“There’s this Western vision of agave fields where they’re only used for tequila,” said Samuel Sandoval Solis @ucanr.edu & @ucdaviscaes.bsky.social. “Traditionally, the plants and their leaves have been used for many centuries for other purposes.”

Daniel Swain calls these dramatic swings between wet and dry conditions "hydroclimate whiplash." ucanr.edu/blog/green-b...

We’re recruiting study participants! Do you have a toddler? Get free milk and up to $275 by participating in our @npi.ucanr.edu @ucanr.edu Milk Type in Toddlers study on childhood milk consumption. Complete the survey linked in the first comment to see if you are eligible!

Some apps can diagnose diseases and other plant problems and offer solutions as well, writes a UC Master Gardener in @ocregister.bsky.social. See @ucipmurban.bsky.social apps ucanr.edu/blog/pests-u... www.ocregister.com/2026/01/02/h...

Another winter storm will bring widespread rain and gusty winds to much of California this weekend. This one will be focused more on NorCal vs SoCal. Only minor rain/wind impacts are expected--but a notable coastal flood event may occur in SF Bay Area (see my other thread). #CAwx

🎉 Congratulations to Sheila Barry, UC Cooperative Extension livestock & natural resources advisor, on receiving the @RangelandTrust 2025 Conservation Impact Award! For 30 years, Sheila’s research, education & outreach have bridged the understanding between urban & rural areas.

#ICYMI UC ANR climate scientist Daniel Swain’s live, virtual office hours offered a briefing on LA flood risk, severe storms, and strong NorCal winds. @weatherwest.bsky.social #CAwx WATCH: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU_N...

Don’t land on the naughty list of holiday food wasters. The average U.S. household wastes nearly 32% of the food it buys, costing families $$$ each year. A #UCCE advisor shares simple tips for planning, saving leftovers, donating, and composting. https://bit.ly/4q2jBzp

Happening TODAY at 1 pm PT! #CAwx @weatherwest.bsky.social

#ICYMI During office hours today, @weatherwest.bsky.social discussed #CA’s active weather week—warm atmospheric rivers, record-low Sierra snowpack (rain even above 10,000 ft), and a stronger storm bringing heavy rain, winds, and SoCal flood risk. #CAwx ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5iM...

What does this onslaught of rain mean for #CA's water & wildfire risk? While disruptive, it’s not all bad news. With soils already saturated, experts say the chance of extreme wildfire conditions like last January is near zero, notes @weatherwest.bsky.social. www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025...

National Center for Atmospheric Research closure. “Most academics in the weather and climate world have in some way passed through or connected with the National Center for Atmospheric Research.” - UCANR climate scientist, Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...

Flooding risk in your area? UC Cooperative Extension offers trusted, science-based resources to help you prepare, stay safe, and recover after floods. Explore tools and guidance for your community. #CAwx ucanr.edu/site/disaste...

"This is the lowest snowpack we’ve ever recorded for the central and northern Sierra as of this December 18 date,” @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu told @sacbee.com When we get rain instead of snow, water runs off more quickly and is harder to capture and store for later use.

Tune in tomorrow, 12/22 for @weatherwest.bsky.social's latest discussion on #California's winter storm. #CAwx

Does your neighborhood have a pocket park? These small patches of urban nature can transform vacant lots into native plant spaces & community gardens, but do they deliver big benefits for communities & climate resilience? UC ANR and @ucirvine.bsky.social are finding out. bit.ly/4s7dwmL

Congrats to Augustin Aguilar of #UCCE Elkus Ranch, honored with the @SanMateoRCD Nature Champion Award! His leadership in building an Aerobic Static Pile compost system is transforming farm waste into healthy soil—saving labor, boosting compost quality. ➡️ bit.ly/492fIDl

L.A.’s fire hydrants ran dry during the January wildfires, exposing critical gaps in our water infrastructure. Finding ways to foot the bill for such upgrades promises to be challenging, said Erik Porse, director of @ucanrwater.bsky.social. www.latimes.com/environment/...

California weather update from @weatherwest.bsky.social. Another active weather stretch is on the way. Very wet storms, unusually warm air (little to no mountain snow at first), and a potentially high-impact system mid-next week. Expect possible road & air delays.

New webinar series! Join us for this joint event by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, UC Cooperative Extension, and the UC Organic Agriculture Institute ⤵️

A mixture of plants have been stolen in #SanJose. Missy Gable of our UC Master Gardener program tells @abc7news.bsky.social -"This is an important industry and it takes away from the producers who have put months and sometimes years into the development of these plants" abc7news.com/post/santa-c...

Join students & ag professionals to explore precision ag, IPM, robotics, soil health, irrigation tech, genetics, groundwater & more. Coordinated by the California Chapter, American Society of Agronomy | Supported by #ucanr 👉 Register: bit.ly/4pHIgcx

I 'll have a special rapid-response livestream for 8:30am PT today to discuss dire implications of this proposal to dismantle NCAR. Due to extreme fire weather in Boulder today (and associated pre-emptive power outages/NCAR closure), I am going live ASAP. www.youtube.com/live/FTKW68R...

New webinar series supports farmers transitioning to organic. Along with Community Alliance with Family Farmers, we launch a free Transition to Organic Webinar Series (1/14–3/18). Topics include certification, markets, soil health, pest & weed management. Online. ➡️ http://bit.ly/48SEsxK

“We cannot advance automation in isolation," said our chief innovation officer Gabe Youtsey. "It takes universities, startups and growers working together — testing, validating and training the next generation of the ag workforce.” #AgTech www.growingproduce.com/production/e...

