Taylor Holloway: Advancing Agriculture in Central Valley

By Jo Ann Kirby

Pests don’t bug Taylor Holloway. She knows just how to deal with them. Formulating safe, effective and sustainable pest management plans is her job.

Growing up on a 40-acre cherry orchard on the outskirts of Lodi where her parents raised three sons and two daughters, Taylor always loved the outdoors and knew a 9-to-5 desk job was not in her destiny. After graduating from Saint Mary’s High School, she earned a degree in plant science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and interned as a field checker for Helena Chemical. After passing the state of California’s Pest Control Adviser exam, she was ready to launch her career.

Pests and Nutrients
Today, Taylor is a pest control adviser and certified crop adviser for Helena Agri-Enterprises and spends her workdays outdoors. That dual certification means she also has a wealth of knowledge in crop, soil, water and nutrient management. “My days are spent out in the fields, carefully scouting for pests and diseases that could threaten the crops,” she said. “I send out my written recommendations to farmers based on my findings. From there, the grower and I usually orchestrate a game plan together on when to spray and fertilize their fields in order to protect and optimize their yields.”

Her job is vital in California’s global economy, where the agriculture industry is the largest in the nation. According to the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau, the Golden State produces more than 400 different agricultural commodities and supplies a whopping 45 percent of the nation’s fruits, vegetables and nuts. And our local growers play a huge role. According to Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, San Joaquin County produces over $3 billion in agriculture annually. The number soars to over $4 billion when agriculture-adjacent industries are factored into the equation, according to the 2023 San Joaquin County Farm Crop Report.
Looking for smart solutions that result in bumper crops is incredibly rewarding to Taylor. She finds that witnessing the journey from seedlings to the grocery is even more meaningful knowing that she has an important role in the process. As a pest control adviser, not only does she help to ensure a plentiful, high-quality crop at harvest time, but she has to continually keep abreast of the latest pest management tools and techniques as they are developed.

Room for Growth
Taylor is thriving in a male-dominated industry and truly loves her career. It’s a job that many young women might not even know existed. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in a report published in January 2024, women make up only 5.1 percent of employees in the entire pest management field. The California Association of Pest Control Advisers, in a 2020 survey, found that women hold 12 percent of PCA positions among its membership. It’s an occupation that has room for women, as the labor board projects job growth in the industry.

Taylor’s interest in the field was sparked by a well-known local grower. “During high school, my good friend’s father, Eddie Zuckerman, introduced me to the idea. The thought stuck with me, so I tailored my first college internships to gain hands-on experience,” she said.

Garrett Mussi, a third-generation farmer, took a chance on the young woman and helped her land an internship with her current boss. “That opportunity opened the door to a career I truly love,” she said.

Creating Representation
Having a sharp wit has helped her navigate the challenges of working in a male-dominated field, where she has earned the respect and trust of her colleagues and clients by proving her credibility. “In agriculture, experience and knowledge speak volumes,” she said, adding that sometimes she’s had to work twice as hard to establish herself. “Early on, I encountered skepticism, but I quickly learned that confidence, expertise and a strong work ethic can break down barriers.”

Taylor’s a working mom; she and her husband have an adorable son who turns one this month. She has a passion for horseback riding, something she’s enjoyed since high school. She also enjoys hunting. And she even has her own garden, where her ag knowledge comes in handy along with a green thumb.

Taylor wants young women to know that seeing themselves as different in the ag world only creates self-imposed obstacles. “Never undervalue the importance of hard work and determination,” she asserted. “It speaks for itself.”