Cooperative Extension Area Orchard Systems Advisor (Almond, Pistachio, Peaches, Apricots)

Cooperative Extension Area Orchard Systems Advisor (Almond, Pistachio, Peaches, Apricots)

Serving Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties

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 Modesto, CA 95358.

Position Details

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. California pest control advisors (PCA) and certified crop advisors (CCA) seek continuing education to continue to advise farmers on best practices and develop nutrient management plans on roughly 475,000 fruit and nut acres in Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties. The position is responsible for creating and implementing an innovative extension program using traditional and modern tools to support the development of new practices and evaluation of existing practices for increasing production efficiencies while being protective of natural resources. The advisor will provide needs-based education that is responsive to the preferences of clientele.

Programs will be developed and carried out in collaboration with other ANR academics as well as related government and private industries in Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties. The position requires interaction with farmers, landowners, commodity boards, pest control advisors, federal and state agency managers and partners, and other client groups and managers from the public and / or private sector.The advisor is expected to work collaboratively with Cooperative Extension Specialists, AES researchers and Cooperative Extension Advisors through various workgroups. UCCE Stanislaus County has the resources to maximize the productivity of this advisor for statewide as well as local benefit, including an established team of both an integrated pest management advisor and an irrigation advisor, both working exclusively in orchard systems, that will serve as the foundation of local collaboration in research and extension. The Orchard Systems Advisor will bring valuable orchard / horticulture knowledge to the local team, allowing for a holistic approach to research and extension programs aimed at tackling multi-faceted issues.

Counties of Responsibility.

This position will be headquartered in Stanislaus County and will serve Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties.

Reporting Relationship :

The advisor serves under the administrative guidance of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Stanislaus County Director with input from the San Joaquin County Director.It is not a remote position; the candidate must be available to work onsite at the headquarters location and travel to and be present in other counties with programmatic responsibilities. Specific expectations for maintaining office hours and fieldwork in the geographic area covered by this position will be outlined upon hire by the respective directors and supervisors.

Qualifications and Skills Required

Required Qualifications

Education : A minimum of a master's degree related to pomology, horticulture, plant science, or a related field is required at the time of appointment.

Key Qualifications

• The candidate should be able to develop and integrate all aspects of crop production to promote sustainability, profitability, and environmental stewardship.
• The CE Advisor must possess or obtain a Qualified Pesticide Applicator Certificate (QAC) or License (QAL) prior to applying or supervising the application of any pesticide.
• Experience in conducting applied research in agriculture, horticulture or natural resources.
• Experience delivering educational and outreach programming.
• Experience in program and / or personnel management.
• Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability, and property damage insurance on the vehicle used is required.Must possess or obtain a valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University Vehicle.
• We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employmentvisaat this time. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. at the time of hire.
• This is not a remote position.

Additional Skills Required

Desired Experience