We are two months into the new year, and our college is thriving and alive with activity. This month has been busy for our college and the entire campus! As the days slowly lengthen, the number of prospective students coming to visit us grows. I love seeing groups of families on tours, threading their way through the Arboretum, past the Eye on Mrak, and along the bike path towards the Coffee House while listening to the guides give bits of information about why they love UC Davis. 

The latest developments in strawberry breeding and healthy soil took center stage at two recent UC Davis Field Days, one hosted in Prunedale (near Salinas) and one held at UC Davis Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility.

In Prunedale, strawberry farmers, shippers, breeders, propagators, crop advisors and resource conservation groups gathered to get a taste of what’s developing in the UC Davis Public Strawberry Breeding Program. Many said they liked what they tasted and saw.

Field days help farmers plan for the future

Field days for California growers are a tradition going back to the very beginning of the University of California. They have stood the test of time because they are an extremely effective method of showing the agricultural community the latest innovations in plant and animal production.

Farmers gather to see new research in beef, alfalfa and small grains

When it comes to agricultural research, there’s nothing like seeing it in action to learn how it fits on your farm. That’s why farmers, ranchers, crop advisers and many others gathered at UC Davis on a recent sunny day in May to attend field days focused on beef, alfalfa and small grains.

Students from diverse backgrounds pursue agriculture

With four undergraduate colleges and over 100 majors to choose from, many students leave UC Davis without ever scratching the surface of the agricultural sciences. However, agricultural science is the backbone of education for the 7,491 students in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).

UC Davis offering three educational courses this summer

Weeds are a pervasive and expensive problem in California. They can choke waterways, crowd out native species on rangeland, and rob farmers of crop yields. According to the California Invasive Plant Council, the annual cost of invasive plant work in California is at least $82 million.

The University of California has robust educational resources to help those engaged in the battle, and this summer UC Davis is offering a trio of programs to help in the effort.

Weed Day: July 7, 2016