Cooperative Extension Area Citrus and Pistachio Advisor - Serving Kern and Kings Counties; AP

Position: Cooperative Extension Area Citrus and Pistachio Advisor - Serving Kern and Kings Counties (AP 25-34)
Cooperative Extension Area Citrus and Pistachio Advisor - Serving Kern and Kings Counties (AP 25-34)

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources

Application Window

Open date: October 13, 2025

Most recent review date: Sunday, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Sunday, Feb 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Position Overview
The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Area Advisor at the Assistant rank. The Advisor will develop an innovative multi-county applied research and extension education program focused on the large pistachio industry in Kern and Kings Counties, and supporting citrus production in Kern County by providing information to local growers.

The Advisor will develop problem-solving and educational programs for high-priority production issues related to climate and drought resilience in pistachios, including warmer temperatures, decreased water availability, and decreased water quality. Research and extension solutions may include rootstock and cultivar selection, irrigation and soil management, and emerging innovative farming practices. Additionally, the incumbent will work on horticultural solutions to production challenges in pistachios, integrating research and expertise from colleagues in agricultural engineering, irrigation, plant pathology, and entomology to address concerns such as limited and increasingly expensive inputs (labor, water, nutrients, etc.)

and emerging pests and diseases.

UCCE Advisors are responsible for applied research and extension of knowledge. Research activities are applied, needs-based, and mission-oriented, focusing on addressing the challenges in our communities. Extension activities are the educational practices that Advisors use to share research results directly with clientele and communities to increase their knowledge and understanding of science-based research that supports and promotes the adoption of practices and technologies to solve problems.

Extension methods may include individual consultations, presentations, organizing educational workshops and short courses, field demonstrations, farm visits, and site visits. Information may also be disseminated via radio outreach, webinars, fact sheets, policy briefs, news blogs, and social media. Publications are expected in various formats, such as newsletters, articles for the popular press, curricula, conference proceedings, and peer-reviewed publications. Successful research and extension programs result in new information that improves knowledge or understanding and adoption of new skills, practices, changed attitudes, policies, and improved environmental, health, agricultural, economic, and/or social conditions.

UCCE Advisors are evaluated through an academic advancement system based on four criteria: extending knowledge, applied research and creative activity, professional competence and activity, and university and public service.

Location Headquarters:
The position will be based at the Kern County Cooperative Extension Office at 1031 S. Mount Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield, California, 93307.

Position Details
The pistachio industry is important for the state and region, with more than half of the state's 2.4-billion-dollar pistachio crop coming from Kern and Kings Counties combined. Pistachios are a high-value "climate-smart" crop that will sustain rural agricultural economies in the warmer, drier decades to come. However, they face challenges that require local, on-the-ground, research-based solutions. The Advisor will conduct applied research on topics relevant to the pistachio industry, based on a clientele needs assessment and the Advisor's expertise.

Examples of potential research topics include:

Precision-driven nutrient management strategies that enhance yield while reducing environmental impact through targeted application and real-time monitoring

• Advanced water resource management leveraging remote sensing, soil moisture sensors, and predictive modeling to address drought conditions and comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
• Climate-resilient cultivation practices incorporating precision breeding of pistachio cultivars and rootstocks, alongside dormancy manipulation techniques informed by environmental data analytics
• Integrated pest and disease management using AI-powered diagnostics, drone surveillance, and sensor networks to detect, predict, and mitigate threats with minimal chemical input
• High-density orchard systems optimized for mechanical harvesting, supported by spatial analysis and automation technologies to improve labor efficiency and crop uniformity
  Research…