College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UC Davis

09/03/2026

Let’s hear it for agriculture and football!

Thrilled to be partnering with UC Davis Athletics as sponsors of the Salute to Ag Football Game at UC Davis for our third consecutive year. 🤝

We’re honored to participate in this special event, which recognizes the resilience, dedication, and passion within the agriculture community.

Hear from Head Coach of the UC Davis Football Team, Tim Plough, on the importance of celebrating and acknowledging agriculture.

Join us on Saturday, September 26 to support the game and honor the individuals who sustain the agricultural industry.

Discount tickets are available at https://www.gofevo.com/event/Saluteto308. 🔗 🎟️

09/02/2026

And just like that, our herd is home. Yesterday, we transported 71 steers from Vacaville to the UC Davis Feedlot at UC Davis CA&ES, where they will finish on feed for approximately 180 days. 🌾🐂

This marks the start of Phase 3 in our early-life intervention study and brings us closer to finding out the impact of this bolus, which was given to these steers early in their life.

We look forward to collecting various datapoints to see whether this is a viable tool for beef cattle ranchers, who don’t often see their herd for long periods of time.

09/02/2026

From Dean Ashley M. Stokes:

It’s crush time! A video is coming soon, but until then here’s our fantastic team of students, staff, and faculty that have perfected not only the art of winemaking…but also the science! From helping crush to tasting wines that will go on sale soon…what a wonderful experience to see our program in motion! Thanks to all of our partners for all you do to contribute to advancing the industry!

Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis

09/01/2026

Seaw**d isn’t a silver bullet to mitigating methane emissions from cattle, but it could be an important first step.

Researchers around the world are looking into how seaw**d-based feed additives could help reduce enteric methane from cattle. At UC Davis, Dr. Ermias Kebreab, DSc and Dr. Matthias Hess are investigating both the potential of seaw**d, and what happens to the rumen microbiome when methane is suppressed.

In grazing beef cattle, one UC Davis study found that the red seaw**d, asparagopsis taxiformis, reduced methane emissions by 38 percent. As Dr. Hess put it, seaw**d may be an “excellent first step towards the solution” rather than a cure-all itself.

There is still much to learn, but the research is opening new doors to reducing methane.

Full article on PNAS: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2626533123

Photos from UC Davis CA&ES and UC Davis | California's College Town. 📸

09/01/2026

Earlier this month, we said goodbye to 66 cattle as they set off to Washington as part of the last phase to our very first early-life intervention study. And now, we are welcoming 71 steers as part of our second early-life intervention study to the UC Davis Feedlot.

This study, led by our UC Davis CLEAR Center PhD student, Sharissa Anderson, looks at the impact of introducing a single bolus to calves within their first 24 hours of life, when the microbes in their rumen are still forming. 🦠

With funds granted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation’s Livestock Enteric Methane Emission Reduction Research Program (LEMER-RP), we have been given the opportunity to further investigate how this feed additive impacts overall lifetime methane emissions when introduced early on.

For beef producers, that could mean starting early to make a long-term impact regarding the total methane output of their herd. 🐂🐂🐂

Sharissa Anderson Ayleen Hernandez CDFA Food and Ag OFFICIAL CDFA Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability UC Davis CA&ES

08/31/2026

From Dean Ashley M. Stokes:

Today we had a gathering of beef producers to discuss challenges and opportunities facing our rangelands and grazing cattle. Many years ago, a generous rancher set up an endowment that allows us to fund impactful research and Extension programs. Thank you all for taking the time to join us for really insightful discussions!

08/28/2026

That dream native flower garden shouldn’t become a w**d jungle 🏡
Haven Kiers, associate professor of landscape architecture + environmental design at UC Davis, is studying why biodiverse landscapes often struggle after they’re planted and how better maintenance can help them thrive. Her research shows that bringing designers and maintenance teams together from the start can help these landscapes stay healthy and vibrant for years to come.🌸

Read more ➡️ https://www.ucdavis.edu/magazine/making-maintenance-sexy

image description: purple flowers are part of a lush green garden with sprinklers on during dusk.

You've probably seen it before: A native garden starts out lush and intentional, then slowly unravels. A meadow is overtaken by w**ds. Native grasses are cut down to sad little stumps. A pollinator garden somehow loses its pollinators by year two. The vision was there. The follow-through wasn't.Have...

08/28/2026

From Dean Ashley M. Stokes:

Our winery grape harvest is on!! Stay tuned for the crush tomorrow! Thanks to our team of faculty, staff, and students that make beautiful grapes & wines possible.

08/27/2026

From Dean Ashley M. Stokes:

After over 30 years serving hundreds of thousands of Californians, we had the wrap up of our CalFresh healthy living nutrition program. This team’s impact is tremendous when we consider the youth, families, and seniors touched by this program serving over half of California counties. I’m so grateful for all they’ve done!

UC Agriculture & Natural Resources

08/27/2026

Congrats to Professor Shahid Siddique for being named the Howard Ferris Endowed Chair in Ecology and Management of Plant and Soil Nematodes! This new role will help support his work studying the tiny organisms that can have a significant impact on crops and soil health.

“I'm really excited, and I’m hoping that my research will lead to some fundamental scientific discoveries, but also some real solutions that will help growers tackle this devastating pest,” said Shahid Siddique with the Department of Entomology and Nematology.

Read more: https://caes.ucdavis.edu/news/shahid-siddique-named-endowed-chair-plant-and-soil-nematodes
image description: Professor wearing a yellow shirt talks to a group of people at an indoor table with jars of nematodes on display.

Professor Shahid Siddique has been named the Howard Ferris Endowed Chair in Ecology and Management of Plant and Soil Nematodes, a position that will help support his work studying the tiny organisms that can have a significant impact on crops and soil health.