the timber value of the encroaching Douglas fir trees with the costs of removal and the value of post-restoration forage. Through a series of interviews and surveys, coupled with additional data collection and literature review, we found that the benefits of oak restoration through the removal of the Douglas fir encroachment exceeded the costs of treatment for landowners on average.

Nitrogen budgeting made easy for annual summer crops with a new online calculator

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The need for fertilizer nitrogen (N) highly depends on site-specific factors. In addition to fertilizers, residual soil nitrate, nitrate in the irrigation water and N mineralized from soil, organic matter can provide significant amounts of crop-available N. The need for fertilizer N can be more accurately determined by having estimations of N contribution from these sources. In this paper we discuss the factors affecting the amount of N available to summer annual crops from these sources. We introduce an online tool that calculates the amount of fertilizer N required to meet average yields expected at the field scale based on user supplied site-specific input.

Exploratory survey of rice growing practices identifies perceptions and management of weedy rice

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Weedy rice (Oryza sativa L. spp.) is an emerging weed in California rice production. To address weedy rice issues and improve extension efforts, information is needed about the prevalence of growing practices that may contribute to or prevent weedy rice infestations, and about grower awareness and perceptions of weedy rice. Using a mail-in and online survey, we gathered information in the spring of 2019 from growers and pest control advisors about their rice production practices and attitudes about weedy rice. The 157 respondents reported diverse rice production systems, growing practices, and weed management methods. Weedy rice was reported on only a small number of respondents’ farms, and most respondents did not consider weedy rice to be a serious issue for them. Survey results indicate that most respondents are already implementing practices to prevent the spread of weedy rice on the land they manage. These proactive measures will play a critical role in safeguarding...

“Pocket parks” promise climate resiliency on a small scale. Are they working?

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

UCCE specialist Monica Palta and UC Irvine colleagues to study value of small-scale green spaces.

Foresters, prescribed-fire experts swap knowledge to reduce wildfire impacts

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Program in El Dorado County shows many benefits of “good fire”, training events.

Clima y enfermedades causan la muerte de árboles en varias regiones de California.

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Los patógenos y plagas de las plantas, la urbanización y los cambios climáticos están cambiando la variedad o distribución natural de los árboles californianos.

Investigadores de UC ANR apoyan a los viveros de California

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Durante la Conferencia de Invernaderos 2025, además de charlas, hubo recorridos en invernaderos y atención personalizada a dudas de los productores.

Volunteer programs are effective at reducing urban water use in Marin County, California

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Reducing irrigation usage for residential landscapes is a key strategy for managing water demand, but many property owners struggle to implement effective water conservation. Garden Walks is an educational program that supports trained volunteers to visit local residential properties. They suggest improvements to irrigation systems, mulch usage, grouping plants based on similar water needs, and other water-efficient landscaping techniques. Working with a Marin County water district, we measured water use for 481 households participating in Garden Walks and 478 non-participating households for six years to assess potential water savings. On average, participating households used 7,780 gallons less water in an irrigation season (8% less) than non-participating households. Much of the water savings appears to have come from leak detection. Irrigation leaks were detected in 6% of participating households, and fixing those leaks accounted for nearly 40% of program water savings.

For California walnut drying, fuel choice and improved training and automation may reduce energy consumption

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Drying is an energy-intensive step in walnut production, accounting for 19% of processing costs and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. This study surveyed 19 California walnut drying facilities to update energy consumption estimates and identify factors influencing energy use. The variables analyzed included production volume, implementation of energy conservation strategies, the type of fuel used for drying, and ambient air conditions (temperature and relative humidity). The results show that the average energy consumption for walnut drying in California was 1.156 million British thermal units per short ton of in-shell dried walnuts, 11.1% lower than 2009 estimates. Natural gas facilities used 41.5% less energy than those using propane. The type of fuel used for drying was the only factor that significantly affected energy consumption; energy conservation strategies, including in-bin moisture meters and air recirculation, did not have a significant impact. This suggests...

Central Valley decision support tool helps predict yield and profitability response to irrigation with saline water

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study introduces a novel decision support web tool (https://doi.org/10.15140/D3J04K) to assist farmers and policymakers in managing salinity in California’s Central Valley. The tool integrates agronomic, economic and spatial data to predict crop yield and profitability under varying irrigation water salinity. This resource also supports policymakers and groundwater sustainability agencies in identifying areas where saline groundwater prevents profitable farming and prioritizing those areas for land repurposing to reduce agricultural water demand. We evaluated the tool by predicting yield and profitability for alfalfa, almonds, pistachios, table grapes, and processing tomatoes under varying salinity at field and regional scales. Alfalfa maintained high yields and profitability across varying salinity levels, while table grapes showed strong economic resilience; however, almonds were most sensitive to water quality degradation. The spatial analysis indicated regional variation,...

There's a path forward in the San Joaquin Valley to benefit farmers, communities, and nature — but only if we plan . . . and plant

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

There's a path forward in the San Joaquin Valley to benefit farmers, communities, and nature — but only if we plan . . . and plant

Survey of California dairy nutritionists on extent of byproduct usage

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Byproduct feedstuffs play a crucial role in California dairy rations and contribute to the sustainability of the industry, but the extent of their usage in the state has not been widely investigated. In March 2022, we sent a byproduct feeding and management survey via email to 61 dairy cattle nutritionists in California. Twenty-six completed surveys were included in the final data analysis (response rate = 46%; n = 26/61). Nutritionists reported servicing 498 dairy farms that represented approximately 936,700 milking cows. Respondents serviced mostly cows housed in San Joaquin Valley herds (87.6%), with some cows housed in Northern California (5.5%) and Southern California (6.9%) regions. Survey respondents also reported 58 byproducts that were fed on California dairies; almond hulls and whole cottonseed were the most frequently utilized byproducts. The average lactating ration byproduct inclusion rate was...

“El Cafecito al Mediodía”: Un puente entre la ciencia, la comunidad y el corazón latino

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Spanish-language podcast goes behind the scenes with UC ANR’s Latino staff and academics to provide science-based information to audiences across California and beyond.

