Vice President Dan Dooley wants to grow the UC Cooperative Extension advisor ranks to 300, according to an article in Capital Press. Writer Tim Hearden reported on comments by Dooley and Don Klingborg, of ANR advocacy and county programs, that were shared at a Hat Creek, Calif., gathering of Farm Bureau and cattlemen's organizations.

"We really believe we've got to restore the capacities of our cooperative extension programs," Dooley was quoted in the story.

In the 1980s, there were about 500 UCCE advisors in California. Today, the number is 225. Dooley's goal is to bring the number up to 300.

In his remarks, Klingborg noted that the need for vibrant agricultural industries will only intensify as the population increases.

"One of the things I'm reminded of is that by 2050 we're going to need twice as much food as we need today," Klingborg was quoted. "The challenge is, how do we prepare ourselves today?"