UC Cooperative Extension Orchard Systems Advisor; Cherries, Walnuts, Olives, Apples

UC Cooperative Extension Orchard Systems Advisor (Cherries, Walnuts, Olives, Apples)

UC Cooperative Extension Orchard Systems Advisor (Cherries, Walnuts, Olives, Apples)

Serving San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties

The University of California division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Orchard Systems Advisor, in the Assistant Rank, serving San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties. The successful candidate will develop and implement an innovative applied research and extension education program that will focus on walnut and sweet cherry production. Disciplinary focus will be on production systems, integrated pest management, nutrient management, irrigation management and efficiency, business strategies, soil fertility and health, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

The position will also include sweet cherry in Sacramento County and area wide responsibilities for olives (oil and table), and several other smaller-acreage crops including apples, prunes, persimmons, and pomegranates. San Joaquin County is the statewide leader in both cherry and walnut production and the advisor would be expected to develop a regional and statewide expertise on these crops, providing leadership within ANR.

This position will work with commercial organic, regenerative, and conventional production and marketing systems.

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

Extension methods may include individual consultations, presentations, organization of educational workshops and short courses, field demonstrations, farm calls, 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, curriculums, 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:
This position will be headquartered in the UCCE Office in San Joaquin County located at 2101

E. Earhart Ave. #200, Stockton, CA 95206.

The advisor will address UC ANR's value statements and condition changes by promoting the economic prosperity of California while protecting our natural resources, mitigating climate change, and safeguarding abundant food for Californians. High priority issues include increasing fruit and nut tree production while reducing the environmental footprint of fertilization, irrigation and pest management practices, the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and mitigating the effects of climate change.

The likelihood of producing significant impacts is high as this position is visible and ranked as critical by the walnut and cherry industries.

San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties have a mixture of part-time small acreage and full-time medium acreage growers. There are many critical research needs for these commodities. Research opportunities include rootstock, variety, irrigation, fertilization and pruning of walnuts and cherries; development of selective and integrated new approaches for managing endemic and invasive pests and diseases; improving cherry quality through improved growing and handling, and testing of new…