The (chicken) show must go on: 4-H turns bird flu into learning opportunity

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

4-H animal education programs and poultry competitions evolve with the ongoing bird flu outbreak.

What influences movement of coyotes through Los Angeles?

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

UC scientists report that wealth, pollution and population density affect how coyotes move and adapt to urban areas.

UC Cooperative Extension advisor provides first-of-its-kind avocado irrigation data

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Study findings from Southern California avocado orchards help growers save water and money.

California farmers are turning to nonfarm employers to fill lower wage seasonal jobs

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

California’s agricultural employers hired an average 414,000 workers between 2018 and 2023 and reported an average 886,000 unique farmworkers each year, a ratio of 2.1 workers for each average or full-time equivalent (FTE) job. The ratio of two workers for each FTE job is stable, but a rising share of workers are brought to farms by nonfarm crop support firms, including farm labor contractors (FLCs). Farmers outsource seasonal and specialized tasks to crop support firms to save money by paying for labor and other services when they are needed. FLCs account for two-thirds of average crop support employment, which highlights the challenge of regulating the intermediaries whose average employment is about the same as for workers hired directly by crop farmers.

Los equipos de restauración forestal rápida son efectivos, según un reporte de UCCE

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Plantar árboles inmediatamente tras un incendio forestal es crucial para las comunidades, ecosistemas y objetivos sobre carbono.

Adoption patterns of on-farm nutrient management practices and nitrogen application rates in California's Central Valley

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Nitrogen fertilizers in irrigated agriculture improve cropland productivity, but contribute to groundwater contamination, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. While California has implemented agricultural water quality regulations since the 1980s, targeted efforts to address nitrate contamination through nitrogen application reporting and management have been emphasized more recently under the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. This study uses a unique, field-level dataset from the Kings River Water Quality Coalition in California’s Central Valley to examine nitrogen management practices, including common combinations of practices (bundling), across crop types. The analysis draws on four years of data from Irrigation and Nutrient Management Plans and details nitrogen application and management strategies. The results show that in 80% of fields across crops, between 50 and 300 pounds per acre (lbs/acre) of nitrogen is applied. Crop-level nitrogen applied minus nitrogen...

Tapered deficit irrigation strategies can reduce water use in processing tomatoes

Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

California processing tomato growers must adapt their irrigation management practices to cope with frequent droughts and increasingly limited groundwater supplies. Processing tomatoes’ water stress tolerance provides a water savings opportunity through deficit irrigation. However, it is important to initiate deficit irrigation at key growth stages to maintain yields. We conducted a deficit irrigation experiment over three years using a randomized block design with four treatments in three commercially operated fields in Fresno County. A tapered deficit treatment was applied, where the amount of water deficit was increased partway through the deficit period to ease the crop into higher water stress while further reducing irrigation. In all three seasons, there were no differences between treatments in yield, with some seasons having an improvement in Brix with the higher deficit treatments. This was achieved with up to a 29% reduction in irrigation compared to the grower’s standard...

A case study of evapotranspiration at five almond orchards on a spectrum of conventional to regenerative management

Tue, 8 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In an increasingly unstable climate, it is critical to optimize water needed for crop irrigation to secure food production and livelihoods while reducing environmental impacts. Here, we focus on water use for almonds — a crop that occupies roughly 20% of the irrigated agricultural land in California and has long been the focus of scrutiny. Regenerative agriculture, a term used to describe system designs that increase soil health, biodiversity, resilience to climate, and profitability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and pollution, offers a potential way forward. We used eddy covariance, micrometeorological, and soil moisture measurements from 2022 and 2023 to quantify the evapotranspiration of California almond orchards under different soil and plant management practices and produce comprehensive estimates of the water footprint of different management systems. In five almond orchards, we find that there is little difference between evapotranspiration at...

Urban wildfire impacts water, soil and wildlife

Fri, 7 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

UC experts offer tips on testing drinking water and rehabilitating gardens after an urban wildfire.

To limit bird flu spread, keep wild birds away from poultry, livestock

Fri, 7 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Waterfowl Alert Network data help assess the risk of avian influenza H5N1.

El cambio climático transforma y desafía a la agricultura

Fri, 7 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A medida que el clima continue cambiando, los riesgos a la agricultura seguirán creciendo.

Uptake, utilization, and satisfaction with employer sponsored health insurance in a population of vineyard farmworkers

Tue, 4 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

California farmworkers experience lower health outcomes and underutilize health services compared with the general population, impacting their well-being and farm productivity. Employer sponsored health insurance facilitates access to health services and represents one method for improving farmworker health outcomes, but more knowledge is needed to promote employee uptake and utilization. From 2021 to 2023, we surveyed 497 vineyard workers in Napa County on their views of health insurance. Offering insurance has a large impact on benefits satisfaction. However, satisfaction is limited and uptake low when employers contribute less than 80% to the annual premium. This is principally because when the cost to them is greater, farm employees opt out of health insurance to avoid wage reductions to prioritize other essential living costs. Seasonal workers opt out at especially high rates because they are offered the lowest employer premium contributions and are simultaneously the...

Effectiveness of herbicide control methods for coyote brush on the North Coast of California

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Coyote brush is a native shrub common on California coastal prairies. It is largely unpalatable to cattle and is an aggressive encroacher on open prairies; as such, it is a threat to livestock production on some of California’s most productive rangelands. This experiment assessed the effectiveness of four common herbicides and three application methods to control coyote brush. Glyphosate, imazapyr, triclopyr, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were analyzed using foliar spray and drizzle applications. Only glyphosate and imazapyr were analyzed using basal bark injection. All applications resulted in a short-term decrease in coyote brush cover, but plants that were treated with the selective herbicides triclopyr or 2,4-D appeared to recover after a year. The nonselective herbicides glyphosate and imazapyr performed well 12 months after application. Glyphosate and imazapyr performed similarly in controlling both large and small plants. No difference existed when comparing...

