"We are an aging population," Allen-Diaz said. "We fully recognize that we need to bring new, young, highly trained, highly skilled individuals into Cooperative Extension."
She said administrators are making decisions by studying demographic data, who is retiring and where UCCE research and outreach are needed.
"We're looking at prioritizing rolling forward so that we know over time that we are going to strategically place positions," she said.
Reporter Patrick Cavanaugh also interviewed Allen-Diaz about the amount of time UC Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists spend on pest control issues, which she estimated to be about one-third.