Santa Clara County Cooperative Extension

Welcome

University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) is the local link that connects Santa Clara County residents directly to the powerful research, expertise, and information of the UC system. Our local programs deliver science-based solutions and outreach—powered by dedicated volunteers—to address critical local issues in agriculture, natural resources, youth development, and family health.

UCCE Impact in Action 

The work of UC Cooperative Extension in Santa Clara County is guided by the University of California's commitment to improving the lives of all residents, focused on creating: Healthy Food Systems, Healthy Environments, Healthy Communities, and Healthy Californians.

Featured Story

UCCE’s Urban IPM Program helps county agencies manage pests that threaten public health, structures, and infrastructures

Did you know that Santa Clara County is within the coverage area of one of UC Cooperative Extension’s most impactful programs? The SF Bay Area’s Urban Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program, led by urban entomologist and Cooperative Extension Advisor Dr. Andrew Sutherland, works with the pest control industry, public agencies, and other pest management professionals to design and evaluate IPM strategies for key urban insect pests such as cockroaches, termites, ants, bed bugs, yellowjacket wasps, biting mites, and more. Founded in 2012 as UC’s first county-based urban IPM cooperative extension service, the SF Bay Area Urban IPM Program directly serves Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties. This model has since been replicated in southern California and Sacramento, and hiring of more Urban IPM Advisors is planned.

Over the past few years, Dr. Sutherland has been assisting several county agencies with challenging urban pest systems at county properties, including hospitals, food storage and service facilities, shopping centers, recycling centers, and correctional facilities. Older facilities include numerous entry points from the outside or underground that may allow pests to enter, such as poorly sealed exterior doors and damaged or faulty sanitary drains. For instance, an older medical facility in San Jose had been battling a longstanding infestation of American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana. This cockroach species does not commonly breed indoors, so an external source was assumed. With Dr. Sutherland’s help, the county’s IPM Program and Office of Sustainability were able to locate several damaged sanitary drain lines and several improperly sealed toilet drain penetrations that were allowing cockroaches to invade the facility’s indoor spaces. Proper repair of these structural defects resulted in dramatic decreases in cockroach sightings without requiring insecticide applications. 

American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana, feed on a smashed fig on a sidewalk near a sanitary sewer manhole. (photo: Andrew Sutherland)

Other recent examples of direct assistance to county agencies includes monitoring for biting mites in San Francisco, reduction in nuisance flies in Alameda, and holistic pest control for Norway rats in Contra Costa. Dr. Sutherland’s IPM approach involves clear understanding of the pest organism’s biology and ecology, implementation of pest prevention tactics, monitoring for pest incidence and density, consideration of nonchemical tactics, and responsible targeted use of pesticides when warranted. 

Learn more about managing cockroaches in and around your home here: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/cockroaches/#gsc.tab=0

Learn how to prevent and control the pests in and around your home here: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/menu.house.html

Learn more about the SF Bay Area Urban IPM Program here: https://ucanr.edu/site/urban-integrated-pest-management

Our Program Impact Areas

Explore a sampling of our specialized community initiatives where our advisors and dedicated volunteers are actively making a difference in the county and region. 

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Promoting Sustainable Home Landscapes

Santa Clara County Master Gardeners are knowledgeable volunteers who have completed extensive training in home horticulture to serve as primary extenders of University of California information. We empower home gardeners with research-based knowledge to help their gardens thrive. Explore more at our Master Gardeners program page.

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Diverting Organic Waste

This community-based, volunteer-driven program utilizes trained Master Composters to educate Santa Clara County residents on diverting household organic waste. We provide free classes, school visits, and community events to teach backyard and worm composting. Learn about our Composting Education program.

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Supporting Economic Viability

Focused on the challenges and opportunities of California's small-scale farm operators, this program develops field and marketing research aimed at meeting the needs of small and moderate-scale farmers. We provide information and technical assistance often not reached by traditional extension programs. Explore more at our Small Farm Program page.