Mission Statement

Our mission is to sustain a vital agriculture environment and community in Sonoma County by providing University of California research-based information in agriculture, natural resource management, and nutrition and youth development.

Departmental Description

The Sonoma County University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) brings science-based research and educational programming to assist people in Sonoma County to solve problems and create opportunities in agriculture, natural resources, and youth development. Examples of high priority topics addressed by University academic staff include restoration of degraded salmon habitat, watershed management, identification and prevention of pests that effect wine grapes; and a gang and obesity prevention program for teens. Through an agreement between the Sonoma County and the University of California, these academic and staff appointments are supported by a University budget from the State.  Sonoma County provides clerical and field assistant support staff, office space, and operational support.

The Sonoma County Department of UCCE is one of the largest in the state, bringing the research and educational strengths of the entire University of California (UC) system to address needs of the local agricultural industry and disseminate information to the community at large. UCCE is a statewide program. Mutually beneficial exchange of expertise between neighboring counties occurs through a revenue or in-kind service reciprocity. Services provided by the UC staff include education and research assistance in horticulture, marine, viticulture, watershed management, and livestock industries. In addition, UC and county support staff, along with trained volunteers, provide information to the community on integrated pest management, home composting, and gardening. Due to changing demographics and a more urban population, UC staff and volunteers are now providing programs in schools on agriculture and science literacy. The department is a resource on home composting, sudden oak death, wastewater utilization, and pesticide use reduction. The 4-H program within UCCE serves 1,200 youth with the help of 450 adult volunteers in 28 clubs with a choice of 64 projects, such as public speaking, welding, lapidary, and rabbits and other farm animals. The Master Gardener Volunteer Program provides 225 trained master gardeners to conduct public presentations and answer an increasing number of public service calls for gardening tips and information on alternatives to pesticides, pesticide use reduction in lawns and gardens, home composting, and irrigation systems.

Visit the the Sonoma County University of California Cooperative Extensions web site for more information.