Note: For a picture of Richard Smith see www.uckac.edu/press

A 12-year veteran of the University of California Cooperative Extension, Richard Smith has been appointed the vegetable crops and weed science farm advisor for Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. He begins Sept. 17.

"I'm looking forward to this new challenge," Smith said. "With an agriculture industry that produces vegetables worth $1.7 billion each year, and still more in other crops, there are tremendous needs for research and education in vegetation management, production practices and plant nutrition."

For the past nine years, Smith has worked as vegetable crops farm advisor for San Benito County and as advisor to small-scale farmers in San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.

"I have truly enjoyed the diversity of this clientele," Smith said. "I've worked with a wide variety of growers, from small to large and conventional to organic. I'm sure these experiences will help me serve the needs of vegetable growers and other farmers throughout the three-county Central Coast region."

In San Benito County, Smith's research has focused on powdery mildew on peppers and squash, a disease new to the area, and on plant nutrition. In particular, Smith developed a quick test that allows farmers to determine whether their crops are nutrient deficient. "It's part of an on-going effort to help growers use nitrogen efficiently and prevent groundwater contamination," Smith said.

He led five market tours to San Francisco for area growers, conducted research on test plots in cooperation with farmers and the San Benito County Rural Development Center, and studied a wide variety of specialty crops, including potatoes, virus-resistant squash, purple carrots, cherry tomatoes, and herbs.

Recognizing his tireless efforts to assist small-scale farmers, Smith was honored in 1996 with the first-ever Pedro Ilic Agricultural Award for an outstanding educator, sponsored by the UC Small Farm Program.

A native of California, Smith was involved in farming activities throughout his youth on his family's and other farms. He earned a bachelor's degree in botany from Sonoma State University in 1977 and a master's degree in agronomy from UC Davis in 1985.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Smith went to Guatemala as an American Friends Service Committee volunteer to work with peasants on improving their diets and self sufficiency by developing community gardens.

Smith lives with his wife and two children in Aromas and is on the board of the San Benito Agricultural Land Trust.

Beginning Sept. 17, he can be reached at the Monterey County UC Cooperative Extension office, 1432 Abbott Street, Salinas, (831) 759-7350, rifsmith@ucdavis.edu.

Jeannette Warnert
Public Information Representative
Ag and Natural Resources
UC Center
550 E. Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93710