Outreach

Marino appointed UC Presidential Chair for tree nuts

Giulia Marino is looking at some promising new varieties of pistachio trees to help growers facing warmer winters, reduced water quantity and quality, and rising management costs.  As the new University of California Presidential Chair for Tree Nut Genetics, Marino’s work will help farmers in the state’s $5-billion-and-growing industry become more resilient and more profitable.

Better hemp on the horizon

The University of California’s first Industrial Hemp Field Day presented work by the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences to help farmers manage common problems and improve their yields. Researchers discussed their latest findings to better manage hemp production, touching on diseases, weeds, insects, pesticide resistance, biological controls and regulatory processes. Field demonstrations included ongoing trials on nitrogen and water use.

An estimated 80 to 100 growers turned out for the Sept. 22 event, showing the demand for scientific guidance for legal hemp cultivation.

Resources for Small Grain Management: UC Small Grains Blog

The annual small grain field day and other field-based activities were cancelled due to COVID-10, so Mark Lundy and colleagues are sharing digital resources related to nitrogen fertilizer management in small grains, small grain variety evaluation, and leaf and canopy meters to measure the N status of crops. Also posted are virtual field tours of small grain variety evaluation plots.

Ninth Annual UC Davis Plant Science Symposium, May 6, 2020

The 2020 Plant Science Symposium at UC Davis will be held on May 6, and will be online through Zoom. This student-run symposium is built to stimulate discussions about the future of agriculture. It includes speakers and attendees from both academia and industry, and the public and private sectors. Hosted by the Plant Breeding Center and the Department of Plant Sciences.

Soil Health Practices Show Economic and Ecological Benefits

California organic farmers are sharing information about their efforts to combine reduced tillage with the use of cover crops on their vegetable farms to protect and improve soil health while adding carbon and diversity to their production systems. Jeff Mitchell, Plant Sciences, UC Davis, is spearheading this ongoing project.