From the UC Blogosphere...

Flower Lovers: The Bees

What do you know about bees, and what would you like to learn about them? Visit the University of California, Davis campus...

Italian bee nectaring on lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Italian bee nectaring on lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Derek Tully of Boy Scout Troop 111 and his girlfriend, Emily Talbot, staple wire to the fence. This was his Eagle Scout project. He competes on the Davis High School water polo and swim teams and she's a talented violinist. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Derek Tully of Boy Scout Troop 111 and his girlfriend, Emily Talbot, staple wire to the fence. This was his Eagle Scout project. He competes on the Davis High School water polo and swim teams and she's a talented violinist. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Volunteer Larry Tully, father of Derek Tully, works on the nearly completed fence. Larry is a retired machinist from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The project was finished Sept. 7. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Volunteer Larry Tully, father of Derek Tully, works on the nearly completed fence. Larry Tully is a retired machinist from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The project was finished Sept. 7. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Local newspaper shares Fresno County CalFresh outreach

Reedley seniors learned how to eat healthy on a budget by participating in a four-session course offered by UC Cooperative Extension CalFresh Nutrition Education, reported the Reedley Exponent.

UCCE nutrition educator Nancy Zumkeller taught participants how to make 'cowboy caviar' during the program's third session, which reporter Jodie Reyna attended. During the program, Zumkeller compared the cost of a "healthy" shopping cart - which included white tuna and dried pinto beans - and an "unheathy" cart - with hot dogs and ground beef. The heathier cart came to $44.31. The less healthy cart was $58.24.

"It's not about choosing foods because they taste good, but about what's in the foods," Zumkeller said.

Cowboy caviar is an inexpensive and healthful recipe shared with participants of UCCE CalFresh Nutrition Education. (Photo: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.)

Sister, Can You Spare Some Food?

We can all learn from the honey bees. Worker bees--sisters--are like feeding machines. They not only feed each other, but...

Worker bees--sisters--sharing nectar at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Worker bees--sisters--sharing nectar at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

GMO labeling is costly proposition for California

Proposition 37 would result in $1.2 billion in higher costs for farmers and food processors, higher prices for consumers and new regulations, according to an article published in Western Farm Press that refers to a new UC Davis study. The article is credited to the No on 37 campaign.

If passed, Proposition 37, which is on California's November ballot, would require labeling of genetically engineered food.

“The proposed regulations have no basis in science and impose rules that would have significant costs for food producers, processors and marketers, and ultimately for consumers, while providing misinformation and no demonstrable benefits,” the article quotes Julian Alston and Daniel Sumner, professors in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Davis.

An editorial in the Los Angeles Times notes that the work for the study was undertaken with partial funding support from No on 37.

"That doesn't mean the study is without interest for voters," wrote Karin Klein in the editorial.

The Aggressor

Talk about aggression. Talk about bullying. Talk about power maneuvers. Ever seen male European wool carder...

Male European carder bee (left) targets a honey bee on catmint. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Male European carder bee (left) targets a honey bee on catmint. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Male European wool carder bee scores a direct hit. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Male European wool carder bee scores a direct hit. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The force knocks over the male European carder bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The force knocks over the male European carder bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The impact levels the honey bee. She emerges from the blow as the male European carder bee circles to attack again. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The impact levels the honey bee. She emerges from the blow as the male European carder bee circles to attack again. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey

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