Farming and ranching through wildfire: Producers' critical role in fire risk management and emergency response

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Wildfires increasingly threaten California’s agricultural sector, posing serious risks to farming, ranching, and food systems. We conducted a survey of 505 California farmers and ranchers affected by wildfires between 2017 and 2023. Main findings show that wildfires’ impacts on producers are extensive and range from mild to catastrophic, with both short and long-term repercussions, regardless of their exposure level. Producers play a central role in community emergency wildfire risk response and management by reducing fuel loads, creating defensible space, and leveraging their fire management expertise for themselves and their neighbors. Many producers lack a robust financial safety net, particularly among vulnerable populations, which points to the need to increase access to recovery resources, including insurance and disaster assistance programs. We find an urgent need for policy reforms, improved support, targeted extension programs, and integrated coordination mechanisms....

Groundwater models through stakeholders' eyes: Evaluating benefits, challenges, and lessons for SGMA implementation

Wed, 1 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires stakeholder participation in developing groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) to ensure the reliability of groundwater resources. Groundwater models became widely used in GSP development (e.g., to evaluate management actions). This study explores stakeholder perceptions of the benefits and challenges of using these models in GSP development and of models’ abilities to deal with uncertainties arising from existing data gaps. Qualitative interviews and minutes from groundwater advisory committee meetings from three groundwater basins reveal that groundwater models can improve stakeholders’ understanding of the groundwater system and help stakeholders identify management actions. However, model complexity and uncertainty in terms of hydrogeological processes and data gaps hinder stakeholders’ full understanding of the model development and results. Modelers should leverage stakeholder knowledge to build trust and collaboratively...

UC ANR to focus efforts on issues where it can create greatest benefit

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The plan includes a refreshed vision and mission, and outlines challenges where UC ANR can make an impact.

UC ANR project to help underserved farmers in SoCal with land ownership

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Climate Action and Land Equity project prioritizes land use for food production as a reinvestment into the greater community.

Nuevo estudio permite calcular el costo de producción de las zarzamoras

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Una nueva investigación de UC describe las prácticas culturales usadas para el establecimiento, producción y cosecha de zarzamoras.

Visual ID guide from UC aids in managing new almond pests

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Nut orchard hygiene is key for controlling carpophilus beetle, say UC Cooperative Extension and UC Integrated Pest Management experts.

When “new” crops are not really new: California Indigenous communities and research and commercialization of elderberry

Thu, 7 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The article “ Native blue elderberry in hedgerows bridges revenue and conservation goals ” focuses on the commercial potential of western blue elderberry ( Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea ) plantings, primarily on private farmland in California. While blue elderberry is little known as a commercial agricultural crop, it is anything but new to the Indigenous people of this place. Many of the nearly 200 tribes that live in California have been in relationship with elderberry, and the land it grows on, since time immemorial, seeing all living beings as their own kin, rather than merely utilitarian resources. For non-Indigenous farmers and researchers working with elderberry, it is important to be aware of our state’s history of land dispossession and non-Native land management practices, which have often diminished California Native peoples’ access to and sovereignty...

For California perennial crops facing climate change, water use stays stable while planting density increases

Mon, 4 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

With climate change, there has been increasing concern over allocations of scarce water supplies in California during times of drought. This study looks at how cultural practices in perennial crops have changed over time, specifically related to application of irrigation water and to planting densities. We use University of California Sample Costs of Production Budgets from 1980-2021 for all major perennial crops in California, to compile information on the commonly implemented irrigation and planting practices across various crops and regions. After controlling for regional variation in water applied due to agroclimatic factors, irrigation water use per acre has remained largely stable for most crops, while planting densities have increased for many crops, including olives, grapes, avocados, plums, and almonds. A notable exception is pistachios in the South San Joaquin Valley, which experienced an increase in water applied, with stable yields and planting densities. Our methods...

Monensin supplementation increases weight gain in stocker steers, but higher doses reduce essential mineral intake

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Monensin is known to improve feed efficiency in cattle. At higher doses, however, monensin reduces the palatability of mineral supplements, which may reduce consumption of essential minerals such as selenium. The main objective of this study was to compare weight gain, while evaluating the impact on blood selenium concentrations, among treatment and control groups of stocker calves supplemented with a self-fed mineral supplement designed to deliver different amounts of monensin, while the control group received the same mineral without monensin. A secondary objective was to compare the presence of pathogenic and total coccidia oocysts. At study end, all monensin treatment groups weighed more than the control group but were not different from each other. No effect was detected on coccidia oocysts. In sum, there is a production gain from providing monensin in a mineral supplement to weaned calves on pasture. However, too high a dose may lead to insufficient trace mineral consumption....

El agroturismo: Una nueva oportunidad para las pequeñas granjas de California

Thu, 8 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

El agroturismo, una tendencia en crecimiento en California, ofrece a los visitantes la oportunidad de experimentar la vida rural y agrícola de primera mano.

UC SAREP helps boost food access, workforce development in Plumas County

Thu, 8 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Lost Sierra Food Project increases rural food access and provides workforce development and farm education opportunities while serving as a key community gathering place.

4-H, Boys and Girls Club, UCCE partner to inspire Orange County kids

Thu, 8 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

4-H in Orange County hosted kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove for a day of learning and exploration at South Coast REC.

Promoting higher levels of immunity from colostrum among calves on organic dairy farms

Tue, 2 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Colostrum feeding provides immunoglobulins, in a process called transfer of passive immunity, which is critical for dairy calf health and welfare. However, failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) occurs in about 12% of calves nationwide. This study compares the prevalence of FTPI between calves raised on organic and conventional dairy farms, describes the colostral management practices on organic dairy farms in California, and recommends improvements. We compared serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations between calves raised on organic and conventional dairies and found that the odds of FTPI in calves raised in organic dairies were 2.5 times greater than in calves raised in conventional dairies. Focusing on varied practices in organic dairies, FTPI was 2.9 times more likely in calves fed less than 4 liters of colostrum within the first 24 hours, compared to calves fed more than that amount. We also found that organic dairy producers did not routinely monitor colostral...

