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UC Cooperative Extension - Kern County

  

Kern County is located in the southern Central Valley of the state of California. Established in 1866, it extends east beyond the southern slope of the eastern Sierra Nevada range into the Mojave Desert, and includes parts of the Indian Wells Valley, and the Antelope Valley. From the Sierras the county extends across the floor of the San Joaquin Valley to the eastern edge of the Temblor Range, part of the Coastal Ranges. To the south the county extends over the ridge of the Tehachapi Mountains. According to the 2009 census, its population was 807,407. The county seat is Bakersfield (since 1874) with the original county seat being the former mining town of Havilah in the mountains between Bakersfield and Tehachapi.

The county has a large agricultural base and is a significant producer of oil, natural gas, hydro-electric power, wind turbine power, and geothermal power. As of 2009[update], Kern remains California's top oil-producing county, with 81% of the state's 52,144 active oil wells.[2] The county accounts for one-tenth of overall U.S. oil production, and three of the five largest U.S. oil fields are in Kern County. Kern is also noted for its mineral wealth, including gold, borate, and kernite. The largest open pit mine in California, which mines borax, is at Boron in Kern County.[3]

Cooperative Extension is the informal off-campus educational arm of the University of California.  It is a part of the Land-Grant College System, that since 1914, has provided the citizens of California and Kern County with the following programs to improve their quality of living.

 
4-H Youth Development                                             

 Citrus, Subtropical Horticulture, Pistachios

 Cotton, Small Grains, Corn & Silage

 Dairy

 Deciduous Tree Fruits and Nuts

 Entomology and Pest Management

 Environmental Horticulture / Environmental Science

 Irrigation Management & Agronomy

 Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences

 Livestock and Natural Resources

 Vegetable Crops Pest Management

 Viticulture and Small Fruits

 


 

Donation Pledge

All donations will be used exclusively for the delivery of Cooperative Extension programs in Kern County, including 4-H Youth Development, Food and Nutrition Education, and agricultural research.

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Drought Information


 

The University of California has been extensively involved in research and implementation of water conservation/management strategies throughout the state. A lot is known about when and how to most effectively use limited water supplies.  The links below contain a brief introduction.  Additional information is available at the UC ANR drought website, which is located at: http://ciwr.ucanr.edu/California_Drought_Expertise/

Tips for Saving Water in Landscape Irrigation

Saving Water in Landscape Irrigation

Citrus and Pistachio

Cotton

Livestock and Range Management

Vegetables

Vineyards

Irrigation Management 

Contact Information

Kern County
Cooperative Extension Kern County
1031 South Mount Vernon Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93307
Phone: (661) 868-6200
Fax: (661) 868-6208

Director:
Dr. Brian Marsh