- (Public Value) UCANR: Promoting healthy people and communities
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
California farmers can grow crops with less water. Gardeners can control pests with safer methods. Community members can take steps to protect their homes from wildfire. Children can learn life and work skills. Families can stretch their food dollars to provide nutritious meals. Californians have benefited from University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources research and outreach in many ways. And thanks to the state's historic boost to UC ANR funding, more UC Cooperative Extension scientists and educators are being hired to address the unique needs of communities across California.
From noon to noon on May 19-20, the public is invited to donate for UC ANR Giving Day, sponsored by Tri Counties Bank, to enhance their favorite UC ANR projects or programs.
The 24 hours of giving will expand UC ANR outreach to benefit the health and well-being of more Californians throughout the state.
In the past, donations have been used to fund UC Master Gardener demonstration gardens, purchase teaching supplies for California Naturalists, and fund scholarships for children to develop life and work skills in UC ANR's 4-H programs.
Donors are invited to give to UC Cooperative Extension in their counties, Research and Extension Centers and favorite programs. When visitors click “GIVE” on the upper right of the website http://donate.ucanr.edu/givingday, fund choices appear in drop-down menus.
Online gifts made between noon on May 19 and 11:59 a.m. on May 20 may help programs qualify for prize challenge awards. Donations can be made at http://donate.ucanr.edu/givingday.
If you prefer sending a check instead of donating online, please make checks payable to “UC Regents” and specify the fund, then mail to UC ANR Gift Processing, 2801 Second Street, Davis, CA 95618.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources will be recruiting 16 new UC Cooperative Extension Specialists over the next 12 months. This is in addition to the five UCCE Specialist positions released for recruitment last fall and two co-funded UCCE Specialist positions since May 2021 – one in partnership with UC Merced and another with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
To date, 106 UCCE Specialist and Advisor positions have been released since spring 2021, thanks to increased 2021-22 state funding. The positions are located in communities across California.
“We are positioned to make an even bigger difference in the lives of Californians by having so many more boots on the ground,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for agriculture and natural resources.
UCCE Specialists perform research on campus with other campus-based academics and in the field with UCCE Advisors, who work directly with farmers, families and other Californians.
Currently UC ANR has UCCE Specialists located on six campuses – UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced – at UC ANR's research and extension centers and in county offices.
“We are excited to strengthen partnerships with additional UC campuses by placing UCCE Specialists at UC Irvine and UCLA for the first time,” Humiston said. “We are also adding a position in UC Berkeley's School of Public Health.”
The new UC Cooperative Extension Specialist positions are listed below:
- Agricultural Toxicology Specialist, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Molecular Biosciences and CAES Department of Environmental Toxicology
- Agroecology Specialist, UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and Department of Environmental Studies
- Climate Resilience and Labor Specialist, UC Berkeley School of Public Health
- Dairy Cattle Production Health and Management Economics Specialist, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Teaching & Research (located in Tulare County)
- Diseases of Nursery Greenhouse and Native Crops Specialist, UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology
- Economics of Diversity and Equity Specialist, UC Berkeley Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics
- Economics of Food Supply Chains Specialist, UC Davis Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Engineered Wood Products and Design Specialist, UC Berkeley Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management
- Food Crop Safety Specialist, UC Riverside Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology
- Nutrition and Health Equity Specialist, UC Davis CAES Department of Nutrition
- Regenerative Agriculture Specialist, UC Merced Department of Life and Environmental Sciences
- Soil Health Specialist, UC Davis Department of Land, Air and Water Resources
- Subtropical Fruit Crop IPM Specialist, UC Riverside Department of Entomology
- Urban Water Quality, Health and Justice Specialist, UC Irvine Department of Civil and Environment Engineering
- Water Equity and Adaptation Policy Specialist, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
- Weed Science Specialist, UC Riverside CNAS Department of Botany and Plant Sciences
The full list of UCCE positions released is posted on the 2021-22 Release of UCCE Positions web page. More about the process is available on the 2021 Call for Positions web page.
All UC ANR jobs open for recruitment can be found at https://ucanr.edu/About/Jobs.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources is releasing 10 more UC Cooperative Extension academic positions for recruitment.
“These positions are made possible by the historic 2021-22 state budget increase Governor Newsom approved in July,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for agriculture and natural resources. “We are grateful that the governor and so many California legislators recognize the benefits of reinvesting in UC ANR research and extension to address critical needs across our state.”