Field evaluations of biodegradable boric acid hydrogel baits for the control of Argentine ants: Promising results in vineyards and citrus orchards

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Argentine ants are a major pest in California. In this study, a biodegradable calcium alginate hydrogel with an aqueous boric acid bait was tested against Argentine ant populations in a citrus orchard and a vineyard. A new continuous method was developed to produce large quantities of hydrogel bait for the field test. Foraging activity levels of ants were compared between baited and untreated zones. For both study sites, four to five monthly bait applications throughout summer provided a greater than 80% reduction in ant activity. Based on spatial analyses by distance indices, the baited areas were characterized by gaps (areas with lower ant counts) and the untreated control zones were characterized by patches (areas with higher ant counts). This indicated area-wide suppression of Argentine ants. For the citrus orchard, post-baiting panel trap monitoring showed reductions of both ants and Asian citrus psyllid in the baited zone compared to the control. For the vineyard, mid-season...

Optimal timing for fava bean planting, pod harvesting, and termination in Northern California

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Fava bean has been cultivated as a grain, vegetable, and cover crop in California for more than a century. Despite a decline in popularity as a grain, many growers are taking a second look to satisfy demands for vegetable fava bean (pod) and to provide plant-derived nitrogen (N) to grow summer cash crops. This paper presents the results of a series of experiments aimed at quantifying fava bean biomass and N at planting date and termination, as well as pod production in response to the harvest scheme. Sowing before the end of October resulted in the highest biomass and N in Northern California. Termination of fava bean cover crops in early April between the flowering and first pod stage increased the forage yield of the following crop (sudangrass), compared to termination at the earlier branching stage, which is typically in late February. We found that delaying vegetable pod harvest until the end of the growing season resulted in low fresh-pod yields. The results provide...

Using prescribed fires in young forests: A pyrosilvicultural approach

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Prescribed burning is an effective treatment to reduce the risk of very severe wildfires. Many forests, however, are ill-suited for prescribed fire, because of high fuel loads, high tree densities, or young stands that are vulnerable to low intensity fires. Utilizing prescribed fire in reforested stands established after high-severity fires can protect against further losses from subsequent wildfires (“reburn” fires). Only a handful of studies provide practical guidance on how and when to burn young forests. We apply the concept of “pyrosilviculture” to suggest ways in which pre-fire silvicultural treatments can make prescribed burns more effective across a variety of age classes and structures. We also update results from a study in which several age classes of stands (12-, 22-, 32-, and 100-year-old) were burned experimentally on the same day. This focuses on a key question for managers: how to determine the right stand age at which prescribed fires may become feasible. As...

No-tillage, surface residue retention, and cover crops improved San Joaquin Valley soil health in the long term

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A long-term annual crop study in Five Points, California, shows that the combined use of no-tillage, surface residue retention, and cover crops improves soil health compared to conventional practices common to the region. Several chemical, biological, and physical soil health indicators were improved when these practices were combined. Our data suggest that farmers stand to gain multiple synergistic benefits from the integrated use of these practices by increasing soil structural stability, water infiltration and storage, and agroecosystem biodiversity, and improving the efficiencies of the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles of their production systems.

Setting research and extension priorities for agronomic crops in California

Tue, 4 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Agronomic crops, including grains, forages, and fiber, are central to California agriculture, yet face many challenges. To ensure resilience, a statewide survey was conducted by the University of California Cooperative Extension service (UCCE) to identify high-priority needs and inform extension programming based on grower, consultant, and allied industry input. The goal was to compare the importance of different topics with the level of satisfaction regarding UCCE’s delivery of information on these topics. Survey respondents identified integrated pest management, nutrient and irrigation management, and variety testing as high-priority needs, with overall high satisfaction regarding UCCE’s program delivery on these topics. Topics needing more focus (high priority but below-average level of satisfaction) included testing new products, soil health management, and water conservation and storage. Areas of low priority and low satisfaction included niche marketing, emerging crops,...

Water risks to agriculture: Too little and too much

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Water risks to agriculture: Too little and too much

El Programa Jardinero Maestro de UC en San Diego celebra 40 años de servir a la comunidad

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

El Programa Jardinero Maestro de UC en San Diego celebra 40 años de servir a la comunidad

Native blue elderberry in hedgerows bridges revenue and conservation goals

Tue, 5 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Field edge hedgerows have long been promoted by UC Cooperative Extension and other organizations as a way to bring needed biodiversity to California farms. However, adoption of hedgerow planting still falls far short of available edge capacity. Our study explores a new multifunctional model of hedgerows that combines production with environmental conservation goals by considering the revenue potential of harvesting blue elderberry. Blue elderberry is a drought-tolerant native species well adapted to multiple microclimates in California and the western United States. The growth of elderberry herbal products and specialty foods markets is currently skyrocketing nationally and globally, and blue elderberry may offer a promising entry into these markets. Blue elderberry is also sought out by Indigenous people as one important component in efforts to restore cultural and food sovereignty. A field demonstration trial in the southern Sacramento Valley found that elderberry yields...

The Shaping Healthy Choices Program: Improving the impact through community partnerships

Tue, 5 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The high prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity demonstrates the need for effective intervention strategies. The Shaping Healthy Choices Program (SHCP) is a school-based intervention that promotes nutrition and physical education, develops family and community partnerships, and incorporates foods available on the school campus, with the goal of achieving sustainable student health outcomes. Partnerships developed through implementation of the SHCP were analyzed using the RE-AIM: Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to assess the potential for adoption, scaling and sustainability of the program. The RE-AIM framework is a comprehensive approach to evaluating public health interventions through reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance. Partners of the SHCP include site staff (teachers, administration and health professionals), parents, peer teachers, and state and federal agencies, such as the Supplemental...

