The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension Specialist (UCCE) – Agricultural Innovation and Technology at the Assistant rank.   The Agricultural Innovation and Technology Specialist will lead research, development, and extension activities focused on evaluating and advancing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. This role is critical to supporting California farmers by addressing key challenges such as labor shortages, water scarcity, soil health management, pest and disease management, and increasing regulatory requirements. The specialist will work closely with UC ANR specialists and advisors in technology evaluation and demonstration activities, along with UC campus and county-based academics, grower organizations, industry partners, and technology developers to create and validate evidence-based approaches for technology adoption in complex agricultural systems. The specialist will focus on agricultural innovations across a range of emerging, multidisciplinary technologies, including but not limited to: • Agricultural robotics and smart machinery –including autonomous tractors, robotics harvesters, and precision weeding machinery. • Precision agriculture – encompassing IoT-enabled sensor networks, AI-drive decision support systems, and remote sensing technology for applications ranging from automated irrigation and fertilization schedules to harvest timing and yield estimation. • Biological inputs and sustainable alternatives – evaluating bio-based pesticides, soil ...more

Position Assistant Clinical Professor (9-month appointment with opportunities for summer support) position at Purdue University with Extension and teaching responsibilities related to regenerative and climate smart crop production with an emphasis on agricultural machine systems and equipment integrated with emerging digital technologies, automation, and data analytics.   Responsibilities This is a non-tenure track, academic-year appointment with 50% Extension and 50% teaching responsibilities for undergraduate and graduate courses.   Expected Extension duties: The candidate is expected to collaborate with and develop programs within Purdue Extension in areas related but not limited to farm machinery, equipment setup and modifications, and emerging digital technologies to enable climate smart and regenerative crop production systems such as no-till, cover cropping, and other conservation cropping system practices. The candidate will collaborate closely with the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI) and other stakeholders. CCSI is a program of the Indiana Conservation Partnership with a mission of improving soil health on Indiana cropland. In collaboration with faculty and staff from other academic units, the candidate will conduct needs assessments, provide technical assistance, develop Extension outputs such as videos, Extension publications, reports, and popular press articles, and host workshops, trainings, and Extension programs. Collaboration with Purdue on the Farm supporting field ...more

This is a tenure eligible position with a 12-month appointment and approximately 75% extension, 20% research, and 5% service (other than extension) responsibilities. The annual distribution of effort will be aligned with this colleague’s strengths and college/department needs. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2025. Kentucky’s 74,100 farm operations cover 12.9 million acres (7 soil physiographic regions), including 0.51, 1.55, 1.85 and 2.12 million acres planted to winter wheat, corn, soybean, and hay, respectively (NASS, 2022). Much of the remaining acres are in pasture, providing grazing for 2.43 million beef/dairy cattle, horses, and small ruminants, and the soil resource also supports waste utilization from nearly 300 million broilers annually (NASS, 2022). The successful candidate will provide statewide leadership and develop an externally funded, nationally recognized, integrated extension and research program with emphasis in at least one of the following areas: soil physical property management, soil-plant-water relationships, precision agriculture, and/or nutrient management. This nationally recognized program is expected to meet Kentucky row crop and forage producers’ needs, support homeowner and commercial horticulture issues related to soil fertility and management, and collaborate with various soil and plant research programs within the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) and across Kentucky. The successful candidate will be a core ...more