Gordon Rowe, a Cooperative Extension Economist has been with the University of California, Berkeley for 33 years. He is a member of the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics in the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from Oregon State University and a Ph.D. degree from Purdue University. Prior to coming to the University, he held positions with Oregon State University and in private industry. His area of expertise has been in operations analysis with special emphases in mathematical programming and sampling methods. Dr. Rowe's interests also include information systems and technology.

One of his most outstanding accomplishments has been in sampling methods. Dr. Rowe has been responsible for the development and evaluation of sampling methods for most major agricultural products and food processing operations in California. He was the developer of the statistics in Article V, the sampling procedures used by the Sealers of Weights and Measures in the state of California. He has developed operating mathematical models of food processing plants and of forest industry timber and mill operations.

He was an early investigator in and contributor to the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) project in California in collaborative efforts with other colleagues. He was a member of the IPM Pear Project, the first major IPM project carried out by the University. His activities in pest management continued with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation in coordinating the development of the California Electronic Data Processing system, which provides for electronic transfer of Notices of Intent and Pesticide Use Reports filed by growers and pest control operators with the Agricultural Commissioners offices, as required by regulations. Under a large grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, he and his co-investigators, including other economists and an entomologist, conducted a series of cost/benefit programs related to the impact of exotic pests such as Medfly and Gypsy Moth in California. They also conducted a series of studies of the economic impact of eliminating a number of pesticides that were considered harmful to the environment and highly toxic in use.

As early as 1955, he had the foresight to see how computers would be used and the changes they would bring to the agricultural industry. He went on to develop areas of expertise in the management of computer resources that are still used in the agricultural sector throughout the state of California. Despite his emeritus status, Dr. Rowe continues his program in cooperation with other University faculty, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the County Agricultural Commissioners. Besides helping other colleagues in the ever-changing computer world, Dr. Rowe is currently a much-needed volunteer in a computer lab at one of the elementary schools in El Cerrito.