(1110) Ag Extension Division

Conduct practical research related to ranching and natural resources, and extend UC’s research to ranchers, agency staff, and the 4-H community through educational programs.

 

The Cooperative Extension is a national program under the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) with support from the County and the University of California (UC) to bring research and knowledge of the land grant universities directly to the community. The partnership between the counties and the UC form the UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE).  Our department conducts practical research related to ranching, agriculture and natural resources, while extending the UC’s research to ranchers, farmers, the public, and agency staff. The San Benito office is highly involved in the community though the 4-H community through educational programs.

 

Five focus areas: 4-H and Youth Development, Livestock & Natural Resources, Fire, Administration and 4-H Animal Science Youth Advisor.

 

• 4-H and Youth Development: Our half-time 4-H Representative does an outstanding job managing San Benito County’s 4-H program which includes over 240 youth and 77 adult volunteers. 4-H teaches leadership, community service, responsibility, pride, teamwork and much more. Through the program, youth and their families provide community service to the county in several ways. Some examples of activities include a safety fair led by 4-H which is open to public; 4-H booth at youth expo; blood drive, STEM fair, showing animals at San Benito County Fair; Reach Across America placing wreathes at cemeteries; and downtown cleanup. Keep an eye out at area events and you will likely see our youth and adult participants helping with the event in some manner.  Giving back to the community, while learning leadership and life skills are key components to the 4-H program. 

 

• Livestock & Natural Resources: This program focuses on two main areas: The first is economic viability of livestock production. This involves research and educational programs related to influence of livestock grazing on fuel reduction, ruminant nutrition, impacts of ground squirrels, and managing small rangeland acreages.  The second focus area is sustainable use of range resources. Research and education for this topic include prescribed fire, forage production, invasive weed management, conservation grazing, and oak woodland management/conservation. The Livestock & Natural Resources program conducts scientific research on these topics in collaboration with UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and other UCCE advisors across the state. Once research results are available, they are shared with the ranching community and agency staff through workshops, meetings, and site visits. 

 

• Fire: The fire program focuses on two primary themes: The first is to build community resilience to wildfire, which involves developing and improving awareness surrounding wildfire, including fuel reduction, defensible space, and home hardening. The second focus is increasing opportunities for prescribed fire as well as researching prescribed fire effects in central coast ecosystems. Research results are disseminated throughout the community to help further the use of fire as a landscape management tool. Although separate programs, both the Livestock & Natural Resources program and the Fire program collaborate on several projects.

 

• Administration: We have a half-time Administrative Assistant that is supported by San Benito County. This position is critical to the success of the 4-H, Livestock & Natural Resources, and Fire programs. The Administrative Assistant meticulously manages finances for four 4-H accounts; greets and assists 4-H families when they call or come into the office, especially when the 4-H Program Representative is out of the office; ensures that insurance and paperwork are in order when club members participate in local parades. In addition to duties associated with 4-H, the Administrative Assistant acts as our safety officer, which includes making workorder requests to the County to ensure the office is safe and functional. The Administrative Assistant supports the Livestock & Natural Resources Advisor, Fire Advisor, and County Director by managing twelve non-4-H accounts, including our county budget; purchasing office supplies; and providing general administrative assistance. In past years the Administrative Assistant played a critical role in our internet system upgrade and public service as our offices became more open to the public.  

 

• 4-H Animal Science Youth Advisor: In line with the UC’s commitment to support youth, leadership programs and public outreach, funding has been secured to hire a regional 4-H Animal Science Youth Advisor that will be headquartered in our Hollister location.  San Benito County will be the beneficiary of that position along with the surrounding counties.  With the expanded UC support there will be the need for additional administrative support from our county partner to ensure the staff can focus on areas related to their expertise versus administrative duties.

 

STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREAS

 

• Focus Area 1: Operational Development & Excellence
  • Organizational Leadership: Instill proactive strategies to empower future leaders while motivating individuals through engagement and development. 4-H teaches leadership to our county’s youth.
  • Customer Service: Provide equitable access to efficient, effective, and culturally responsive services for our community and visitors. UCCE advertises our programs widely to ensure all members of the community are aware of what we offer. We also strive to make access to our programming available to everyone in our community, regardless of age, sex, race, ability, etc. We continually conduct needs assessments to ensure we are meeting the needs of our diverse clientele.
  • Organizational Culture: Nurture an organizational culture that embraces equality, collaboration, and open communication where all people are valued. Our office functions as a team and we value each member of the team. The Department Head has an open-door policy so staff feel comfortable addressing an issue at any time. We often work together to find solutions to issues that arise.
• Focus Area 2: Community Engagement
  • Public-Private Partnerships: Leverage public-private partnerships to serve the community's interest by providing better services and operational efficiency. 4-H, the Livestock & Natural Resources, and Fire programs rely on collaboration with the public and private organizations. For example, 4-H has several partnerships with groups like Verizon, Our Father’s House, Community Outreach, the animal shelter, VFW, a senior center, and Red Cross to provide community service to the County. Also, the Livestock & Natural Resources and Fire programs collaborate with private ranchers and public agency staff to conduct research and develop educational programs.
  • Communication: Exchange complete, accurate, and timely information with the entire community through open channels of communication. We use our website, blog, newsletter, and BenitoLink to share research updates and educational opportunities with the public.
  • Cross-Jurisdictional Relationships: Foster partnerships that promote regional success by expanding and enhancing the quality of services that maximize the use of limited resources. The Livestock & Natural Resources and Fire programs operate primarily in San Benito County, but also in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties. In addition, the Livestock & Natural Resources Advisor and Fire Advisor collaborate with advisors in the Bay Area, Central Valley, and southern portions of the Central Coast. The Advisors bring UCCE Advisors and Specialists to San Benito County from other parts of the state for research projects and educational workshops. They also work collaboratively with CAL FIRE across San Benito, Monterey, and Santa Clara counties in maintaining our Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association. This cross-jurisdictional relationship will help use limited resources to address the need to improve livestock forage, reduce fire fuels, and improve fire safety.
• Focus Area 3: Healthy & Safe Communities
  • Promote Healthy Choices: Support a safe and healthy community that nurtures the body and mind across all ages and social conditions. 4-H has programming that promotes leadership and keeps youth engaged, preventing them from getting in trouble. This keeps the community safer.
  • Community Support: Improve factors that influence health, including social and economic opportunities, healthy behaviors, clinical care, and the physical environment. 4-H members promote healthy living through exercise. The Livestock & Natural Resources program, with funding from CAL FIRE, is expanding the activities of the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association and an education program to teach ranchers, agency managers, and the public about how to use prescribed fire and home-hardening techniques to keep our communities fire-safe. The Livestock & Natural Resources program also strives to help maintain economic viability ranching in San Benito County through research and education for ranchers related to livestock health and pasture management.

