ANR Update

Please participate in survey on what motivates adoption of new farming practices

Dear Colleagues,

Our research can have impact only if someone applies the knowledge learned from the results to make a change. Our colleagues at UC Berkeley are trying to ascertain what motivates California farmers and ranchers to implement farming practices that improve soil health as well as what deters them.

I urge UCCE advisors and specialists and field staff who work with farmers and ranchers to take a few moments to fill out the survey being conducted by Alastair Iles, associate professor of environmental policy and societal change in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, and postdoctoral fellow Joanna Ory.

The attached document summarizes their project and more information introduces the survey at https://berkeley.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9AJ6Jq8d9tfg9Jb.

The results may help enhance the way we extend knowledge to our clientele. Thank you for participating in this important research project.

Glenda Humiston
Vice President

 

View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.

This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.

 

 

2018 Call for Cooperative Extension positions – final submission phase 3 underway

Colleagues,

On Aug. 1, phase 2 of the Cooperative Extension Positions Call process ended and phase 3 began. During phase 2, the Program Teams reviewed the 40 phase 1 proposals and submitted six additional proposals. All submitted proposals are posted on the 2018 Call for Position web page: http://ucanr.edu/2018callforpositions.

Phase 3:

• The statewide programs and institutes are now reviewing all 46 proposed positions to determine if there are any positions they feel are of higher priority.
• If so, they can propose up to two additional CE Advisor positions and two additional CE Specialist positions by September 15 – keeping in mind that the more proposals there are at the end, the lower the probability of being approved for recruitment.
• The proposals that did not make the phase 1 final 40 can be picked up during these subsequent phases. They can be found on the proposal ideas web page. New proposals are not limited to these ideas. 

We thank the ANR network for actively engaging in this participatory process to strengthen and rebuild CE positions statewide. 

Sincerely,

Wendy Powers
Associate Vice President

View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.

This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.

 

Emergency support From UC’s benefits plans

Dear Colleagues,

As wildfires continue to burn across California, I'd like to remind you of the support available from UC's benefit plans for those of you impacted by the fires: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2018/08/Emergency-support-from-UCs-benefit-plans.html.

Our thoughts go out to all those in the ANR community impacted by the fires.

John Fox
Executive director, Human Resources

 

View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.

This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.

 

Fire update for July 30

Dear Colleagues,

There are several large fires threatening communities all over the state and causing concern. I want you to know we've been in touch with our colleagues in the fire zones and everyone is safe. Here's an update from the affected areas.

In Lake County, the UCCE office is closed and most of the staff evacuated from their homes due to the River and Ranch fires. Nearby highway entrances are closed: Hwy 175 from Hopland and Hwy 20 from Ukiah and Hwy 29 from south of Lakeport to Hwy 20 to the north.

Hopland REC was hit hard by the River Fire. The good news is the evacuation order was lifted at noon today and all Hopland Research and Extension Center employees are safe and the headquarter buildings are undamaged. The animals were moved on Friday and all livestock are safe and accounted for, except a guard dog is missing. Roughly 2500 acres of the upper pastures burned and the domestic water line from the spring is down. On Friday, Cal Fire set up Incident Command Post at Hopland REC with 6+ engines, three bulldozers and a water tanker. Kudos to John Bailey, superintendent and interim director, and staff for their efforts, which no doubt limited the damage.

UCCE Shasta office is open today. Many staff members evacuated due to the massive Carr Fire, and CD Larry Forero is still evacuated, but the rest of the staff is back. Last week 4-H members helped relocate animals to safety. At least one 4-H family – and there may be more – lost their home to the Carr Fire so the local UCCE staff is meeting to see how they can help.

UCCE Mendocino office is open. All employees are safe and the office suffered no damage from the Ranch Fire.

UCCE Riverside office is open. A Master Gardener volunteer lost her home in Idyllwild to the Cranston Fire. UCCE Master Gardener coordinator Rosa Olaiz and the rest of the UCCE Riverside County staff are safe and are making plans to assist the volunteer.

UCCE San Bernardino office is open and all staff members are safe from the Cranston Fire.

We are continuing to monitor the impacts of the fires.

Because emergencies can arise without warning, UC ANR Environmental Health and Safety has this Safety Note to help make plans http://safety.ucanr.edu/files/152253.pdf.

Sincerely,

Glenda Humiston
Vice President

Merit-based Salary Program for Staff

I'm happy to announce that UC ANR is implementing a merit-based salary increase program for policy-covered (non-represented) staff employees for the 2018-19 fiscal year. The merit increases will be effective July 1, 2018, for both monthly and bi-weekly paid employees. UC ANR Human Resources has provided detailed information about the staff salary increases to Directors, with instructions to share information with supervisors and staff.  

The salary increases for non-represented staff will be reflected in paychecks beginning on September 1 for monthly paid employees, and on September 5 for bi-weekly paid employees. The retroactive amounts back to July 1 are expected to be included in the October 1 paychecks for monthly paid, and in the October 3 paychecks for bi-weekly paid.

The 2018–2019 salary program for UC ANR academics was announced by Associate Vice President Wendy Powers earlier this month. This program is also effective July 1, 2018, for eligible academic titles. Wendy's announcement is available on the Academic HR website.

Providing market competitive compensation for staff and academics is a top priority for UC ANR. People are our greatest asset; without you, we cannot achieve our research and extension mission.

In addition to the annual salary programs, over the last two years UC ANR has implemented multi-year strategies to improve the competitiveness of salaries for UCCE advisors and non-represented staff. Each of these programs represents a significant financial investment for the division, and we are committed to continuing those programs despite receiving no increase in funding from the Office of the President for the coming fiscal year.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your hard work and dedication. Together we are achieving great things.

Sincerely,

Glenda Humiston
Vice President

View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.

This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.

 

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