Improving the feeding value of rice straw

Tue, 5 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract: For rice producers, removing straw from a field after harvest is important because the material is slow to break down and needs to be gone prior to planting the next season. One option is to bale the straw and use it as a forage supplement for cattle. Although rice straw is a low-cost supplement, it’s also low in forage quality and digestibility. Three trials over a four-year period tested methods to improve rice straw forage quality in the field where it was harvested, and then tested the treatments in cattle feeding trials to assess intake by cattle, performance in weight and size gain, and forage quality. The goal was to find an economical method to improve rice straw feeding value that was also practical to implement for both rice farmers and beef cattle producers. Of the treatments tested, treating traditionally baled rice straw with ammonia gas improved crude protein, intake and cattle performance, compared to untreated straw. The treatment achieved the goals...

Walnut growers want rootstocks that can resist diseases

Tue, 5 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

English walnuts are the walnut species of choice for nut production. In the United States, edible English walnuts are almost exclusively produced in California, using soil and water resources on more than 370,000 acres. Scion cultivars of English walnuts are grafted onto rootstocks. Traditional rootstocks are seedling populations of so-called Paradox hybrids generated from crosses of black walnut with English walnut. These rootstocks are susceptible to soil-borne diseases, including crown gall, Phytophthora root and crown rot, and plant-parasitic nematodes. Strategies to respond to these diseases include the use of newly developed clonal walnut rootstocks with genetic resistance. In a survey conducted during 2020 through 2021, walnut growers revealed their willingness to pay higher prices for clonal walnut rootstocks with some disease resistance. The survey showed that they were most concerned with crown gall and nematodes, and were willing to pay significant price premiums...

California has 882,000 farmworkers to fill 413,000 jobs

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

California’s agricultural employers hired an average of 413,000 workers between 2018 and 2021 and reported an average of 882,000 farmworkers during these years, a ratio of 2.1 workers for each job. Average agricultural employment has been relatively stable since 2000, while the number of workers reported by agricultural employers declined. Despite concerns about farm labor shortages, the data show a relatively stable pool of farmworkers, including a rising share who are brought to farms by farm labor contractors.

What have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen the health and resilience of California communities and the food system?

Mon, 5 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this special issue, California Agriculture features articles on lessons learned during the COVID-19 “natural experiment” to inform Cooperative Extension programming and local, state and federal policy to improve population health, food security, economic resilience, equity and sustainability throughout the state and food system.

Food banks show resilience in face of COVID-19

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented spikes in food insecurity. In California, food banks, which were already facing high demand for emergency food assistance, rallied federal, state and local resources to help meet the challenges of the pandemic. Our study draws on interviews with food banks and their partners approximately one year into the pandemic to learn how they responded to enormous challenges in staffing, procurement, distribution and infrastructure. These interviews captured lessons for resilience planning and food security policy that might otherwise have been lost. We found an encouraging story of resilience, and a story of how government agencies and community networks can work together to create and strengthen food security policies, even under the most dire circumstances.

The impact of COVID-19 on CalFresh and Market Match spending at farmers markets

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What barriers and opportunities did low-income consumers face in shopping at farmers markets during COVID-19? To answer this question, we observed purchasing practices in Sonoma and Marin counties in Northern California, organized focus groups, and analyzed data from CalFresh and Market Match, which are public programs to support food access. We found that expanded federal food benefits during the pandemic increased financial access to farmers markets for low-income consumers, resulting in increased CalFresh and Market Match sales. While some consumers perceived outdoor shopping as safer, others were unsure whether farmers markets were strictly following pandemic precautions. Further, broader changes to shopping practices as a result of the pandemic indirectly impacted consumers’ interest in shopping at farmers markets. To make farmers markets more accessible now and in preparation for future disasters, we recommend increasing awareness of farmers markets among low-income communities,...

Adaptation and sustainability: Lessons from Central Coast organic farmers during the pandemic

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The challenges faced by organic vegetable farmers in California during the COVID-19 pandemic included uncertainty about food safety rules and best practices, availability of workers, and significant changes to their markets. When the pandemic began, we built on an ongoing interdisciplinary research project with organic vegetable farmers on the California Central Coast to track how those growers adapted to the crisis. We conducted surveys in April 2020 and January 2021 to determine impacts on farmers and how farm size, market channels, and management strategies influenced a farm's ability to adapt to and recover from pandemic-induced disruptions. We found that mid-sized farmers with flexible and diverse marketing channels could navigate changes from the pandemic with minimal losses and, in some cases, economic gains. By contrast, smaller farmers with limited resources, especially those with disadvantaged backgrounds and limited access to technology, experienced more drastic impacts,...

Restoring oak woodlands through trust: Social capital and its role in successful private land conservation

Mon, 1 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Formal private land conservation programs can be essential for achieving conservation goals, especially in ecosystems with substantial private ownership. Most deciduous oak woodlands in Humboldt County, California, and throughout the Pacific Northwest are located on private lands. The loss of these woodlands to conifer encroachment is a critical conservation concern, with implications for wildlife habitat, range management, cultural resources, biodiversity, and fire management. Private land programs depend on both incentives and voluntary cooperation. Through interviews and participant observation, we explored how and why landowners participate in oak woodland restoration. We are particularly interested in the role of social capital, which consists of trust and expectations of reciprocity. We found that oak woodland restoration depends on building social capital in order to leverage different skill sets and gain access to resources and technical expertise. Rather than a side...

Exploring the challenges and benefits of online youth-led nutrition programs

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Nutrition educators at the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) have been engaging low-income youth in youth-led participatory action research (YPAR) for several years. During COVID-19, these educators transitioned from in-person to online YPAR programming. Delivering the YPAR program online presented challenges but also fostered new strategies and provided benefits. This study assesses the challenges, strategies and benefits of online YPAR programming, and it examines future program implications from the perspectives of both nutrition educators and youth. Qualitative interviews were conducted via Zoom with eight nutrition educators who attempted to implement YPAR programming during the 2020–2021 school year. We used a retrospective Qualtrics survey to gain information from 54 youth participants. We found that online facilitation encouraged the innovative use of technology, which was especially important because it allowed teams to connect with each other during...

