Singh joins UCCE as agronomy advisor for Capitol Corridor
Mandeep Singh joined UC Cooperative Extension on July 1 as the agronomy advisor for Sacramento, Solano and Yolo counties.
In 2024, he completed a Ph.D. in agronomy and horticulture with a specialization in weed science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he focused on herbicide interactions, water use and the management of volunteer corn.
He continued there as a postdoctoral researcher, working on integrated strategies for managing herbicide-resistant weeds and developing an open-access image database to support site-specific weed management technologies.
He encourages colleagues and stakeholders to reach out with ideas, insights, requests, suggestions, or questions as he begins setting priorities for his new role.
“I look forward to collaborating on a research and extension program that reflects local needs and addresses challenges in agronomic crops such as corn, safflower, alfalfa, dry beans, hybrid seed production, wheat and other small grains while delivering practical, relevant, and impactful solutions,” Singh said.
Singh is based at the UCCE Capitol Corridor office in Woodland and can be contacted at mdpsingh@ucanr.edu or (530) 666-8704. His social media handle is @uc_agron on X and Instagram.
Whitelaw joins SAREP as associate director for sustainable food economies
Crystal Whitelaw joined the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program in May as the associate director for sustainable food economies. She provides statewide leadership and strategic oversight for SAREP’s Food and Society programs and the Master Food Preserver Program.
Whitelaw brings over a decade of experience in food and nutrition, business development, culinary operations and nonprofit leadership. Her work is grounded in a strong commitment to sustainable agriculture and equitable food systems.
She began her career as director of food and nutrition services in both rural and urban communities across the U.S. She later launched the first in-house Nutrition Communications and Marketing Department in Texas’ largest public school district and co-founded a nonprofit focused on health education. Her background also includes experience in the healthcare sector.
Before joining UC ANR, Whitelaw served as senior program manager for California Food for California Kids at the Center for Ecoliteracy. In this role, she led a network of 150 school districts, advancing food systems initiatives and managing the “Rethinking Farm to School” project in partnership with CalFresh Healthy Living, UC Cooperative Extension.
Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Whitelaw holds a bachelor’s degree in nutrition with a minor in strategic communications and public relations from Arizona State University, and a Master of Public Health in health policy and management from Temple University.
Whitelaw is based at the ANR building in Davis and can be reached at (530) 219-5915 and cwhitelaw@ucanr.edu.