UC Cooperative Extension faces deep cuts in California budget crisis

[Note: The January 31 special edition of ANR Report provided an update on potential budget cuts to UC Cooperative Extension and a fact sheet on what these would mean for Californians. Excerpts from this special issue of the Division’s on-line newsletter, and the regular January 2003 issue, follow.]

We can report that Cooperative Extension’s share of the $2.5 million mid-year cut to UC public service programs is $2.42 million. Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources W.R. “Reg” Gomes has tentatively approved a budget reduction plan that will avoid layoffs and major disruptions to Cooperative Extension programs this year.

However, next year will be a different story, if the new round of cuts contained in the proposed 2003-04 state budget are approved. Cooperative Extension faces another 25% reduction on top of this year’s 5% cut. UC research programs, cut 10% this year, are slated for another 10% reduction.

Steve Nation, executive director for ANR Governmental and External Relations, noted that the Legislature has difficult budget decisions to make in the coming months to close an estimated $26 billion-$35 billion shortfall. He said that the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources is prepared to shoulder its share, but that it is important “to inform our stakeholders and decision makers about the long term consequences” of these cuts and what they will mean to their communities, their friends and neighbors, their livelihoods and their quality of life if approved by the Legislature.

PROPOSED CUTS TO UC AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES PROGRAMS: WHAT DO THEY MEAN FOR CALIFORNIANS?

The Situation
The University of California took significant budget cuts this year; even deeper cuts are proposed for next year. Unless the Legislature acts to reduce the cuts, UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) will take a 30% budget cut and UC state-funded research a 20% cut.

The Consequences
If the Legislature approves these cuts to Cooperative Extension and research:

• UC will need to close offices and facilities, begin layoffs, and eliminate core Cooperative Extension and agricultural research programs.
• The network of UCCE county-based advisors will be decimated.
• UC research discoveries and innovations —advances that fuel economic growth, sustainable use of agricultural and natural resources, better human health and nutrition—will slow or be lost.
• We will no longer be able to respond to threats from bioterrorism, exotic pests and diseases, and natural disasters.

Who Will Be Affected?
Budget cuts of 30% for Cooperative Extension and 20% for UC research
will have consequences far beyond the elimination of programs and people and closing of offices and facilities. These consequences will last far beyond today’s budget crises.

• In the end, all Californians—whether they live in cities or rural areas, work on farms or in high tech, are long-time residents or newly arrived—will feel the cuts.
• So will the state’s economy, as UC programs are shut down—programs that generate new ideas, technological advances, and innovations that California agriculture and other businesses rely on to compete globally.

Here are examples of how the proposed budget cuts to UC programs in Agriculture and Natural Resources will impact Californians:

Economic Growth—
Agriculture is one of California’s leading industries, contributing substantial income and employment to the state’s economy. One of the most stable industries in the state, agriculture is largely immune from the boom or bust cycles that other sectors have experienced in recent years. Studies show that nearly half of the economic growth in California agriculture is directly attributable to UC research and Cooperative Extension. Cuts to these programs will slow economic recovery in California.
Public Service—
A 30% cut to Cooperative Extension will require elimination of statewide and local programs. No decisions have been made as to which ones, but everything will be on the table—statewide programs, such as the Agricultural Issues Center, integrated pest management (IPM), sustainable agriculture, water resources; nine research and extension centers; extension offices and programs in every county.
Ripple Effects—
Over 85% of the state dollars in agriculture and natural resources fund salaries and benefits of people in the University who, in turn, generate outside funding for programs and research. For each dollar of state funds lost to UC research programs in agriculture and natural resources, an additional dollar leveraged by our scientists is lost to the California economy.
Crisis Response—
In the past, UC has responded effectively to threats from exotic pests and diseases —the glassy-winged sharpshooter and Pierce’s disease, red imported fire ants, Sudden Oak Death, med flies, etc. With the proposed cuts, our ability to respond to acts of bioterrorism, emerging diseases and natural disasters will be lost.

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BUDGET CUTS: SAREP Update

As one of nearly two dozen statewide special programs that will be affected by the cuts, SAREP provides research and education funding through competitive grants on key issues in sustainable agriculture and food systems. SAREP is currently bringing in additional funds to support ag chemical use/risk reduction demonstration projects in biologically integrated farming systems (BIFS), organic farming research and education, and community food security. These extramural funds, which exceed $3 million, could be lost or made less effective if our state funds are severely reduced. Currently, SAREP receives 2/3 of its budget from Cooperative Extension and 1/3 from Agricultural Experiment Station funds.

For examples of specific recent direct impacts SAREP research projects and activities have made, please see “Success Stories” on the left navigational bar of the http://ucanr.org site. (Direct URL: http://ucanr.org/delivers/) SAREP Success Stories that will be posted this spring include:

• California organic growers look for UC Extension help
  (Basic research, resources are revitalizing organic growers)
• Dairy farmers save money, prepare for regulations using manure as fertilizer (BIFS team helps dairy farmers reduce inputs, maintain yields)
• Direct marketing: Helping farmers farm, communities thrive
  (workshops, publications to help farmers and communities benefit from direct-marketed produce)
• Organically grown: Help from UC
  (UC ANR Organic Farming Research Workgroup, SAREP’s organic farming Web site)
• What publications are available for organic growers?
  (UC organic farming manuals underway)

For up-to-date information on the state budget situation and its impacts on the University of California, UC Cooperative Extension and UC research, go to http://ucanr.org/budgetnews.shtml.

The UC budget is now being heard in Sacramento by the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review and the Assembly Committee on the Budget. Later this spring the full Senate and Assembly will vote on the state budget before sending it to the governor for his action. You can find information on the members of the budget committees and their progress by logging on to www.sen.ca.gov and www.assembly.ca.gov.