UC 4-H youth spread the facts — not the disease — during COVID-19

Tue, 7 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for education in disease transmission and prevention. In response, the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program implemented a virtual epidemiology project, based on resources developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and collaborating agencies. The teenage participants were actively engaged in group lessons focused on epidemiology, immunology, vaccination, zoology, prevention strategies, related careers, and health communication. Surveys administered before and after the program showed an increase in knowledge about vaccinations and disease transmission and improved attitudes toward, and intentions to adopt, practices that reduce the spread of disease. They also showed increased self-efficacy and positive health behaviors (hand washing and mask use, and the intention to share what they learned in their communities). These findings contribute to the development of public health and epidemiological...

Schools provided healthy meals even during COVID

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

COVID-related school closures had a big impact on millions of children nationwide, many of whom rely on schools for healthy meals. An online survey of 3,297 fourth- and fifth-grade students in 67 California school sstudied the dietary habits of schoolchildren during the pandemic. The results showed that students who ate one or two school meals a day had significantly higher intakes of vegetables, whole fruits, and 100% fruit juice, compared to students who did not eat school meals. Specifically, students who ate one school meal a day ate more beans and orange vegetables, while those who ate two school meals a day consumed a wider variety of vegetables, including beans and orange vegetables. However, children who ate one school meal a day drank more fruit drinks and flavored milks than those who did not eat school meals. Further, students who ate two school meals consumed more fruit drinks, flavored milks, and sports and energy drinks than those who did not eat school meals. Our...

During COVID-19, Californians sought food security, connection and solace in their gardens

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Gardening offers a range of benefits, from food production to social connection to improved mental and physical health. When COVID-19 struck, interest in gardening soared, but it was unclear whether and how gardens would deliver these benefits in the midst of a global pandemic. We analyzed survey responses from 603 home and community gardeners across California, collected between June and August 2020, to assess trends in pandemic gardening. Gardeners highlighted the importance of gardens as therapeutic spaces where they could escape the stress of the pandemic, and as safe outdoor places for socializing. The study also revealed people's concerns about food supply, along with an accompanying interest in growing their own food to increase food security and self-sufficiency. The pandemic posed challenges for home gardeners, though, with 62% struggling to access gardening supplies. These findings suggest the importance of providing garden space, resources, and support, especially to...

Youth participatory action research: Integrating science learning and civic engagement

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Strengthening young people's scientific literacy and civic engagement are important educational goals for Cooperative Extension. We implemented youth participatory action research (YPAR) projects over three years at five schools. The YPAR approach integrates science learning and civic engagement by empowering youth, with the help of adult facilitators, to decide upon a community issue to research, design and implement their research, and then plan a service project based on research findings to address the issue. We explored young people's and educators' perspectives on which project elements influenced youth participation, examined opportunities for youth science and civic-related learning, and asked educators to reflect on their own learning and development. Using data generated from youth focus groups and educator interviews, we found that YPAR grounds science learning in young people's lived experience. It also provides a meaningful approach to science learning through raising...

Urban agriculture in California: Lessons learned from an urban farmer workshop series

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Urban farming is an important component of California agriculture, but lack of agricultural census data or common definitions makes it difficult to track and understand. In 2017–2018, a team of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) researchers and extension professionals developed a workshop series for urban farmers in California based on results of a prior needs assessment. After conducting 16 workshops in the state's largest urban centers, the team evaluated what participants learned and how they put their knowledge into action. The evaluation highlighted urban farmers' ongoing challenges and found that economic issues such as profitability and land access are some of the greatest barriers for urban farming in California. An unexpected positive outcome was the opportunity for participants to network and meet other farmers. Urban farmers expressed the need for more opportunities for mentoring and building partnerships with other farmers and organizations....

More jobs and less seasonal employment in California agriculture since 1990

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Employment in California agriculture has increased over the past 30 years and has become less seasonal. There were an average of 404,000 farm jobs in California in 2020, 10% more than average employment of 367,000 in 1990. Meanwhile, seasonality, as measured by peak month employment divided by trough month employment, fell 22% over three decades, from 1.8 in 1990 to 1.4 in 2020. Most farmworkers have one farm employer a year, although that employer may be a labor contractor who moves workers from one farm to another. Most new workers in the California farm workforce are H-2A guest workers, the young and flexible Mexican workers who are legally authorized to work in the United States and who are often brought to farms by labor contractors. In the future, rising employment and declining seasonality, combined with an aging and settled farm workforce, may reduce farmworker migration and flexibility.

How agritourism helped farmers during the pandemic

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

During COVID-19, California small farmers and ranchers suffered significant disruptions and shifts in the marketplace, marked by a loss in wholesale outlets and an increase in demand for direct-to-consumer sales. This study examines how agritourism operators responded to the challenges and opportunities created by the pandemic. In 2021 and 2022, in the midst of the pandemic, the UC ANR Agritourism Program held a series of trainings for California farmers interested in starting or expanding agritourism enterprises. Some of the key themes that emerged from the trainings were that farmers had to shift their operations to ensure social distancing and reduced crowd sizes, while at the same time, they experienced an unprecedented demand for direct-to-consumer sales and on-farm visits. Agritourism, in varying degrees, contributed to the resiliency of most of the participants in our study. Moving forward, it would be worthwhile for researchers, agricultural professionals, and decision-makers...

California wine grape growers need support to manage risks from wildfire and smoke

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

California has experienced an increase in the size, frequency, and severity of wildfires in recent years, with wide-ranging impacts to agriculture. The 2020 wildfire season was particularly catastrophic, causing billions of dollars in damage to the state’s world-renowned wine industry. Wine grape growers and wine producers statewide recently took a survey to help us better understand the wildfire informational resources available to producers, as well as the role wildfire risk plays in operational management decisions. The survey results show that the negative impacts of wildfires on wine production may be the result of wildfire smoke more than of the actual wildfires. We also show that managers do not always make operational changes, even when they perceive increased wildfire risk. Despite diverse sources of wildfire-related information and operational guidance, there is not enough information to effectively manage fire risk.