"Wildfire resilience is like vaccination — it takes herd immunity to stop a contagion or a conflagration from spreading," writes @toddwoody.bsky.social “The frank reality,” says Yana Valachovic, @ucanr.edu wildfire scientist, “is that we have to live differently in California.”

Our climate scientist Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social discussed the flooding in Washington, the record-warm airmass across the West & Central Valley tule fog, and possible rain in California in December. If you missed it, see the recording at the link below

As U.S. farmers look to expand exports, @jaysayre.bsky.social @ucdavisare.bsky.social & @ucanr.edu sees potential in Southeast Asian markets, especially in Vietnam

TODAY 1 pm: Our climate scientist Daniel Swain will discuss the historic flooding in Washington, the record-warm airmass across the West & Central Valley tule fog, and possible rain in California

USDA set aside $1 billion that could go for “specialty crops,” such as wine grapes, that California farmers grow, said Daniel Sumner @ucdavisare.bsky.social “This round it appears pretty clear that the funds will go mostly to the corn, soybean and wheat guys, the standard program crops,” he said.

California growers removed almost 40,000 acres of #wine grapes this past year, with San Joaquin and Fresno Counties leading the way midvalleytimes.com/article/news...

On Fri, Dec 12 @1pm PT, I'll host a virtual weather & climate office hour to discuss the ongoing historic flooding in WA state, the record-warm airmass across the American West (yet ongoing CA tule fog), and the possible return of CA rain by later in Dec!

Central California is currently experiencing one of the most remarkable temperature inversions I've ever seen in this part of the world. The Central Valley remains miserably damp & chilly under dense fog layer, but it's balmily warm & sunny just 2,000ft up nearby mountain slopes!

Want to learn something new on your lunch break? Join UC IPM every month from 12:00 to 1:00pm. Get answers to your pest questions and learn about pest identification, prevention, and management around the home, garden, and landscape! ucanr.edu/site/urban-c... 🐞🌿 #integratedpestmanagement #webinars

UC ANR is expanding its impact across California with new UC Cooperative Extension experts in disaster resilience, food systems, economics, forestry, youth development & more, bringing science-based solutions directly to communities statewide. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4puKM5S

Transitioning to organic crop farming? @caff-famfarms.bsky.social and UC Cooperative Extension have a webinar series starting Jan. 14. It covers certification, market dynamics, soil health, pest & weed management and more. Interpreted in Spanish & Hmong bit.ly/4aFmmlk

From raising livestock in #4H to supporting ranchers as a UC Cooperative Extension advisor, Tracy Schohr applies science, leadership, & community knowledge to tackle challenges related to wildfire, wolf predation, & sustainable agriculture. https://bit.ly/4adSDj5 @uofcalifornia.bsky.social#4H

I'll be offering a dual-purpose "rapid response" livestream today (1pm PT) focused on EPA's recent scrubbing of climate info from its website, & also the developing major flood event in Pacific Northwest stemming from very warm atmospheric river event(s).

Foresters, fire professionals & cultural practitioners came together in El Dorado County for hands-on prescribed fire training—sharing knowledge to reduce wildfire risk & restore forests with “good fire.” @calfire.bsky.social 📸 David Benterou https://bit.ly/48PjuRz

UC ANR is seeking a UC Cooperative Extension Specialist in Workforce Development to lead innovative statewide programs connecting Californians—especially youth and underserved learners—to high-demand ag & natural resource careers. Apply here 🔗 https://recruit.ucanr.edu/JPF00341

#UCANR & partners are launching a 10-week webinar series to help farmers transition to certified organic! Weekly Wed sessions cover certification, #soilhealth, pests & marketing—led by advisors, producers & inspectors. #WorldSoilDay @caff-famfarms.bsky.social actionnetwork.org/events/trans...

See you at 2pm PT today!

From @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social to statewide impact— @lenyaqd.bsky.social's work is inspiring. As fire advisor & director of the #UCANR Fire Network, she helps communities reconnect with fire, empowering everyone from ranchers to the next generation of women in fire. @natureatcal.bsky.social

New edition of UC ANR’s ‘The Home Orchard’ offers advice on growing tree fruit and nuts. ➡️ ucanr.edu/blog/food-blog/article/homeorchard

Join us 12/12 @ 12pm! I can't think of a better bunch to be in conversation with on a controversial topic that is impacting all corners of our diverse state. @ucanr.edu @luskininnovation.bsky.social

New resource for home growers! 🌳 UC ANR’s Home Orchard, 2nd Edition features updated guidance on figs, persimmons, nuts, IPM, irrigation & climate-smart practices. Get your copy: bit.ly/4iD1cGC #FruitTrees #Orcharding @ucanrpubs.bsky.social

THANK YOU! 💚 By 11:59 p.m. on #GivingTuesday 2025, donors had given over $ 140,000 to support UC ANR programs tackling food security, wildfire & drought resilience, and youth development across California. Your generosity powers real change!

THANK YOU! 💚 As #GivingTuesday wraps up, we’re incredibly grateful for your generosity and support. Together, we’re honoring the stewards of our environment and driving progress toward a sustainable, thriving future for all. #GiveBack 🔗 give.ucanr.edu