 

Detailed information can be found here: Strategic Plan Overview

UCCE Advisors who are housed in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Counties, but have direct projects in San Benito County. 

 

	Name of Advisor	Advisor Specialty	% of Advisor's Time in San Benito County	% of Advisor's Staff/Volunteer time in San Benito County	Grant funding dedicated to San Benito County	List of Projects in San Benito County
1	Larry Bettiga	Viticulture	5	Minimal	N/A	No current trials being conducted in San Benito
2	Mark Bolda	Berry/Strawberries/Caneberries	2	2	N/A	No direct studies in San Benito County
3	Marie De La Fuente	Mushrooms, compost, specialty Vegetables, Urban Horticulture	5	15	N/A	Master Gardner Coordinator
4	Aparna Gazula	Horticulture, Vegetable production, Small farms	30	30	N/A	Work covers San Benito Food safety Modernization Training and Tech Assistance CSA Program; Tech assistance for small scale/socially disadvantaged farmers along central coast Sustainable best management in cultural relevant crops grown by small scale diversified /socially disadvantaged farmers Education and implementation of Nitrogen and irrigation management
5	Richard Smith	Vegetable production and weed science	5	10	$10,000	Nitrogen removal coefficient, tumble week project
6	Michael Cahn	Irrigation and Water resources	5	20	$30,000	Irrigation/Nutrient management and outreach
7	Kristen Pearsons	IPM/Entomology	5	Minimal	N/A	Support and research current contact list
8	Yu-Chen Wang	Plant Pathology	10	N/A	N/A	Plant Pathology Farmer support samples submitted for identification/trouble shooting
		TOTALS	62%	67%

 

Our top concern is maintaining excellent service to the community in cooperation with San Benito County.

• In order to do that, our top priority is being able to hire an additional half time administrative assistant. We currently have one half time admin assistant. However, with additional UCCE Advisors, a new County Director, and expanded, high-dollar grant programs and research we will need additional administrative support.

NOTE:  Senior Leadership, within the University of California has recognized the need to support 4-H programs and continue to provide outreach, leadership programs and educational programs to underserved and marginalized portions of our counties and population.  With that statement our team here in San Benito county rely on the wonderful support and partnership of our local leaders.  Additional support staffing is necessary to continue this path for our youth and adult volunteers and all our programs.

• Continue to collaborate with San Benito County Integrated Waste Management, Water Resources Association of San Benito County, and possibly other county organizations, to explore development of a Master Gardener program to provide county residents information about how to reduce their garden water use, how to compost, how to grow vegetables, and much more. If we can get this program off the ground, we will have resources available in Spanish.
• Dramatically increase 4-H enrollment as more housing continues to be built in the county.
• Increase program and research opportunities to address local needs which will lead to increased economic prosperity, a prepared workforce, improved natural resources management, and enhanced community health and wellness.
• The University has completed the hiring a Fire Advisor who is headquartered in San Benito County. Support for this position and the positive impacts to the citizens of San Benito County is essential.  The research and collaboration with our local landowners, state and federal agencies will help protect lands in the county, as well as our residents. 
• Four additional UCCE Advisor positions have been approved for the Central Coast. Some have already been hired. Though some of these new staff will be headquartered in other counties, they will have an appointment to cover San Benito County as well. These four positions, along with the new Fire Advisor, will greatly expand UCCE’s footprint in San Benito County. The four additional positions are as follows:

• 1. Plant Pathology Advisor - This position has been hired. The new advisor began in October 2022. See table for their contribution to San Benito County.
  2. Agricultural Technology Area Advisor – Final interviews and process.  IN PROGRESS
  3. Ag Entomology Advisor – This position has been filled and employee began working late 2022. See table for their contribution to San Benito County.
  4. 4-H Animal Science Youth Advisor –Candidates are currently being considered. This position will be headquartered in San Benito County.