From the UC Blogosphere...

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)

Almonds are among California's top 'ambassadors'

California's successful almond industry was featured in a Los Angeles Times article over the weekend, which noted the sector's collaboration with UC on managing almond irrigation.

California produces 82 percent of the world's almonds on 800,000 acres in the Great Central Valley. About 70 percent of the almonds are sold overseas, wrote LA Times reporter David Pierson. The Almond Board of California forecasts that the state will harvest its third-largest crop in 2014 at 1.85 billion pounds -  more than three times what the state was producing in the late 1990s.

Pierson spoke to Daniel Sumner, director of the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources' Agricultural Issues Center. He believes foreign demand for California almonds will continue to grow.

"We'll run out of dirt and water before we run out of almond markets," Sumner said.

In the video below, Joe MacIlvaine, president of Paramount Farming, explains how UC Cooperative Extension and California farmers have worked together to improve irrigation and nitrogen efficiency in almond production. Paramount Farming produces 6 percent of California's almonds on 46,000 acres in the southern San Joaquin Valley. For more the California almond industry, read Almonds become California's second-most valuable commodity. 

Which Bug's for You?

What's your favorite bug? Inquiring minds want to know. At least one inquiring mind wants to know. Journalist/cultural...

A honey bee heading toward an almond blossom. The honey bee is one of the candidates for Insect News Network's Bug of the Year. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee heading toward an almond blossom. The honey bee is one of the candidates for Insect News Network's Bug of the Year. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

'Zombie' Bumble Bees?

This is the story of what may be three parasitized bumble bees.  Or to put it more precisely, three Bombus...

The "porch light" bumble bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The "porch light" bumble bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A little nourishment for this queen bumble bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A little nourishment for this queen bumble bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is the bumble bee-rearing chamber/observation box that Robbin Thorp built. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is the bumble bee-rearing chamber/observation box that Robbin Thorp built. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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