Download Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor, Central Sierra Multi

Position Title: Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor, Central Sierra Multi County Partnership
Position:
General Disciplinary Focus: This position will serve the Central Sierra Multi-County Partnership with a
general disciplinary focus on livestock production systems including nutrition, herd health, grazing
management, animal husbandry, genetic selection, reproductive efficiency, and marketing. The advisor
will also address the sustainable use of natural resources with an emphasis on range and pasture
management; watershed management; promoting healthy and sustainable oak woodland ecosystems; and
maintaining hardwood rangelands in El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties.
Educational and Professional Background Requirements: A degree in animal science/husbandry,
natural resources, range management, woodland ecosystems or other closely related disciplines is
required. The individual in this position will be required to obtain the certified rangeland manager
certification.
Supporting Units: This position is strongly supported by the Central Sierra Multi-County Partnership;
the UC Davis Department of Animal Science, Meat and Food Safety Program Team, and the Forest and
Rangeland System Program Team.
Justification: This position can contribute to developing knowledge and/or bringing together information
to address a myriad of ANR Initiatives. Issues and importance to this position are briefly summarized:
 Sustainable Food Systems – Livestock production continues to be one of the leading agricultural
commodities in the region. According to county Crop Reports, livestock production was the number
one agricultural commodity in Calaveras County ($14 million) and in Tuolumne County ($16.5
million) in 2012. In El Dorado and Amador counties, livestock are also major contributors of the
agricultural industry and rank in the top three at $8 and $9 million respectively. Grass fed, natural
and organic beef, are growing market sectors that have unmet research needs and require different
pasture management and animal science support. An important component of this position is to
evaluate value-added opportunities that could result in a higher net return for local ranches. Producers
need sound research-based information on grazing management, riparian protection, stockwater
systems, irrigation efficiency and genetic selection to sustainably produce livestock. Innovative
management strategies are needed for this industry to continue to be viable in face of global
competition and increasing regulatory constraints.
 Sustainable Natural Ecosystems – Population growth is one of the most important issues facing this
region. As future growth shifts towards rangelands and oak woodlands, ANR academics will provide
the fundamental and applied research to ensure sustainable natural ecosystems are conserved for
future generations. The largest land use in this region is livestock production on annual rangeland. In
many of the counties, annual rangeland comprises 50% (Calaveras) to 75% (Amador) of the total land
use.
 Improve Water Quality, Quantity and Security – The Central Sierra region is the headwaters to a
number of major watersheds in the state including the American, Consumnes, Mokelumne, and
Tuolumne. The myriad of land management strategies employed on oak woodlands have a wide range
of effects on water quality and quantity, which have implications for numerous beneficial uses of
water downstream from these systems. One of the prime perceived threats to water quality is
livestock. Applied research, public and professional education programs could address this problem,
significantly reducing the threat and associated impacts, including impaired water quality.
 Managing Endemic and Invasive Pests & Diseases – Numerous invasive species problems exist in
these ecosystems affecting biodiversity, water quality, ecosystem health and overall livestock
production. The advisor will work with land managers and ranchers to address these species of
concern and develop control strategies.
Extension: This position will extend science-based information to clientele on livestock management
practices to enhance production efficiency and ranch profitability and help minimize any negative impacts
associated with livestock production. Disseminating science-based information on livestock production
and restoration will increase agricultural and natural resource literacy. Managing ecosystems, while not a
new opportunity, is an area where UC is well positioned to provide leadership and generate success. Key
clientele groups include livestock producers, 4-H youth, public resource management agencies (NRCS,
California Fish and Wildlife, and US Forest Service, RCDs) and nonprofit conservation organizations
(such as The Nature Conservancy, local watershed councils, land trusts and other non-government
organizations). Collaboration with these groups will identify issues and opportunities for extension of
livestock and land management information using seminars, workshops, field days, internet resources and
producer-oriented and peer-reviewed publications.
Research: This advisor, collaborating with other CE advisors and specialists, and AES faculty will
develop and implement management practices that improve livestock production in the region and will
address food safety, water quality, soil quality, ecosystem health. Species that will be emphasized will be
cattle, sheep, goats, and small scale poultry.
ANR Network: The Advisor is expected to develop strong programmatic ties with Livestock, Plant
Science, and Natural Resource Advisors in the Central Sierra region and neighboring counties. This
position will have a strong animal husbandry focus and will contribute to a more complete and balanced
team throughout the Central Sierra MCP and the neighboring counties. This position will be supported by
CE specialists and AES researchers at UCD (Animal Science; School of Veterinary Medicine; Plant
Science; Agriculture Economics; and Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology) and by the UC
Berkeley Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management. There are immediate
opportunities to collaborate with these campus-based colleagues on existing projects focusing on animal
genomics, grazing management, nutrient management, animal health issues, invasive species and food
safety. There is also strong Workgroup and Program Team support.
Network External to ANR: The external stakeholders for this position include landowners and
managers, government agencies including USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm
Service Agency, local, county, and state policy makers, NGOs, private industry, youth and the general
public. Cattleman’s Association, the Farm Bureau and other agricultural and conservation organizations
strongly support this position.
Support: Support for this position, including office space, travel, communication (telephone, internet),
clerical support, and office supplies are provided from the MCP.
Other support: The Central Sierra region strongly supports agriculture and the desire to expand local
food based systems. A number of local agricultural marketing organizations including Farms of
Tuolumne County, CalaverasGROWN, Farms of Amador and El Dorado Farm Trails have showed strong
interest in local livestock availability. Local financial support can be supplemented by federal and
statewide grant programs, e.g. CDFA Value-Added Block Grants, Rural Development Block Grants.
There are numerous local and regional organizations that will partner with the advisor.
Location: The advisor would be housed in Tuolumne County, which is the largest livestock producing
county in the four county region.
Developed and proposed by: Scott Oneto, UCCE Central Sierra MCP Director with input from the Meat
Production and Food Safety Program Team and the Forest and Rangeland Systems Program Team.