Livestock and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension Advisor

The Area Cooperative Extension (CE) advisor for livestock and natural resources will conduct a multi-county based extension, education and applied research program that will focus on livestock production systems including grazing management, pasture management, nutrition, herd health, animal husbandry, genetic selection, reproduction, and marketing. This position will have a strong animal husbandry focus and will contribute to a more complete and balanced team throughout the region. The natural resource component of this position will focus on developing effective solutions to issues relating to commercial livestock production systems and natural resource issues such as water quality, rangeland health, wildlife habitat, and public lands management.

Livestock production continues to be one of the leading agricultural commodities in the region. The majority of livestock is cattle, with goats, sheep, poultry and swine also being represented. Nearly all the cattle produced in the region is comprised of cow/calf operations that operate on a complex and diverse land ownership basis. Livestock production on annual rangelands account for 800,000 acres in the region and is mostly private ownership that is either owner operated or leased. A portion of the annual rangeland is publicly owned either by Federal, State or local government and a number of utility districts. In addition to annual range, many livestock producers utilize forestlands for summer grazing. The Stanislaus and El Dorado National Forests account for 589,000 acres of grazing land with an additional 168,000 acres of private forestland used for grazing. A number of producers also utilize irrigated and non-irrigated pastures in other parts of California or out of state. Because of the diversity in ecosystems and magnitude of acreage and diversity of ownership, the issues that arise in this production system are just as varied and diverse.

The CE advisor will facilitate interactions and information exchange among campus based academics, CE advisors and community stakeholders. The CE advisor will develop and implement education and applied research programs addressing important issues at the interface of livestock production systems, natural resources management, and watershed health. Key clientele will include livestock producers and managers, landowners, 4-H and FFA youth, public resource management agencies (Natural Resource Conservation Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Forest Service, and Resource Conservation Districts), nonprofit conservation organizations (California Farm Bureau, land trusts, and regional agricultural marketing groups), regional livestock organizations, and others who face complex management issues relating to livestock production, natural resources, and watershed health.