According to the Weather Channel Web site, temperatures in California’s inland valleys will soar into the triple digits next week. Those valleys include the Coachella, Sacramento and mighty San Joaquin, where much of the state’s agricultural industry is centered. The same geology that created the valleys' fertile farmland fed by snow melt from local mountains helps trap the heat, creating problems of its own.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Communicators Network has compiled tips with information from UC experts on coping with high temperatures. Issues run the gamut, from shading your home with trees to protecting outdoor workers and even how high temperatures help olive growers in their battle with the new exotic pest, olive fruit fly.
The topics are:
- California workers' heat-caused deaths were down in 2006
- UC offers wealth of heat illness information
- Come on in, the water’s fine — for mosquitoes
- Tree placement can save you energy, keep you cool and reduce your carbon footprint
- Heat can play havoc with forensic science
- Keep cows cool during hot summer months
- On-farm help from hot weather