UC ANR Blogs
Why These Moths Are Unwanted
As we gather to celebrate moths during National Moth Week (traditionally held the last full week in...
Close-up of the larvae of the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella), pests of honey bee colonies. Also shown is another bee colony pest, a hive beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This is the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) from the Bohart Museum of Entomology Lepidoptera collection. (Photo by Jeff Smith)
This is the lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella, from the Bohart Museum of Entomology Lepidoptera collection. (Photo by Jeff Smith)
Can I Use Vinegar to Control Weeds?
Acetic acid, also known as vinegar, is used in products for weed control. Many people choose it...
'Let's Go Mothing' on July 20 at Bohart Museum of Entomology
Let's go mothing! What's mothing? The National Moth Week website describes mothing as "a...
This colorful moth is Arctia virginalis, Ranchman's tiger moth, a diurnal or day-flying moth commonly known as the Ranchman's tiger moth. In its larval stage, it's a wooly bear caterpillar, commonly found at the Bodega Marine Reserve and on the trails of Bodega Head, Sonoma County. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This is California Pyrausta Moth (Pyrausta californicalis), commonly known as "the mint moth." It feeds on plants in the mint family, including spearmint and peppermint. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This is a pterophorid plume moth (family Pterophoridae). The "T-square" shape is classic. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This is a white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), which flies during the day and night. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Paper highlights how climate change challenges, transforms agriculture
As the climate continues to change, the risks to farming are only going to increase.
That's the key takeaway from a recent paper published by a team that included UC Merced and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources researchers. The paper dives into what those challenges are, how farmers are working to address them and what should come next.
"Climate Smart Agriculture: Assessing Needs and Perceptions of California's Farmers" was first authored by Samuel Ikendi, academic coordinator, with Tapan Pathak, UC Cooperative Extension climate adaptation in agriculture specialist, as a corresponding author. Both are based at UC Merced. Pathak is also a project director of National Institute of Food and Agriculture-funded project "Multifaceted Pathways to Climate-Smart Agriculture through Participator Program Development and Delivery," which supported this study. The study appeared in the open access journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.
The needs assessment was designed to understand farmers' perceptions and experiences with climate change exposures; the risk management practices they currently use; and what tools and resources would assist them in making strategic decisions.
Of the farmers surveyed, roughly two-thirds agree climate change is occurring and requires action. Even more said they are interested in learning more about the impacts of climate change on the agricultural industry. Most respondents said they experience greater climate change impacts on their farms today compared with 10 years ago.
Farmers were very concerned with water-related issues, with those in the San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast and Inland Empire areas particularly worried about a reduction in the availability of groundwater. Increased drought severity was a very significant concern among farmers in the Inland Empire, Central Coast and Southern regions. Farmers in the North Coast and Southern regions were concerned about increased damage to crops due to wildfire.
Closely related were temperature-related issues, including crop damage due to extreme heat.
Those who farm vegetables were more concerned about water availability for irrigation, while fruit farmers were more concerned about increased crop/water stress and increased crop damage due to extreme heat.
Many respondents said they are implementing climate adaptation practices including managing water resources, maintaining soil health and making more use of renewable energy sources. They are seeking insurance and government help to pay for these adaptations and increase their agricultural resilience, the researchers wrote.
The farmers expressed interest in learning more about measures they might take to mitigate climate change. But they cited significant barriers to this work, including government regulations, high implementation cost, labor access/cost, access to water and the availability of money to pay for it.
"Climate change is significantly altering California's highly diverse agricultural landscape, posing challenges such as increased water stress, heat stress, and shifting growing seasons," Pathak said. "Climate-smart agriculture practices can alleviate some of those stresses."
But, he said, research and UC Cooperative Extension efforts only have value if they lead to enhanced climate-informed decision-making at the local level.
"Assessing their level of knowledge, perception and needs will help in tailoring research and extension activities that are most relevant to farmers on the ground," Pathak said. "Results from this study could also provide important policy insights on financial incentives and technical assistance."
/h3>
Jeff Smith: Busy as a Bee? No, As Industrious as a Lepidopterist
Busy as a bee? No, as industrious as a Lepidopterist. Specifically, as industrious...
Jeff Smith, curator of the Bohart Museum of Entomology's Lepidoptera collection, chats with visitors at an open house. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Legendary Lepidopterists Paul Opler (left) and Robert Michael Pyle, founder of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, chat during the international Lepidopterist Society’s 68th annual conference (2019) that included visits to the Bohart Museum. Opler, who died last year, considered the Bohart Museum Lepidoptera collection "The Bold Standard" of Lep collections. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)