UCCE North Bay

Kudos to our very own North Coast Integrated Pest Management Advisor, Cindy Kron for her participation and contributions to UC 🪲

University of California researchers were on Capitol Hill today for Solutions from the Field, our briefing on the U.S. Department of Agriculture capacity grants behind cutting-edge agriculture research. From using AI to read crop nutrients in real time to responding fast when invasive pests threaten crops, teams from UC Davis, UC Riverside and UC Agriculture & Natural Resources work side by side with growers to keep U.S. agriculture strong. Thank you to everyone who attended.

HEAT SAFETY TRIVIA WEEK -- HOW MUCH DO WE KNOW?

With the current Heat Advisory in effect (temps 10–20°F above normal across SF, Marin, Sonoma, and Napa, plus a Spare the Air Alert today for ozone), this week I'll be posting five quick polls on things people commonly get mixed up about heat safety. These are based on CDC, NIOSH, and EPA guidance.

VOTE and see how you do, COMMENT why you picked your answer, we'll RANDOMLY SELECT 2–3 commenters to RECEIVE FREE nutrition and health resources from our University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) office, including recipe booklets, a diabetes management guide, and other materials from our UCCE Community Nutrition and Health Program.

Full guide: https://t.ly/StayingSafeInExtremeHeat
UCCE Community Nutrition & Health Program: https://t.ly/olderadult.ucce
30-second video version: https://www.facebook.com/reel/853117004461561

https://www.facebook.com/UCCENorthBay/posts/pfbid0JfgL7kvqZRUEfbzMtdey8jvDbvgYiCFotjbsMWVxtogeJ1QDDJfEmWoxgSprnETql

https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=42819

Stay cool, everyone.
Dr. Zaw Wai Htoo
Advisor
University of California Cooperative Extension, SF North Bay

Poll #1: Salt Tablets
True or False: Taking salt tablets is a good way to prevent heat cramps during extreme heat.
(a) True, salt tablets help
(b) False, they're not recommended
(c) Not sure

Poll #2: Medications and Heat
Did you know certain common medications can increase your risk of heat illness?
(a) Yes, I already knew this
(b) No, this is new to me
(c) I'm on one of these meds and will ask my doctor

Poll #3: Food in a Heat Wave
True or False: What you eat doesn't really matter during a heat wave -- only what you drink matters.
(a) True
(b) False
(c) Not sure

Poll #4: Cooling Centers
Do you know where your nearest cooling center is if you need one?
(a) Yes, I know exactly where to go
(b) No idea
(c) I don't think I'd need one
Here are Cooling Centers near you:
- Marin County: https://t.ly/CoolingCentersMarin
- Sonoma County: https://t.ly/CoolingCentersSonoma
- Napa County: https://t.ly/CoolingCentersNapa

Poll #5: Heat Safety Poll- Your Go-To Drink
When it's this hot out, which drink do you reach for first?
(a) Plain Water
(b) Sports drink
(c) Coconut water
(d) Coffee
(e) Soda

HEAT ADVISORY UPDATE, NORTH BAY- September 9, 2026: Marin, Sonoma & Napa are looking at 90s–100s°F today and tomorrow, with SF under a Heat Advisory through Wed night. It's a rough couple of days for kids, older adults, and anyone with respiratory or heart conditions. Here's what to do to stay safe 👇
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UPDATE — September 9, 2026: The advisory is active again. The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory for the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast, in effect from early morning, September 9 through 10:00 p.m. PDT September 10, with daytime and overnight temperatures forecast 10–20°F above normal (National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey, 2026). The advisory explicitly covers San Francisco, the Marin Coastal Range, the Sonoma Coastal Range, North Bay Interior Mountains, and North Bay Interior Valleys (National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey, 2026), meaning inland North Bay communities should expect the hottest conditions while coastal Marin and Sonoma stay comparatively milder. Regionwide, inland valleys are forecast to hit or exceed 100°F, while coastal areas stay in the 70s–80s (CBS San Francisco, 2026). San Francisco itself is forecast to reach a high near 88°F on September 9 with an overnight low near 65°F, before easing to about 76°F on September 10 (Kothari, 2026). Overnight lows are also running 10–20°F above normal across the advisory area, so homes without air conditioning won't get the usual nighttime relief (National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey, 2026). Separately, the Bay Area Air District issued a Spare the Air Alert for ozone on September 9, with unhealthy air quality expected especially in the Eastern Zone and Santa Clara Valley due to high heat, light winds, and a delayed sea breeze (Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 2026; Sabatini, 2026); ozone can irritate the throat and lungs and trigger asthma, with children, older adults, and people with heart or respiratory conditions most at risk (Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 2026). NWS urges residents to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activity, especially midday, never leave children or pets in parked vehicles, and check on elderly or isolated neighbors through Thursday, September 10 (National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey, 2026).
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Dr. Zaw Wai Htoo, Advisor, Community Nutrition and Health, University of California Cooperative Extension, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Just a few tickets left: Join us on September 18th at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory for a talk with Dr. Alyssa Griffin exploring research on how the California coast and the world's oceans can contribute to climate solutions, strengthen community resilience, and support a more just and sustainable future.

