Formerly an assistant professor and agronomist-in-charge at the Kansas State University Cornbelt Experiment Field, Brian H. Marsh has been appointed agronomy farm advisor for University of California Cooperative Extension in Kern County and superintendent of the UC Shafter Research and Extension Center.

Marsh, who began his new position Aug. 31, will conduct research and extend information to farmers who grow cotton, alfalfa and small grain crops, commodities with annual production value in Kern County greater than $350 million. In addition, as superintendent of the 160-acre research and extension center, Marsh will manage cotton research and education programs and supervise the center's staff.

Marsh said California's agricultural diversity and intensity attracted him to his new position. "There are more stringent environmental laws and more opportunities to manage the crop with irrigation, compared to the rain-fed agriculture of the Midwest," Marsh said. "Learning how plants grow here in connection with soils, water, environmental interactions and pest challenges intrigues me as a scientist."

In Kansas, Marsh was instrumental in a long-term study of minimum tillage systems in corn and milo production.

"We were looking for a tillage system that would minimize the loss of sediments, herbicide and nutrients from the field," he said. "Some of the best management practices developed for (herbicide) atrazine runoff control resulted from the research work we did."

Born and raised in Patterson, Calif., Marsh left the state to pursue his education. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees at Utah State University and completed a Ph.D. in soil science at the University of Kentucky in 1990.

To contact Marsh call (805) 868-6210 or e-mail bhmarsh@ucdavis.edu.

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