Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 1h

UC Sarep welcomes three new associate directors to support growth and integration with UC’s Small Farms, Organic Ag, and Master Food Preserver programs — all working toward a more sustainable food system.

bit.ly/4hdeAQT
#SustainableAg

UC SAREP announces new associate directors to support program growth and integration | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program is excited to announce the appointment of three new associate directors following the integration of UC ANR’s Small Farms Network, Master Food...

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 4h

🔥 #UCANR fire expert Lenya Quinn-Davidson @lenyaqd.bsky.social says we won’t solve the West’s #wildfire crisis without embracing managed wildfire. “It’s tricky to implement—but the real challenge is convincing people we need it.”
Q&A ⤵️
alumni.berkeley.edu/california-m...

Managing Wildfire for All It’s Worth - Cal Alumni Association

Q&A with Lenya Quinn-Davidson

alumni.berkeley.edu

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 1d

Tribal teachers & #UCCE advisors are opening doors for the next generation of Native scientists. At Hopland REC, youth explored #STEM careers & reconnected with ancestral lands — blending cultural knowledge with science.
#STEM #NativeYouth
bit.ly/4nPihyV

Tribal teachers, UCCE advisors open doors for next Native scientists | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Young people from the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Hopland Band participated in a two-day program with talks by UC scientists and teachers of traditional knowledge.

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 1d

The latest in @weatherwest.bsky.social's live office hours on extreme #weather & #climate is now available! Also, tune-in on Monday (10/13) @ 4pm PT for a livestream focused on significant early-season storm that will be moving across CA Mon into Tue.
Visit ➡️ bit.ly/3IGqLZW
#CAwx

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Reposted by UC Agriculture & Natural Resources

Pam Kan-Rice @ucanrpam.bsky.social · 1d

“We’re at a point in California where people are pretty desperate for solutions around fire,” @lenyaqd.bsky.social told @shapersyris.bsky.social @atmosmag.bsky.social
Https://atmos.earth/ecological-wisdom/healing-the-wests-relationship-with-fire-through-pyrotherapy

Lenya wearing a red hard hat with prescribed burn flames burning forest debris behind her

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Pam Kan-Rice @ucanrpam.bsky.social · 1d

"There's abundant and overwhelming evidence that climate change is increasing the severity and likelihood of extreme fire conditions in the American West," @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu told @livescience.com
www.livescience.com/planet-earth...

Extreme weather caused more than $100 billion in damage by June — smashing US records

After damaging wildfires in LA, tornadoes and series of floods, the first six months of this year smashed multiple extreme weather records in the U.S., data show — and experts say this trend is likely...

www.livescience.com

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Pam Kan-Rice @ucanrpam.bsky.social · 2d

“Fire suppression is an act; fire exclusion is a philosophy,” @lenyaqd.bsky.social @ucanr.edu, who organizes burn associations, tells @kategonzales.bsky.social. “It’s so grassroots, which is so important, because prescribed fire, and the use of fire, is very versatile." 🔥 www.nwf.org/Home/Magazin...

Good Fire: The Case for Cultural and Prescribed Burns

With the support of science and state law, good fire can help mitigate megafires—an increasing threat for Indigenous and rural Californians

www.nwf.org

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 2d

🌾 Happy #NationalFarmersDay!
We’re grateful for the small-scale & diversified farmers who feed our communities & care for the land.
#UCCE Small Farms connects growers to UC research & support — helping farms thrive.
Resources: bit.ly/4q7pbko
#ThankAFarmer #SmallFarms

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CACoastFire @centralcoastfire.bsky.social · 2d

What a great day at the 2nd Annual Central Coast Good Fire Fair in Felton! This is what #goodfire looks like… Thank you to all who came and contributed! #goodfirefair California State Parks, @calfire.bsky.social @ucanr.edu

Low flames burning in redwood forest with smoke catching sunbeams while a firelighter talks into a microphone and members of the public watch.

A firelighter walks with a drip torch in a redwood forest while members of the public watch from an adjacent sidewalk.

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Pam Kan-Rice @ucanrpam.bsky.social · 3d

"It is estimated that farmworkers have 35 times the risk of dying from extreme heat compared with other worker populations," writes Carly Hyland @ucanr.edu & @berkeleypublichlth.bsky.social
www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

California farmworkers face dual threats from extreme heat, pesticide exposure | Opinion

“It is estimated that farmworkers have 35 times the risk of dying from extreme heat compared with other worker populations.”

www.sacbee.com

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 4d

🌱 Big changes ahead for #California nurseries:
At the 2025 California Nursery Conference, growers got updates on new laws around plastics, water use & nutrients — all as climate change turns up the heat.
#CaliforniaNursery #Sustainability #AgPolicy
➡️ bit.ly/4mYFc9s

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Nutrition Policy Institute @npi.ucanr.edu · 4d

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 this survey to see if you are eligible: studypages.com/s/milk-type-...

A young girl drinks milk from a glass with a pink straw. The Nutrition Policy Institute and Stanford Medicine logos are included. The text reads: "MILK-TOT Study is now enrolling! The University of California and Stanford Medicine are inviting toddlers ages 2-3 and their parents to join a research study on milk in young children. The purpose of this study is to see how the type of milk (whole fat vs. low fat 1%) consumed between the aged of 2-3 years old affects the health, growth, and development of young children. Study investigator: Lorrene Ritchie PhD, RD, Nutrition Policy Institute Director, University of California ANR." Lorrene Ritchie's photo is included.

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 4d

#CA4h alum Megna Nayar is redefining what 4-H can be — no livestock, just a passion for #STEM & expanding access for urban youth. Now she’s bringing that vision to 4-H’s national advisory committee.
ucanr.edu/blog/healthy-communities-blog/article/4-h-alumna
#4HforGood #National4HWeek

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 6d

An almond orchard in Parlier offers a glimpse into the future of farming!

