Cold temperatures inside honey bee colonies may cause colony losses during and after long-distance hauling, according to a preliminary study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. Every year almost 2 million honey …
Editing Genes in Citrus to Combat HLB
Researchers are working with the gene editing technology CRISPR to help citrus trees be more resistant to the disease Huanglongbing (HLB). Efforts continue on working to determine how the pathogen …
Deciphering the Walnut Genome
California produces 99 percent of the walnuts grown in the United States. New research could provide a major boost to the state’s growing $1.6 billion walnut industry by making it …
Understanding Regenerative Agriculture as a Farming System
There is a growing interest in regenerative agriculture practices which may be the next step in farming, further advancing sustainable farm systems already in place. “Regenerative agriculture is really taking …
Researching Soil Health Using Cover Crops
Research that is being made possible through the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Healthy Soils Demonstration Project is starting to take shape at multiple sites throughout the state. Researchers …
USDA Provides Funding to California to Support Projects that Protect Agriculture and Natural Resources
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating $16 million to California as part of its effort to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, and threat …
Satellites Can Monitor Evapotranspiration Down To A Quarter-Acre
Satellites can tell a grower how much water to use on their crop. National Aeronautical and Space Administration satellites continuously monitor several aspects of our planet. “We have 19 satellites orbiting …
State Board to Discuss Breeding Technology
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss innovations in plant and animal breeding, including gene editing technology, at its upcoming meeting on February 5, 2019. The meeting …
ARS Microscopy Research Helps Unravel the Workings of a Major Honey Bee Pest
Research by scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the University of Maryland released today sheds new light — and reverses decades of scientific dogma — regarding a honey bee pest …
Study Shows GMO Opposition Highest from Those Who Know the Least
A new study published by the science journal, Nature Human Behavior found that those who know the least about GMO’s oppose it the most. According the the article, most scientists …
Weed Identification Tools and Tips
Identifying what type of weeds are showing up on a farming operation is the most important step in formulating a management strategy. When a new type of weed begins to …
Concerning Year for Weedy Rice With Discovery of New Biotype
The last year seemed to be a concerning one in terms of weedy rice issues in California. While the year ultimately ended with overall low occurrences of the weed species, …
Sterile Navel Orangeworm Project Tweaks Expected
It’s no surprise that the sterile navel orangeworm (NOW) project in Kern County needs some tweaking. Sterilized male moths in the pilot project that is releasing irradiated moths into orchards to …
Biosolorization a Potential Tool for Producers?
Research is looking at using a combination of byproducts and the sun as a replacement for chemical fumigants. UC Davis is testing an idea that would give producers another tool against …