Brent A. Holtz, long time University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) pomology farm advisor in Madera County, is the new UCCE county director and farm advisor in San Joaquin County.

Holtz assumes his position Jan. 1, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Mick Canevari last June.

Holtz is a San Joaquin County native and grew up in Escalon. He earned his bacherlor's degree in biology, plant pathology, and entomology at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He earned both his master's degree and doctorate in plant pathology from UC Berkeley.

He was farm advisor in Madera County for 15 years where he developed a strong following with his research in almonds.