Citrus Horticulture CE Specialist - Lindcove Research and Extension Center
Position Description: The CE Specialist would conduct a statewide applied research and
extension program in the area of citrus horticulture. The specialist would address emerging
production issues in citrus including: tree spacing and canopy management, irrigation, plant
nutrition, variety evaluations, regulatory compliance, and trade barriers. The candidate must have
a Ph.D. in horticulture or plant sciences. The appointee would be located at Lindcove Research
and Extension Center (LREC) and report directly to ANR without a campus departmental
affiliation. The Appointee would collaborate with the citrus industry, state and governmental
agencies, campus-based faculty and specialists and county-based Farm Advisors.
Justification: The California citrus industry provides growers and the State’s economy with over
a billion dollars in value. The citrus industry is experiencing numerous challenges including new
varieties, increasing regulatory pressures concerning nitrates, increased costs for water, new
technologies and the invasion of new pests and diseases. The horticulture position at LREC is
needed to respond to these issues. Locating the specialist at LREC is important because more
than 75% of the citrus is grown in the San Joaquin Valley and from that location the Specialist
can respond more quickly to industry needs. The California citrus industry is rapidly planting
new varieties of citrus, especially mandarins because of consumer preference for easy peeling
fruit. To date, very little horticultural research has been conducted on production practices
(planting spacing, irrigation, pruning etc.) for mandarin varieties. There is also an immediate
need to develop horticultural standards that would enable an accurate comparison of new citrus
varieties across distinct growing regions of California. There is a need for research on how citrus
varieties respond to new methods of irrigation and fertigation in response to escalating water
costs and regulatory compliance for managing nitrate accumulation in the soil. The citrus
industry is under threat of a new invasive pest/disease complex, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP)
and the bacterial disease Huanglongbing (HLB). There is currently no cure for the disease. In
other areas of the world, HLB has devastated citrus industries and these industries have had to
make extreme changes in tree management practices (such as variety choices, planting density,
and nutrition) in the face of the disease. ACP arrived in southern California in 2008 and is
gradually spreading towards the commercial citrus growing regions. HLB was recently found in
Los Angeles County and will eventually spread to commercial citrus growing areas, thus the
response to this disease is urgent. Finally, a number of new molecular and mechanical
technologies are nearing fruition and a horticultural specialist is needed to determine planting,
tree management and harvesting requirements relative to these new technologies.
This position addresses multiple ANR strategic initiatives. The primary focus would be on the
initiative to Enhance Competitive, Sustainable Food Systems maintaining a viable agriculture
through efficient, sustainable, cost effective production practices. Other initiatives that are likely
to be addressed include improving Water Quality, Quantity, and Security, Enhancing the Health
of Californians, Ensuring Safe and Secure Food Supplies and Managing Invasive Pests and
Diseases. ANR’s investment in this position will ensure sustaining the viability and sustainability
of the economy of California citrus growers.
Extension: The appointee would collaborate with county-based CE advisors serving the citrus
growers, pest control advisors, and exercise statewide leadership in developing innovative
outreach programs for citrus horticulture. Audiences include agricultural producers, processors
and institutions related to the production and marketing of citrus, such as supply industries, the
water municipalities, environmental horticulture operations, homeowners and governmental
interests. This position will facilitate connections among the interest groups on issues related to
citrus horticulture production. The candidate will extend results through cooperation with Farm
Advisors via demonstration, teaching, networking and communication activities. Activities will
include organizing field days, workshops, symposia and web-based communications, either
independently or in cooperation with CE county advisors, stakeholder meetings and third parties,
such as the Citrus Research Board, California Citrus Nursery Board, CAPCA and other
commodity organizations
Research: Basic and applied approaches will be utilized to improve horticultural practices for
citrus. The person in this position would be expected to work closely with the citrus industry,
CE specialists, farm advisors, agronomists, citrus breeders, citrus germplasm curators (the Citrus
Clonal Protection Program, the USDA, ARS Germplasm Repository for Citrus and Dates), local
growers and members of the UC Subtropical workgroup to identify research areas of highest
priority. As mentioned above, potential projects would be evaluating the response of new and old
citrus varieties to management practices that are changing in response to irrigation, fertilization,
diseases and new technologies. Results would be published in scientific journals, extension
bulletins, popular journals, local newsletters and on the internet.
ANR Continuum: The specialist in this position would be expected to work closely with the
supportive network of researchers, CE specialists and Farm Advisors that is already in place in
California. There is an advantage to being closely involved with the Citrus Research Board that
would enhance the networking and program collaboration between the specialist and the
researchers within the University of California system as well as on the national level with the
USDA (i.e. National Citrus Health Forum). This position would fill substantial gaps in research
that exist throughout citrus production in California. There does not currently exist within the
UC a horticulturist with expertise in citrus located in the San Joaquin Valley who can provide
growers advice on how to successfully grow certain varieties. With the advancements in
equipment technology, there is a critical need within the industry to evaluate monitoring devices
for water uptake, usage, and quality. For mechanical harvesting to be of value to the citrus
industry, optimal tree architecture needs to be determined. As resistance and tolerance to
diseases and pests is identified, the specialist will be expected to determine the optimal growing
locations and cultural practices for these varieties. The specialist will collaborate closely with the
citrus breeder and curators to properly maintain the citrus breeding germplasm and variety
collection and develop a standard for cultural and nutritional practices so that varieties can be
evaluated equally across the various growing conditions in California. It is also expected that the
person in this position will play a significant leadership role in the Subtropical Workgroup and
the Pomology Program Team.
Support (financial, travel, clerical, etc.): Funding for the position would be provided through the
Citrus Research Board. The Citrus Research Board operates under the auspices of the California
Marketing Order, thus funding can only be approved on an annual basis. However, the industry
fully supports the concept of this position for the long term. Office and laboratory facilities and
field plots are available at LREC. Details of the financial support structure are to be determined.
Other Support: Program support will come from the California Citrus Research Board (CRB)
and the California Citrus Nursery Society. In addition, funding could come from organizations
such as water quality and Conservation (DWR), Citrus Health and Response Program, USDA
APHIS CPHST, and the Florida Citrus Research and Development Foundation. Stakeholders are
willing to designate portions of their citrus plantings for research and evaluation trials.
Location: The specialist will be housed at the UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center in
Exeter (San Joaquin Valley). This location is central to the largest citrus production area of the
state and is in close proximity to the UC Kearney Agricultural Center and the USDA ARS
Research Station, both located in Parlier.