Hello everyone,
I wanted to say hello and introduce myself. My name is Fadzayi Elizabeth Mashiri, I am the new Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor for San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. I am Devii Rao's replacement.
I transferred here after holding a similar position in Mariposa and Merced counties for the past 12 years. In Mariposa and Merced, the goal of my research and outreach was helping land managers and ranchers increase economic viability and ecological sustainability. My work included projects on weed management, impacts of rangeland conversion, ecosystem services payment for working rangelands, fire risk reduction using grazing and prescribed fire and integrated livestock grazing in orchard systems.
I hold a PhD in Rangeland Management from The University of Arizona, an MSc in Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and a BSc in Agriculture from University of Zimbabwe. Before joining UC ANR, I was a Senior Research Specialist at the University of Arizona where I researched adaptive grazing, and collaborative management strategies to promote rangeland resilience and productivity. Before that I served as a lecturer and Senior Agricultural Extension Officer in Zimbabwe, where my passion for community-based extension work started.
In the coming months, I am excited to meet with ranchers, land managers, and partners across the region. I look forward to learning about local needs and priorities and using that insight to develop relevant practical, research-based programs that directly support land managers and ranchers in the region.
Feel free to contact me via email: fmashiri@ucanr.edu or call at 831 637 5346 Ext103, and say hello, invite me for a site visit or to share any information about the region or your operation. I look forward to working with you!