University of California
Cooperative Extension (UCCE), ANR’s outreach arm, has farm, 4-H,
and nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisors based in more than
50 county offices. In addition, Cooperative Extension
specialists are headquartered at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and UC Riverside,
where they conduct research and coordinate advisors’ activities.
As a land-grant institution, the Cooperative Extension mandate is tied
to the welfare, development, and protection of California agriculture,
natural resources, and people.
County farm advisors’ work is aimed at enhancing California
agricultural productivity and competitiveness. Together with farmers,
pest control advisors, and industry representatives, they identify current
and emerging agricultural opportunities and problems. The advisors collaborate
with campus-based Cooperative Extension specialists and AES
scientists to research, adapt, and field-test agricultural improvements
or solutions and promote the use of research findings.
The 4-H youth
development program, with staff in each county office,
provides meaningful, learn-by-doing educational activities to children
in 4-H clubs and to children participating in school enrichment and after-school
programs. The 4-H program includes traditional offerings – such as
cooking, animal husbandry, and sewing – and an array of exciting
new programs for today’s youth – including rocketry, computer
science, and leadership.
The nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisors focus
on nutrition, food safety, food preparation, food preservation, and finance
management. Collaborative partnerships with government and private agencies
extend the reach of UC advisors. Workshops, public meetings, newsletters,
the mass media, and other communications tools bring information to the
community.
Three regional offices administer UC Cooperative Extension: the North
Coast and Mountain Region, the Central Valley Region, and the Central
Coast and South Region. See the county office page
for regional office and UCCE county locations and contact information.
