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 …
Salinity Yield Trials in Alfalfa Show Interesting Results
After multiple years of production trials, researchers with the University of California Cooperative Extension have found that alfalfa can still be produced effectively using irrigation water with high salinity. The …
Female Sterile NOW Moths Did Perform in Trial
Further research proved that some of the sterile moths in the pilot navel orangeworm project were successful. Tests evaluating the trial that is releasing sterile NOW moths into pistachio and almond orchards …
Identifying Source of Sickness is Hardest Step
Identifying what food caused an illness is a difficult task. Investigators rely on people’s memory when they start tracing back illnesses from contaminated food. “The process of trying to determine what …
Overcoming the Challenges in the California Citrus Industry
There are more than 3,000 growers farming 320,000 acres of citrus throughout the state. Although the overall California industry is valued at approximately $3.4 billion, that success does not come …
Genome Published of the Small Hive Beetle, a Major Honey Bee Parasite
Beekeepers and researchers will welcome the unveiling of the small hive beetle’s genome by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their colleagues. The small hive beetle (SHB) is a major …
Still Time to Submit Written Comments to USDA About Future Priorities
The in-person listening sessions may be over, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will still be accepting written comments for about another …