From the UC Blogosphere...

The Lovely Ladies at the Laidlaw

So far, so good. The three queen bumble bees (Bombus melanopygus) we found buzzing around our porch light the night of Jan....

The three queen bumble bees (Bombus melanopygus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The three queen bumble bees (Bombus melanopygus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bumble bee expert and UC Davis emeritus professor Robbin Thorp checks the trio. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bumble bee expert and UC Davis emeritus professor Robbin Thorp checks the trio. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gov. Brown's budget proposal bodes well for agriculture

Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed 2014-15 budget contains a $142.2 million funding increase for the University of California system, which would be a 5 percent increase in state funding for UC over the previous year, reported Tim Hearden in Capital Press.

Hearden sought comment on the proposed Brown budget from the vice president of the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barbara Allen-Diaz.

"We’re very pleased with the governor’s proposed budget and encouraged by the show of support for the university,” Allen-Diaz said. “UC has always been supportive of UC Cooperative Extension as its representative in communities throughout California.”

Allen-Diaz said ANR is “committed to rebuilding Cooperative Extension and hiring more advisors.

The article noted other items from the proposed budged of interest to the California ag community, including:

• An extra $20 million  for CDFA in cap-and-trade revenue for nitrogen and dairy digester research and development of renewable fuels.
  
  
• $100 million in cap-and-trade funds for the Sustainable Communities program, which includes farmland preservation, and $1 million for a food safety laboratory CDFA and UC operate jointly.
  
  
• $1.8 million and 11 new positions at the State Water Resources Control Board to tackle illegal water diversions for marijuana cultivation.

And the Winner of the Beer-for-a-Butterfly Contest...

Don't go looking for the first-flight cabbage white butterfly of the year in Yolo, Solano and Sacramento counties. The...

Suds for a bug...this is the cabbage white butterfly that Art Shapiro caught Jan. 14. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Suds for a bug...this is the cabbage white butterfly that Art Shapiro caught Jan. 14. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Professor Art Shapiro with his newly netted cabbage white butterfly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Professor Art Shapiro with his newly netted cabbage white butterfly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Daily Life For Master Gardeners

Illuminating Revelations When Water Evaporates or The Lake is Receding – Is That a Town!   By Andrea Peck...

Let the Bed Bugs Bite

Most of us remember the old nursery rhyme, "Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs bite," and vow to do...

Forceps held by Danielle Wishon zero in on a bed bug to be fed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Forceps held by Danielle Wishon zero in on a bed bug to be fed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bed bug scurries away after taking a blood meal. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bed bug scurries away after taking a blood meal. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two bed bugs on Danielle Wishon's arm. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two bed bugs on Danielle Wishon's arm. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Danielle Wishon (foreground at left) answers questions. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Danielle Wishon (foreground at left) answers questions. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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