Cooperative Extension has been a part of this scene since 1918. Today, the industry is served by Cooperative Extension advisors specializing in entomology, plant pathology, irrigation and water resources, weed management and vegetable crops, agriculture technology and viticulture.  The 4-H Youth Development program stresses citizenship, leadership, and life skills for its 800+ members.

Agriculture Technology

The AgTech Program Central Coast focuses on evaluating, adopting, and advancing technology solutions that address critical production challenges, including labor shortages, insect pest management, groundwater quality, and evolving regulatory requirements. We collaborate with growers, industry partners, fellow advisors, and specialists to conduct field trials, host field-day demonstrations, and share timely updates through blog posts on new regulations and emerging technologies. Current areas of focus include drone-based spray technologies, and the evaluation and integration of biological products into production systems. The program is also open to questions/suggestions/comments to better serve the central coast growers and provides on-farm technical assistance for a range of technologies, including sensors, drones, and related precision agriculture tools.

Entomology

The IPM Entomology program promotes the development and adoption of integrated pest management through extension education and applied research in collaboration with growers in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties. It addresses applied arthropod pest management research needs and provides diagnostic services primarily for agricultural systems. Current applied research focuses primarily on the identification and management of arthropod pests in leafy greens, berries, and cole crops. 

Irrigation, Water Quality and Water Policy

The Irrigation, water quality and water policy program addresses water quality and quantity issues on the Central Coast. We offer assistance with water conservation by agriculture, improving nutrient management to protect groundwater quality, developing and testing practices to mitigate pesticide and sediment impairments to public water supplies, and improving microbial food safety for vegetable crops.

Plant Pathology

The plant pathology program implements extension education and applied research serving growers in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties. It addresses plant pathology applied research needs in the agricultural community. Current applied research focuses on the identification and management of vegetable and strawberry diseases.

Fire and Rangeland Management

Strawberries and Caneberries

The Strawberry and Caneberries program supports growers across Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties through applied research and on-farm collaboration.

Vegetable Crops and Weed Science

This program addresses vegetable production issues such as nitrogen nutrient management. Nitrogen fertilizer usage is coming under strict regulation by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. By supplying growers with research and education on methods to more efficiently manage nitrogen they can maintain economic viability and a sustainable water supply and watershed.

This program also addresses weed control issues. Controlling weeds in production fields is a constant economic challenge and it is critical to continue to evaluate new techniques for effectively and economically controlling these pests which rob plants of nutrients, and which can harbor harmful plant diseases and insects that reduce plant production.

Viticulture

The viticulture program focuses on extension education, applied research and problem diagnosis for winegrape growers in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties. Current research projects include experiments that are evaluating rootstocks for soil pests, clonal evaluation of winegrape varieties, evaluation of disease control methods, comparison of vineyard training methods, vineyard floor management and trellis system comparisons. The Central Coast Winegrape Seminar is held annually in Salinas and progress reports on local research and topics of local concern are presented.