My name is Giuliano Galdi, and I am the new UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Agronomy and Weed Management Advisor located in Merced County, and also with responsibilities in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. In San Joaquin county, my primary responsibility will be in weed management. I received my B.S. in Agricultural Engineering at the University of Sao Paulo and my M.S. degree in Plant Sciences at California State University, Fresno.

I'm back in the San Joaquin Valley after spending four years of my early career as the UCCE Agronomy and Crops Advisor in Siskiyou County. My previous research and extension program in Siskiyou county was focused on alfalfa, pasture, small grains, pest control, and water management. I worked on...