Latest Issue of UC ANR’s California Agriculture is Available
UC’s Agriculture and Natural Resources division (UC ANR) has released a new issue of California Agriculture. Articles in this issue explore drones, citrus research, a threat to California’s palm trees and much more. Don’t miss Phillip Martin’s analysis of Trump and U.S. immigration policy. A summary? “How a decade of congressional inaction set up today’s debates on an issue crucial to agriculture.” Click here for the online version of the journal.
In case you didn’t know, California Agriculture is an open-access peer-reviewed research journal that publishes articles about agriculture; natural resources; and youth, families and communities (including a range of research about nutrition and healthy lifestyle). Cal Ag has been published by UC ANR since 1946. Executive Editor Jim Downing recently told me this about the publication:
“California Agriculture still has a sizable print circulation of 10,000, primarily in California — and it has a unique audience for an academic journal. Print subscribers include researchers in a variety of fields, but also many legislative and agency offices in Sacramento, local officials around the state, as well as farmers, ranchers, land managers, teachers and more.”
Email subscriptions are free; there is a modest cost for the print version. Subscribe here.
Coyote Cacher App Enables Citizens to Participate in UC Research
Coyote Cacher is a new mobile app that aims to use public participation to collect more data about coyotes in California. It is part of a University of California Cooperative Extension research project. The information will be used to help inform researchers about trends in coyote conflicts and interactions with humans, including sightings, etc. By reporting encounters with coyotes in their neighborhoods, people can share information that may help neighbors keep pets and children safe.
Niamh Quinn, a UC Cooperative Extension advisor who studies human-wildlife interactions said, “I’m so excited about this app because it will help us to collect better information on coyote conflict in California…Coyote conflict appears to be particularly high in Southern California and it seems to be emerging in other areas. The information people provide through Coyote Cacher will help inform government agencies, wildlife researchers, park managers and residents to make better coyote management decisions.”
Could changing cattle pasture help the environment?
Livestock production is a significant contributor to “human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.” Could changing how we pasture cattle help reduce that impact? Dan Charles tackles this complex issue in a piece for NPR. He writes:
“But there’s an enormous disparity in emissions from cattle in different parts of the world. Basically, the more slowly cattle grow, or the less milk they give, the greater their greenhouse gas emissions per pound of beef or milk. And in many parts of the world, cattle grow very slowly, because they’re grazing on sparse and poorly maintained pastures.”
A really interesting and informative read.
Related: Ranching is the number-one land use in the state of California. This complex connection of California ranching to food production is a mystery for many. The public rarely understands the ecological benefits of livestock grazing, nor the tough economic returns, per Sheila Barry, an advisor with the UC Cooperative Extension. Read the full piece here.
Gravy Podcast Plus: Reclaiming Native Ground
The loss of coastal land in Southern Louisiana has negatively impacted the rich foodways of a number of Indian Tribes, including the Pointe-au-Chien. Learn about their efforts to solve these complex challenges and sustain food sovereignty. The landing page for the episode contains a wealth of resources, including the podcast. Barry Yeoman for Gravy. (Produced in collaboration with Food and Environment Reporting Network and The Lens).
Editor’s Note: Teresa and I are heading up to Tulare early tomorrow morning for the 50th Annual World Ag Expo, billed as the “largest annual outdoor agricultural expo in the world.” We’ll be live Tweeting and sharing “lightning talks” by UC scientists and researchers via a Facebook Live broadcast tomorrow afternoon around 1:30. We hope you’ll join us!
Have a great week!