Recycled water could recharge aquifers in the Central Valley

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Drawing out too much groundwater, or overdrafting, is a serious problem in California. As a result, groundwater sustainability agencies are considering using recycled municipal wastewater to recharge aquifers. In our study, we employ suitability mapping and the models C2VSimFG and Ichnos to identify appropriate areas for managing aquifer recharge with recycled water in California’s Central Valley. The factors that influence suitability include soil properties, proximity to recycled water sources, and the residence time, or amount of time that recharged water spends underground. There are many suitable areas in the Central Valley that are immediately adjacent to water recycling facilities. However, adequate supply is an issue in most locations. Roughly half of the groundwater sustainability agencies in critically overdrafted basins of the Central Valley have enough potentially suitable locations to meet their recharge goals, but not all of them have access to enough recycled...

Three decades of “Africanized” honey bees in California

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

“Africanized” honey bees (AHB) have been part of California’s agricultural and natural landscapes for nearly three decades. Prior to their arrival in 1994, leading honey bee experts expressed concern over the potentially disastrous impact of AHB on California agriculture and public safety. Despite these concerns, the state’s agricultural production has not been significantly impacted by AHB. However, some evidence suggests that the abundance of AHB in natural habitats can have negative consequences for native pollinators. At the same time, AHB may provide a genetic resource for improving managed honey bee health. We recommend updating the term “Africanized” honey bees to more accurately reflect their biology and to avoid unfortunate connotations.

Economic damages of food-safety incidents in complex markets: 2018 E. coli outbreak and romaine lettuce

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Food-safety incidents are costly for everyone in the leafy greens industry. However, it is challenging to estimate the size and distribution of these costs in today’s complex supply chains. Extensive use of formal contracts in markets such as leafy greens obscures prices and other terms of trade from the public view. Using proprietary data on prices and sales from a major leafy greens processor operating in the retail and food-service sectors, we were able to separately estimate short-run damages associated with the November 2018 romaine Escherichia coli advisory for grower-shippers, processors, retailers, and food-service operators. Due to fixed prices in grower-processor contracts, growers were only minimally impacted by the advisory. Processors, meanwhile, lost approximately $55.3 million from price and quantity impacts. Retailers incurred $14.1 million in losses after pulling product from distribution channels and shelves. Food service operators were less...

UC 4-H programs bolster youths’ public speaking confidence

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Public speaking is an essential skill for the workforce, yet many professionals lack confidence when speaking in front of an audience. While the 4-H Youth Development Program helps young people learn and practice public speaking, little is known about which specific 4-H activitiesfoster these skills. We conducted a study to explore 4-H members' public speaking confidence and to identify specific 4-H activities that bolster young people’s public speaking confidence. Quantitative and qualitative survey analyses revealed that, regardless of age, the longer 4-H members spend in the program, the more their self-confidence in public speaking improves. The 4-H program offers unique opportunities for public speaking at club meetings and formal presentations. There is room to expand these opportunities by offering youth more instructional “how to present” materials and increasing low-stakes speaking venues.

Long-term reduced tillage and winter cover crops can improve soil quality without depleting moisture

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

California farmers who use reduced-disturbance tillage and winter cover cropping can boost production and improve soil health. However, some farmers are hesitant to try these conservation practices due to uncertainty about whether planting winter cover crops will deplete soil moisture in already drought-stricken regions. Our study addresses these concerns by looking at how long-term reduced-disturbance tillage and winter cover cropping, compared to fallowed soils with standard tillage, affected soil moisture. Although we found a statistical difference in total soil water content, the difference was only about 0.3 inches of water per foot of soil. On average, the soil water content of the top 0–96 inches was highest for the reduced-disturbance fields with winter cover crops. This was especially evident during our driest field season, from November 1, 2017, to March 15, 2018, when cumulative rainfall was only 1.9 inches. Our findings show that winter cover cropping and reduced-disturbance...

Carbon farming can enhance pollinator resources

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Native California bees and other wild pollinators, which are essential to many fruit and vegetable crops, are being threatened by climate change, pesticides and habitat degradation. Carbon farming, a set of practices that sequester carbon in the soil or woody biomass, can create habitat that supports these pollinators. This paper focuses on habitat management and farming practices that both increase carbon sequestration and benefit pollinator communities. By incentivizing and supporting conservation practices that incorporate carbon farming, we can protect wild pollinators and increase the resilience of California agriculture in the face of ongoing climate change.

Grazing lambs on pastures regrown after wildfires did not significantly alter metal content in meat and wool

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Wildfires can drastically change rangeland by depositing ash contaminated with metals that are not part of normal diets. This can pose health threats to humans and animals. This risk, along with alterations of essential minerals in livestock grazing on regrowth on burnt lands, is not well known. To better understand this, our study investigated metal concentrations in water, soil, plant forage, and meat and wool of sheep grazing on the regrowth of burned lands. We compared metal concentrations in sheep grazed on regrowth to stored meat samples from grazing sheep a year prior to the wildfire. Lead, mercury, arsenic, molybdenum, cadmium, beryllium, cobalt and nickel were not detected above reporting limits in meat, wool or water samples. Contamination from chromium and thallium was detected in three of 26 meat samples from sheep grazed on regrowth. These metals were not detected in 22 stored meat samples from sheep the year before. Copper concentrations found in the meat of animals...

Online training for child care providers teaches child nutrition in English and Spanish

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Poor nutrition among young children is a national health crisis which contributes to obesity and chronic disease later in life. Since children spend so much time in child care, child care providers can help improve the quality of young children's nutrition and foster lifelong healthy eating habits. However, California's family child care home (FCCH) providers

receive little training on what and how to feed young children. To address this problem, we developed a self-paced online training on child nutrition in English and Spanish for FCCH providers. Our feasibility study evaluated providers’ satisfaction with the training and ease of use, using an online survey and a 45-minute interview upon completing the training. Providers rated their training experience as excellent, easy to enroll in, and complete. Most providers reported they were somewhat likely to make changes to what and how they feed infants and toddlers. Many recommended adding printed resources and culturally...

