California’s San Joaquin Valley produces an enormous share of the nation’s fruits, nuts and vegetables. But it takes an unsustainable amount of groundwater to do it. New state rules aimed at reducing groundwater use are expected to force up to 20 percent of the valley’s irrigated fields out of production – a blow to farmers and communities.
By winning a scholarship to attend an ag industry conference, doctoral student Oluwatosin Adebanjo accessed holistic resources to help him become a leader in the ag sector.
Scientists in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences are developing cultivars of pasta wheat that resist the deadly fungus that causes stripe rust and threatens the world's wheat production. Resistant bread wheat is up next.
Retired professor and agronomist Robert “Bob” LeRoy Travis, Jr., was a UCD alum who taught at UC Davis from 1976-2006 and enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies.
UC Davis Plant Sciences students earned first-place oral and poster awards at the CANVAS annual meeting. Research focused on oak restoration and water-efficient wheat that still delivers strong yields and quality bread.
Cameron Pittelkow is estimating greenhouse gas emissions from alfalfa fields and suggests ways to reduce those emissions depending on region. Valentina Roel-Rezk is measuring the link between organic amendments and GHG emissions.
Former department Chair Chris van Kessel and wife Betsy have given $500,000 to establish an endowment to help graduate students studying field crops. With the UC Davis Give Day Challenge now open, you can be a part of this life-changing, world-bettering opportunity!
Scientists have developed a new genetic tool that makes it easier and faster to breed grains that grow more efficiently and are better adapted to different environments. They're using a ground-breaking discovery: micro-RNA.
Alfalfa expert Charlie Brummer says it's time to "think about redesigning the alfalfa plant from first principles," after 40 years of frustrated efforts to increase yield. He made the remarks at a recent meeting of the North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. Students also presented their research, including trials to grow the crop with less water.
UC Davis researchers are developing wheat and barley varieties to withstand drought, salinity, and climate change. Innovations include dual-purpose wheat, non-allergenic grains, drone monitoring, and water-efficient farming to support growers.
