Cooperative Extension Area Orchard Systems Advisor; Almond, Pistachio, Peaches, Apricots AP

Overview

Position Overview

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension Area Orchard Systems Advisor, serving Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties. The successful candidate will implement an innovative multi-county extension education and applied research program that will focus on almonds and pistachios in Stanislaus County and peaches and apricots in Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties.

Disciplinary focus will be on orchard production systems, nutrient management, pest management, water efficiency, and soil fertility and health.

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 Stanislaus County, located at 3800 Cornucopia Way, #A, Modesto, CA 95358.

Location and program context are described further in the sections that follow.

The Area Orchard Systems Advisor will support the ANR Public Values of “Promoting economic prosperity in California” through increases in agriculture efficiency and profitability; “Protecting California’s natural resources” by improving land management, soil quality, agricultural sustainability, water quality, and water use efficiency; and “Building climate-resilient communities and ecosystems” by increasing resilience to extreme weather and climate change by improving water resiliency with on-farm practices such as groundwater recharge and recycling water and biomass.

The advisor will develop an applied research program to address critical issues facing orchard crops. These include irrigation and fertigation efficiency, rootstock and variety evaluation, cropping efficiency, overcoming salt and soil chemistry challenges, soil health and cover cropping, invasive disease epidemics and use of plant growth regulators to help overcome issues related to climate change. Priorities may include fruit harvest mechanization to address labor shortages, canopy size and structure to facilitate harvest efficiency, and fertilization strategies to optimize fruit size, yield, and quality.

There is strong support from the local industry that will allow the new advisor to address high-profile policy issues (e.g. Flood Managed Aquifer Recharge and Climate Smart Ag) such as fertilizer and irrigation management concerns that are facing additional regulation in coming years but are key to advancing profitability. There are numerous publication opportunities across these crops and disciplines, including trade journal publications, commodity board technical reports, and scientific journals.

The advisor will be expected to collaborate in knowledge creation and extension with key clientele including farmers and allied industry.…