The newly released positions include:
- Orchard Systems Area Advisor, Tehama County
- Nut Crops Advisor, Merced County
- Invasive Weed & Restoration Ecology Specialist, UC Davis
- Water Justice Policy and Planning Specialist, UC Berkeley
- Nutrition, Family, and Consumer Science Advisor, Central Sierra Multicounty Partnership
- Nutrition, Family, and Consumer Sciences Advisor, Tulare County supporting the lower San Joaquin Valley region
- Fire Advisor, Mariposa County
- Environmental Horticulture Advisor, Capitol Corridor Multicounty Partnership, serving the Sacramento Valley region
- Agricultural Engineer Advisor, Intermountain Research and Extension Center
- Integrated Pest Management Area Advisor, Butte County
The locations listed after the titles are where the individuals will be headquartered; UCCE Advisor positions serve multiple counties.
In May 2021, UC ANR Program Council identified 15 UCCE Advisor and five UCCE Specialist positions as critically urgent to fill from a list of the remaining positions from the 2018 position call process (updated in 2019) and more recent personnel departures and priorities. To avoid overwhelming UC ANR's Human Resources staff, 10 positions were released in July and this second set of 10 is being released now.
“We look forward to releasing additional positions for recruitment – both academic and program support members – throughout the next several months,” Humiston said.
Humiston encourages everyone to share the announcement with their social networks to “help us find and recruit outstanding candidates.”
To see a list of UC ANR job openings, visit https://ucanr.edu/About/Jobs
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
The state budget signed by Governor Newsom Monday night [July 12] includes a historic increase for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. The state restored UC ANR's budget to pre-COVID levels of FY 2019-20 and provided a 5% increase plus an additional $32 million in ongoing funding, bringing total state support to $107.9 million for the division, which contains the county-based UC Cooperative Extension, Integrated Pest Management and 4-H Youth Development programs.
“This budget increase is transformational and will allow us to rebuild UC Cooperative Extension's boots-on-the-ground to help Californians cope with wildfire, drought and climate adaptation,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for agriculture and natural resources.
Over the past 20 years, state funding for UC ANR decreased by almost 50% (adjusted for inflation), resulting in a significant reduction of UC ANR's Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists – from 427 positions in 2001 down to only 269 in 2021 – creating vacancies in many critical positions.
“We appreciate UC ANR stakeholders for sounding the alarm,” Humiston said. “And we are immensely grateful to Senator John Laird, chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee on Education, for recognizing this critical need and for his leadership and dedication to restoring UC ANR's budget to bring back Cooperative Extension throughout California.”
With this new funding, UC ANR will begin recruiting for 20 UC Cooperative Extension academic positions and prioritizing many more critical positions for hiring during the next several months.
“As in the past, we will be talking to our community partners and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing needs to prioritize the next round of hiring,” Humiston said. “We must identify positions to address California's emerging and future needs. While this state budget increase will allow UC ANR to hire more people, we will continue seeking funding from additional sources to expand access to our diverse resources for all Californians.”
To learn more about how UC ANR enhances economic prosperity, protects natural resources, develops an inclusive and equitable society, safeguards food, develops the workforce, builds climate resilience, and promotes the health of people and communities in California, see the stories in its 2020 annual report at https://ucanr.edu/sites/UCANR/files/352362.pdf.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings the power of UC to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu and support our work at donate.ucanr.edu.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
While COVID-19 has put the world on pause, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources continues to bring the power of UC research in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, and youth development to local communities to improve the lives of all Californians.
On Tuesday, Dec. 1, UC ANR will be participating in #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals to celebrate generosity worldwide. #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, after Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
With the #PushPlayCA theme, UC ANR is counting on the public to help it push past the obstacles of 2020 to serve Californians. Recently UC Cooperative Extension has been helping residents prepare their homes to withstand wildfire, giving virtual gardening lessons to people who want to grow their own food, and helping small family farmers find new markets for their produce after their restaurant contracts were canceled due to COVID-19.
“Gifts to UC ANR help ensure we can continue to provide essential resources and trusted information to the people of California in times of crisis and beyond,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for agriculture and natural resources. “Your investment supports research, education and services in your community and in all 58 counties in California. We can't do it without your help!”
Donors may designate the UC ANR programs or locations to which they wish to donate. The website ucanr.edu/givingtuesday contains links to all UC ANR programs, research and extension centers and UCCE offices.
UC ANR anticipates an exciting campaign thanks in part to generous donors, volunteers, staff and board members who have given a total of $40,000 in matching funds—a tremendous incentive to donors across the state who want to double the impact of their gifts.
Gifts made online starting at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 1 are eligible to be matched until the matching funds are depleted. “That means stay up late on Nov. 30 to double the value of your gift,” said Emily Delk, UC ANR director of annual giving.
To give gifts and support UC ANR programs and research for a healthier California, visit ucanr.edu/givingtuesday on Dec. 1.
To learn more about what UC ANR is doing in your community, visit https://ucanr.edu and follow @ucanr on social media.
