After I arrived in Berkeley for my Ph.D. about 50 years in the past (1973, earlier than the Yom Kippur Conflict), I discovered that the division of Agricultural Economics, which I joined, had a number of college members who had been extension specialists. Their job has been to do actual utilized analysis and to offer info and schooling to adults (common college educate aspiring adults), particularly farm advisors, authorities officers, farmers, NGO activists, and businessmen. One of many specialists, George Goldman, launched me to my dissertation subject, Animal Waste in Southern California, and linked me to a farm advisor (the late Shirl Bishop) who offered me with knowledge and launched me to the related actors. One other specialist was Tim Wallace, who handed away a 12 months in the past and whose life was celebrated this September. Tim was a compelling character. He served on the President’s council of financial advisors and was California’s Secretary of Agriculture. He was an outdoorsman (canoed down the Mississippi) who felt snug as an insider in facilities of energy. He usually held sturdy opinions and might be argumentative, however he at all times listened and typically modified his thoughts.
I used to be a graduate pupil at Berkeley and was employed by the division to turn out to be a professor within the subject of Agricultural Coverage. My essential space of focus was Environmental Economics, and my dissertation was on Animal Waste. I knew Tim as an attention-grabbing extension specialist with numerous charisma and a capability to ask robust questions, however we by no means had an extended dialog. Tim was the Agricultural Coverage specialist within the division, and I’m not positive he was very proud of the brand new rent. Sooner or later, he invited me to his workplace and requested me: “So you’re the man that received the Ag-Coverage place?”
I mentioned, “Sure,” and he requested, “what have you learnt about Ag-Coverage?” I responded, “Not very a lot – I used to be engaged on a farm in Israel, and my dissertation was on animal waste, however earlier than I got here right here, I used to be a system analyst and realized that in order for you, you may study any new subject by studying the literature and principally by talking with folks.” I additionally mentioned, “I do know that Gordon (Rausser) needs me to show a category in Ag-Coverage and can give me all of the incentives (each sticks and carrots) to remain within the subject.” Then he inquired, “What’s your analysis plan?” I advised him that in our division, “We have now Rausser, Simply, and Schmidt who’re very well-known in ag-policy, so I’ll attempt to develop a barely totally different emphasis, learning know-how adoption, farmers’ habits beneath danger, and particularly the hyperlink between ag and the atmosphere.”
Moreover, “I’m positive that over time I’ll cowl different matters as effectively.” Then I requested, “Do you’ve got any recommendation?” And he opened up, “Agricultural economics is just not solely about scholarship, however about social change – making the world a greater place.” I questioned, “It appears comparatively simple to put in writing papers, however how can I have an effect?” After which he mentioned, “Individuals know that Professors are good, however to have an effect, they should belief you. Farmers want to understand what you do and that you simply care about them. That is particularly necessary since you weren’t born in California (which I discovered true – should you don’t seem like a cowboy, you need to work more durable to be accepted). It might be nice should you go and go to totally different farm areas, meet with extension specialists, get to know some farmers, ask questions that present that you simply care, and attempt to perceive what’s occurring. The truth that you’re pleasant with farmers doesn’t imply that you need to inform them what they need to hear – inform it as you see it, and they’ll respect it if it comes from somebody that cares.” I took his recommendation to coronary heart. I spotted that being new within the US, I wanted to try to attempt to find out about California agriculture, and certainly throughout my first 5 years on the college, I traveled everywhere in the state, taking any alternative I had. I received to know folks and discovered about issues that later contributed to the relevance and worth of my analysis.
Tim was the Secretary of Agriculture of California and, certainly, trusted and well-connected. He was in a position to act as an unbelievable moderator and take care of conflicting aims very effectively. He emphasised one factor – agricultural improvement and environmental high quality and sustainability can go hand in hand. The second you imagine it’s both one or the opposite, you lose your effectiveness; folks need to eat, and folks prefer to have a wholesome atmosphere. Farmers are businessmen, however many prefer to fish and benefit from the atmosphere. Within the early Nineteen Nineties, there was a proposition referred to as Large Inexperienced that steered we eradicate the usage of pesticides in California. We did some research that confirmed this might be very pricey. In fact, there are misuses of pesticides, however eliminating them could be a giant mistake. So, we tried to arrange a convention, and Tim was the moderator. There have been folks with totally different views, and he might maintain them calm and handle a number of conversations.
In the long run, the late Tom Graff – an environmental chief within the state, advised us that “Gosh, you guys have a degree.” Within the Nineteen Nineties, a number of of us (David Sunding, Dick Howitt, Doug Parker, and Michael Hanemann) got here up with a proposal to develop an digital water buying and selling market within the central valley. We would have liked to satisfy with the water districts and environmental teams to agree on methods to implement it. Tim was important in ensuring that the dialogue was civil and that we had been in a position to promote the thought. Within the early Nineteen Nineties, there was a proposal to divert water rights from farmers to the atmosphere in California. In fact, farmers didn’t prefer it, and so they approached Tim to assist. He advisable that they strategy me and others on the college, though we do the same evaluation for the EPA and a few environmental teams. We wrote a number of experiences that had been essential in introducing buying and selling as a part of a water reform laws referred to as the Central Valley Venture Enchancment Act.
Over time, our division misplaced its extension specialists; they received older and weren’t changed. So, for some time, we had virtually nobody (I’m a 20% extension specialist). Shedding them was an actual blow as having extension specialists was essential to be concerned in California’s agriculture and pure useful resource downside. I particularly owed them rather a lot. As I discussed, I used to be launched to my dissertation analysis on animal waste by George Goldman. Jerry Siebert was essential in constructing our linkages with the California Division of Meals and Agriculture and beginning a big analysis program on pesticides within the division that resulted in a number of dissertations. Kirby Moulton initiated a analysis mission on the pricing of the qualities of peaches and their implications for peach manufacturing. This analysis led to Doug Parker’s dissertation, and Doug later turned an extension specialist. He and David Sunding had been essential in acquiring sources to review water and drainage points in California. I’m nonetheless engaged on a examine on the worth of California irrigation administration techniques initiated by Parker. Shedding the extension prevents particularly younger college members from receiving the data and inspiration to deal with related issues and the capability to acquire sources for it. Luckily for us, there’s hope. We have now a beautiful new extension specialist, Ellen Bruno, who’s already serving as a linkage between our new college and California agriculture. Tim is gone, however I’ll treasure his reminiscence and his contributions. Glorious professors of extension are important for combining rigor and relevance, the 2 dimensions of educational excellence. I hope and imagine that our extension program will develop and can lead our division to make larger contributions to California and world agriculture and pure sources.
