From the UC Blogosphere...

A Chinese slowdown is 'imminent'

UC Berkeley economics professor Barry Eichengren supplied three reasons in a Business Insider blog why he believes a slowdown in the growth of the Chinese economy is on the horizon.

For one, slowdowns are more likely in countries where the manufacturing sector’s share of employment exceeds 20 percent, since it then becomes necessary to shift workers into services, where productivity growth is slower, Eichengren said.

Further, slowdowns come earlier in economies with undervalued currencies. Currency undervaluation, he said, may boost economic growth in the early stages of development, when a country relies on shifting its labor force from agriculture to assembly-based manufacturing. However, it may work less well when growth becomes more innovation-intensive.

“Finally, maintenance of an undervalued currency may cause imbalances and excesses in export-oriented manufacturing to build up, as happened in Korea in the 1990s, and through that channel make a growth deceleration more likely," Eichengren was quoted.

Author of the Pragmatic Capitalism blog, Cullen Roche, concurred with Eichengren's assessment. The Chinese slowdown is not a matter of if, but when, the post concluded.

A Plum Assignment

When something is a "plum," it's something desirable, whether it be a "plum" position, a "plum" assignment or a "plum"...

Bee Heading Toward Plum Blossom

HONEY BEE from the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, UC Davis, heads toward a plum blossom in the Haagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, a half-acre bee friendly garden on Bee Biology Road. The garden is open dawn to dusk at no charge. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Sharing a Plum

A HONEY BEE and a hover fly, aka flower fly, share a plum blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Heavy Load

PACKING a heavy load of pollen, a honey bee buzzing toward a plum blossom appears to be "plum-tired." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ag is a key part of California communities' identities

News stories from around the state demonstrate the role of UC Cooperative Extension in helping define California's agricultural "sense of place."

Salinas research corridor
Officials are working together to create a "research corridor" in Salinas to work in concert with existing agricultural and construction technology centers, said Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue in his state-of-the-city address. "I want to acknowledge the very real and sustained efforts to make a Research Corridor a reality by Dr. Phoebe Helm at Hartnell, Sonya Varyea Hammond of the UC Extension and Congressman Sam Farr," Donahue said, according to a transcript of his speech on the Fox 35 news website. "The City will continue to stand with and actively support their efforts to help move the public sector's role in the future we envision. The marketplace will ultimately move the agenda forward but the public sector plays a crucial role."

Organic agriculture
California is the No. 1 place for organic agriculture in the nation, according to a survey analyzed by UC Cooperative Extension agricultural economist Karen Klonsky. UC Davis news service issued a news tip about the analysis that was picked up widely in the media. The survey found that California leads the United States in the number of organic farms, the amount of land in organic production and in organic sales. California is home to 19 percent of the nation’s organic farms and accounts for 36 percent of the country’s organic sales.

Rural identity
The U.S. census reports that population in Yolo County has grown, but the place maintains its "rural" designation, reported the Woodland Daily Democrat. Government agencies usually identify counties as rural if the population is under 200,000, the story said. Even though Yolo County, the home of UC Davis, topped that number by 849 individuals, it is still considered rural because of the important role of agriculture in the community, county administrator Patrick Blacklock told the paper.

Saying It With Flowers

It's indeed an honor--a sweet one. Michael Parrella, professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology, was...

Floriculture Hall of Fame

HALL OF FAME--Michael Parrella (right), professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology, was inducted into the California Floriculture Hall of Fame on Feb. 25 in San Diego. With him is presenter Mike Mellano Sr., of Mellano & Company, Oceanside. Mellano was inducted into the Floriculture Hall of Fame in 1990. (Photo Courtesy of Debi Aker)

Yellow Rose

THIS YELLOW ROSE is almost ready to become a cut flower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Rose Weevil

THIS IS one of the pests that rose growers hate to see. It's a rose curculio or rose weevil. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Water that grows on trees

Coconut water, which has long been a popular drink in the tropics, is now being offered by trendy bottlers and touted as a source of nutrition, wellness, beauty and hydration.

The juice inside immature coconuts is sometimes billed as "nature's sports drink" and it gets credit for improving circulation, slowing aging, fighting viruses, boosting immunity, and reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke, according to a recent Los Angeles Times article.

However, Liz Applegate, the director of sports nutrition at UC Davis, shared a more moderate view with Times' reporter Elena Conis.

"There's nothing magical about coconut water," Applegate was quoted. There's no harm in it either.

Coconut water is 95 percent water and contains sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and small amounts of many essential amino acids. One cup has 6 grams of sugar, 2 grams of protein and 46 calories.

Even though it is said to have a slightly sour flavor, it has become popular among fitness junkies who don't want to consume sports drinks with artificial colors or preservatives, Applegate told the reporter.

However, coconut water contains up to 15 times as much potassium as the average sports drink. Because the body loses more sodium than potassium during a workout, all that extra potassium isn't important.

The bottom line: Coconut water is fine for casual athletes who like the taste, but there are cheaper ways to rehydrate and restore electrolytes.

UC Davis nutrition professor Liz Applegate.

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