@ucmerced.bsky.social and #UCANR researchers are testing an AI-guided irrigation system at Kearney REC that delivers the right amount of water to boost efficiency and conserve resources.

bit.ly/47fvpav

AI-powered irrigation system offers opportunities for communications, farming | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

UC Merced, UC ANR partner to test AI-guided watering of almond orchard at Kearney RECAn almond orchard in Parlier provides a look into the future of farming.

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Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 6d

I'll host a livestream on Wed, Oct 8 @ 3pm PT to discuss the likely impacts of weakening #HurricanePriscilla on U.S. Southwest (including southern CA), including who may see some thunderstorms. I'll also a new weather & climate-related federal update...

Weather & climate office hour 10/08/25: Hurricane Priscilla's effects on Southwest & federal update - YouTube

The latest in a recurring series of live, virtual, & interactive "office hours" hosted by Dr. Daniel Swain on various topics related to extreme #weather and...

www.youtube.com

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 7d

Federal support helps #UCANR drive innovation, collaboration, and impact across #CA and beyond through capacity and competitive grants.

Here are just a few ways our academics are making a difference in communities statewide.
ucanr.edu/site/about-u...

#UCANRGrowsScience #SpeakUp4Science

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Nutrition Policy Institute @npi.ucanr.edu · 7d

A @newyorker.com piece spotlights school meals in the MAHA era. @ucdavisnutrition.bsky.social's Lauren Au, PhD, RD—an @ucanr.edu @npi.ucanr.edu affiliated researcher—discusses NPI’s 2018 study showing how the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act improved kids’ diets. www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...

What Happens to School Lunches in the MAHA Era?

R.F.K., Jr., promised healthier food for kids, but the Trump Administration is cutting programs that achieve this goal.

www.newyorker.com

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 7d

We'll keep that in mind ;)

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 8d

#UCANR & Catalonia’s IRTA are teaming up to tackle global agrifood challenges! A new MOU boosts innovation in irrigation & climate-resilient food systems for Mediterranean climates like CA & Catalonia.
🔗 ucanr.edu/blog/food-blog/article/irta-agreement

#AgTech #Irrigation #ClimateSmartAg

UC ANR, Catalan research institute to spur innovations for agrifood systems | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

UC ANR and the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology will prioritize research and innovation in food systems to develop and deliver new tools and resources to farmers and ranchers across Calif...

ucanr.edu

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Pam Kan-Rice @ucanrpam.bsky.social · 9d

“Rats can reproduce pretty rapidly. They have maybe two or three litters in a year, and now, boom,” said Roger Baldwin @ucanr.edu

San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle.com · 10d

California’s rules around agricultural rat poisons have changed in the last two years — and rodents have taken advantage of farmers’ confusion.

‘They’re everywhere’: Rodent boom overwhelms California farms

California’s rules around agricultural rat poisons have changed in the last two years — and rodents have taken advantage of farmers’ confusion.

bit.ly

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 11d

Hannah Thompson is the new director of UC ANR’s @npi.ucanr.edu.
A leader in youth health & policy—from nutritious school meals to CA’s #RecessForAll—she brings decades of research and collaboration to advance public health. #UCANR

Get to know more about her ➡️ bit.ly/46Oa5aK

New Nutrition Policy Institute director to emphasize community participation in research | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

A noted expert on physical education and the importance of movement for young people, Hannah Thompson began as the new NPI director on Sept. 1.

bit.ly

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Reposted by UC Agriculture & Natural Resources

Edith de Guzman @edithdeguzman.bsky.social · 11d

Just ✌️ weekends left to see Roots of Cool @descansogardens.bsky.social before it's uprooted! 🌳☂️

Come check it out if you haven't had a chance yet. We'll be doing a final walkthrough on the last day Sun. 10/12 @ 9:45am. Meet at the tables by the entrance. @luskininnovation.bsky.social @ucanr.edu

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 11d

Congratulations Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social for making it onto the 2025 #Grist50!
"When disaster strikes, viewers flock to his channel."

Grist @grist.org · 12d

Climate action isn’t stopping. The 2025 Grist50 spotlights 50 people reshaping arts, tech, food, land, policy and science. 10 years, 500 change-makers. Progress is alive — meet the leaders moving us forward.

Read more here: grist.org/fix/grist-50...

#Climate #Leadership #Arts #Tech #Business #Land

Introducing the 2025 Grist 50 list

Climate solutions are more important now than ever. Read about 50 leaders shaping the future of climate progress.

grist.org

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Reposted by UC Agriculture & Natural Resources

Pam Kan-Rice @ucanrpam.bsky.social · 11d

California’s progress demonstrates how states can aid small farmers who depend on federal programs that promote purchasing local food, writes @fridagarza.bsky.social @grist.org. Researchers @natureatcal.bsky.social, @ucanr.edu & USDA evaluated farm to school program grist.org/food-and-agr...

Small farmers are more squeezed than ever. A California grant program offers a lifeline.

A recent report shows that state’s the Farm to School grant program has been effective at supporting economically disadvantaged farmers in the face of mounting federal cuts.

grist.org

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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 12d

How does UC help farmers feed America? Through UC Cooperative Extension, we bring science to the field—helping Central Valley farmers tackle drought, pests & soil challenges. Hear from 3 farmers on how UC supports their work. @uofcalifornia.bsky.social
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/how-uc-...

How UC helps 3 Central Valley farmers feed America

In California, where farming has grown into a $60B industry, science is happening down on the farm — and research has literally become an essential part of putting food on tables across America.

www.universityofcalifornia.edu

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