With sustainable use of local inputs, urban agriculture delivers community benefits beyond food

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Urban agriculture is becoming increasingly important in developed countries, especially in terms of its economic and social benefits. If urban gardens are managed according to agroecological principles - involving the efficient and sustainable use of local resources and inputs - there are many environmental benefits to local communities. We studied urban gardens in Berkeley, California, and Madrid, Spain, to see how agroecology is practiced. Communities such as these that utilize good ecological practices in urban gardens obtain a wide range of valuable ecosystem services - the kinds of services provided by healthy ecosystems, including cultural services such as a place to socialize. These communities can serve as model urban agricultural centers which can contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including good health, food security and sustainable cities.

4-H Water Wizards: Lessons learned for effective afterschool science programming

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The University of California 4-H Youth Development Program created the 4-H Water Wizards project in response to two related issues: the need for high-quality science education programming in afterschool settings, and the desire to foster a citizenry that understands and can make informed decisions about water. In collaboration with afterschool program staff, Sacramento County 4-H implemented the 12-week water education project for children in grades four through six. We evaluated the program over four years (2012–2016) utilizing a pretest-posttest study design and evaluation surveys from participants and program staff. Our findings indicate positive outcomes both for program staff who delivered the project and for the children who participated in the program. Afterschool program staff gained competence in delivering hands-on and inquiry-based science programming. Fourth- and fifth-grade students demonstrated small but significant knowledge gain about water. Students also demonstrated...

Improvements to the soil nitrate quick test for California small grains

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Small-grain crop growers need to match their crops' nitrogen (N) needs with fertilizer applications. This can be challenging because small grains are grown under diverse conditions and their growing season interacts with unpredictable precipitation. Resulting conditions can lead to nitrate-N leaching and runoff losses. More widespread and accurate soil N testing could help growers improve N fertilizer use efficiency, reduce the risk of N loss, and fulfill regulatory requirements. Soil samples from across California small-grain growing regions were tested with a soil nitrate quick test as well as standard laboratory procedures. The quick test is inexpensive and easy to use, and it provides rapid results. A correction factor was developed to convert the quick test values to lab and fertilizer equivalents. The correction factor is based on site-specific soil bulk density and the extracting solution used. An interactive webtool was developed that integrates this information for...

Winter flooding recharges groundwater in almond orchards with limited effects on root dynamics and yield

Mon, 9 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

California signed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) into law in 2014. SGMA requires groundwater-dependent regions to halt overdraft and develop plans to reach an annual balance of pumping and recharge. Groundwater aquifers can be recharged by flooding agricultural fields when fallow, but this has not been an option for perennial crops such as fruit and nut trees. While flooding these crops might be possible during the dormant season, it is not known what impact flooding might have on tree-root systems, health and yield. We followed root production, tree water status and yield in two almond orchards in Northern California for 2 years to test the impact of applying captured winter water runoff for groundwater recharge purposes on tree performance. Results showed that more than 90% of the water applied to sandy soil and 80% of the water applied to loamy soil percolated past the root zones, with no measured adverse effects on tree water status, canopy development...

Fine-tuning fertilizer applications in organic cool-season leafy green crops can increase soil quality and yields

Mon, 9 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Organic cool-season vegetable growers on the Central Coast face challenges in applying nitrogen (N) to balance yields with new environmental regulations. It is hard to time fertilizer applications while calculating N mineralization of soil organic matter and organic fertilizers to plant-available N. Organic fertilizers with high phosphorus (P) to N ratios may elevate P levels and harm surface water quality. In this study, we evaluated (1) mineralization of soil organic matter and fertilizers, (2) effectiveness of residual soil nitrate-N tests and (3) long-term impacts of organic fertilizers on P levels and soil microbial activity. We found that mineralization of N from soil organic matter provided limited N to leafy green vegetables. Soil tests were more reliable in heavier than sandier soils. Application rates of 4-4-2 were calculated to meet N demands, resulting in an oversupply of P. However, only 9% to 17% of fertilizer P solubilized without elevating available soil P levels....

Cattle grazing reduces fuel and leads to more manageable fire behavior

Mon, 9 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Cattle play an important role in wildfire management by grazing fuel on California rangelands. The benefits of cattle grazing have not been thoroughly explored, though. Using statewide cattle inventory, brand inspection and land use data, we have estimated that cattle removed 11.6 billion pounds (5.3 billion kilograms [kg]) of non-woody plant material from California's rangelands in 2017. Regionally, these reductions varied between 174 and 1,020 pounds per grazed acre (195 to 1,143 kg per hectare). Fire behavior is characterized in this paper by flame length. Fire behavior models suggest that these regional fuel reductions lower flame lengths, and lead to more manageable wildfires. In addition, fire-based models show that cattle grazing reduces fuel loads enough to lessen fire hazards in many grazed areas. Moving forward, there may be significant opportunities to expand strategic grazing on rangelands to add extra layers of protection against wildfires.

Using Ecological Site Descriptions to make ranch-level decisions about where to manage for soil organic carbon

Mon, 9 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Maintaining and enhancing soil organic carbon storage can mitigate climate change while promoting forage growth. California has adopted incentive programs to promote rangeland practices that build soil organic carbon. However, there is no standard framework for assessing the baseline level of soil organic carbon at the ranch scale. Here, we use the Ecological Site Description — a land-type classification system — to help ranch managers set priorities about where to implement practices to increase soil organic carbon. We measured baseline carbon stocks at 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 centimeters' depth across three ecological sites and two vegetation states (shrubland and grassland) at Tejon Ranch, California. We discovered increased levels of soil carbon at ecological sites in higher elevations, and more soil carbon in shrublands as compared to grasslands. Slope, elevation, and soil texture, as well as plant litter and shrub cover, were significant predictors of soil carbon. The Ecological...

Low prevalence of handwashing and importance of signage at California county fair animal exhibits