🗓️ When: Friday, September 18 at 5:00 PM
📍 Where: Bodega Marine Laboratory
🎟️ Tickets and Info: https://buff.ly/JuPitUX

Christopher Chen, a viticulture advisor for Mendocino, Sonoma and Lake counties, estimates mothballing can now be seen in roughly one in 20 vineyards in his region, up from virtually none three years ago. Chen is studying the practice to fill a major information gap.

Read more in Ag Alert: bit.ly/4wLDBch

Oversupply of grapes, declining consumer demand and rising production costs are forcing California winegrape growers to make choices about whether to keep farming or tear out their vines.

Some are trying a third option: “mothballing,” a term borrowed from storing equipment or other assets out of service while preserving them for future use. In vineyards, it means temporarily halting production while maintaining vines with minimal labor and inputs so they can be returned to full production when market conditions improve. The practice remains relatively rare, but interest is growing.

Christopher Chen, a University of California Cooperative Extension viticulture adviser for Mendocino, Sonoma and Lake counties, estimates mothballing can now be seen in roughly one in 20 vineyards in his region, up from virtually none three years ago. Chen is studying the practice to fill a major information gap. “I don’t know that there’s any information in the viticulture books on what to do if you’re tight on cash and the industry has collapsed,” said Chase Thornhill, owner and general manager of Mendocino W**e Company in Ukiah.

Read more in Ag Alert: bit.ly/4wLDBch

**egrapes

A few summer updates from our team 🌻

We’re sharing recent events, research, and community outreach happening across the North Bay.

🔗

From Soil to Science 🍇Summer 2026 Newsletter Email from UCCE Sonoma County Explore the latest research, field insights, and events in Marin, Napa, and Sonoma counties.   UC Cooperative Extension of the North Bay serving Marin, Napa, & Sonoma Cou

WILDFIRE SMOKE AND YOUR HEALTH: COMMUNITY HEALTH INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Posted by: July 30, 2026

Wildfire smoke can affect communities many miles from an active fire. Even if you are not near the fire itself, smoke can travel long distances and reduce air quality, potentially affecting your health.

We are sharing this educational resource during the Woodside Fire in Sonoma County because smoke associated with the fire may affect air quality across parts of Sonoma County and neighboring communities, depending on weather conditions and wind patterns. While the current fire provides the immediate context, the practical health information, recommendations, and resources presented here are broadly applicable to wildfire smoke events and can help individuals, families, and communities prepare for future smoke episodes.

Wildfire smoke contains fine particles (PM₂.₅) that can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, worsen asthma and other lung diseases, and increase the risk of heart and respiratory problems. Older adults, children, pregnant people, outdoor workers, and individuals with heart or lung conditions may be especially vulnerable.

Here are a few ways to protect yourself:
(1) Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) before spending extended time outdoors.
(2) Reduce outdoor activities when air quality reaches unhealthy levels.
(3) Keep indoor air as clean as possible by closing windows and doors when appropriate and using a HEPA air cleaner or your home's air filtration system, if available.
(4) If you must be outdoors in heavy smoke, wear a properly fitted NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator.
(5) Monitor your health and seek medical care if you experience worsening breathing problems, chest pain, or other concerning symptoms.
(6) If you live in an evacuation area, follow instructions issued by local emergency officials.

This educational resource includes-
• Current Air Quality Index (AQI) guidance
• Woodside Fire maps and current conditions
• Practical strategies to reduce wildfire smoke exposure
• Guidance on respirator use
• Tips for protecting children, older adults, and other higher-risk populations
• Symptoms to watch for and when to seek medical care

This educational resource was prepared by Dr. Zaw Wai Htoo, Advisor, Community Nutrition and Health Program, University of California Cooperative Extension, San Francisco North Bay to support community health, preparedness, and informed decision-making during wildfire smoke events.
Information is current at the time of publication. Wildfire conditions and air quality can change rapidly. Please refer to official agencies for the latest incident-specific updates.
https://ucanr.edu/county/marin-county/article/wildfire-smoke-and-your-health-health-and-safety-information-education

https://www.facebook.com/reel/27388041490891599

https://ucanr.edu/county/ucce-sonoma-county/community-nutrition-and-health (Tap the link and scroll to "Education, Trainings, and Events" to read the full article on UCCE Sonoma County Page.)

We’re thrilled to be participating at the 53rd Anniversary Gravenstein Apple Fair, Saturday & Sunday, August 8 & 9, at Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol! Voted Sonoma County’s Best Festival, Best Art Event & Best Charity Event, the Fair is where joy takes root! Join our Dairy Advisor, Randi Black, on August 9th at 1:30pm for the Women in Ag Panel. We’ll celebrate all things apple, the best local food and drink, top regional music, family and farm fun, arts & crafts, and more!

A two-time winner of the Sonoma County Tourism Stars of the Industry Award for its impressive Zero Waste program, the Fair is the annual fundraiser for the nonprofit Sonoma County Farm Trails. Find out more and buy tickets in advance at GravensteinAppleFair.com.