Integrated Weed Management for California Rangelands
The location is Modesto, CA. Registration will be open on Sept 9, 2011. We will have recommended hotel/motels soon. If you want to book right away, you may want to consider the Clarion, the state rate is $65. Clarion Inn Conference Center: 1612 Sisk Road , Modesto, CA, US, 95350 Phone: (209) 521-1612 Fax: (209) 527-7666 We will have other recommendations soon.
Agenda and information (.doc format, 311 kb)
The CCRC will hold is fall meeting at a ranch near Brentwood and close to rangelands managed by the Contra Costa Water District, California State Parks, and East Bay Regional Park District. The topics will be more focused than usual, and include a structured field exercise--(a) grazing management effects on native grasses and (b) reconciling goals and benefits of grazing management between agency owners and grazing lessees. The second topic will include a technical talk by Gareth Fisher, graduate student in the Huntsinger lab at UC Berkeley. This talk will address the scientific literature review that he is conducting (with funding from the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District through the CCRC), and a panel discussion with some of the professionals he has interviewed. More details to come...
This event is hosted by the UC Sierra Foothill Research And Extension Center in Browns Valley, CA. Other sponsors are the California Rangeland Watershed Lab at the University of California, Davis and the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition. Presentations will showcase some of the current research on rangeland management for ecosystem services. Throughout the day, emphasis will be placed on identifying strategies to enhance multiple services, understanding the mechanisms driving management success and failure, and creating a forum for managers and researchers to share and learn from each other now and in the future.
The event is open and free to the first 75 respondents. Lunch will be provided. For registration please contact Tracy Schohr at (916) 444-0845 or tracy@calcattlemen.org. For more information, go to http://rangelandwatersheds.ucdavis.edu/main/ecosystem_service_workshop_field _day.html
More information will be available at http://carangeland.org/
The Central Coast Rangeland Coalition (CCRC) recently completed two surveys of its membership. One asked about the values of the 2007-2009 monitoring of rangeland health and sustainability as perceived by the participating rangeland managers. The other survey asked for priorities for topics to examine for the next CCRC Rancher, Manager, and Scientist Forum on Rangeland Conservation. You can download the reports from these surveys at: http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/training/show_train_detail.php?TRAIN_ID=CeLWBNJ .
The Central Coast Rangeland Coalition (CCRC) recently completed two surveys of its membership. One asked about the values of the 2007-2009 monitoring of rangeland health and sustainability as perceived by the participating rangeland managers. The other survey asked for priorities for topics to examine for the next CCRC Rancher, Manager, and Scientist Forum on Rangeland Conservation. You can download the reports from these surveys at: http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/training/show_train_detail.php?TRAIN_ID=CeLWBNJ .
The Rangeland Coalition Legislative Committee currently has three sign-on letters of support in circulation.
Estate Tax – Federal legislation for targeted Estate Tax reform has been introduced by Congressman Thompson (D-CA) and Senator Feinstein (D-CA), excluding farm assets from estate taxes for as long as the property remains as a family agricultural operation.
AB 715 – This legislation before the California legislature provides a one-time $36 million general fund allocation for Williamson Act .
SB 1303 - This legislation before the California Legislature extends the sunset for Section 2087 of the California Fish and Game Code (incidental take) and to provide education on the provisions of this code.
If you have questions about the legislation listed above or your organization would like to sign on to the letters of support please contact Tracy Schohr at (916) 444-0845 or tschohr@calcattlemen.org. The final letters will be shared in the next e-update.
The recent edition of the California Cattleman Magazine features an article titled; Taking Grazing to the Next Level. The article highlights the stewardship of one rancher who grazes cattle on East Bay Regional Park ground in Sunol, Calif. The article discusses rangeland enhancements undertaken by the rancher, Russ Fields, and the managed grazing program implemented on the park ground. To view the article click here.
Ranchers are encouraged to complete the online version of the Ecosystem Services Survey atwww.surveymonkey.com/s/SZL757Z. Last month nearly 300 randomly-selected California Cattlemen Association members, California Rangeland Trust associates and California Wool Growers Association members were mailed a version of the survey. The online version of the survey provides an opportunity for additional producers to provide input.
The goal of the survey is to understand ranchers’ level of interest and the potential for developing payments for the ecosystem services (i.e. environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration, water quality improvements, wildlife habitat, etc.) that ranching provides. Emerging markets offer the potential to provide a financial return to ranchers for good environmental stewardship by creating new economic incentives for practices that improve the quality of water, soil, air and wildlife habitat on working landscapes.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Tracy Schohr at (916) 444-0845 ortschohr@calcattlemen.org
If you have questions about the legislation listed above or your organization would like to sign on to the letters of support please contact Tracy Schohr at (916) 444-0845 or tschohr@calcattlemen.org. The final letters will be shared in the next e-update.
The California Rangeland Conservation Coalition is proud to welcome the California Climate and Agriculture Network as the most recent signatory to the California Rangeland Resolution and partner of the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition. For a complete list of partners please click here.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack launched a new blog on the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' website to highlight local and regional food systems and the multitude of connections being made between farmers and consumers. The new online resource advances a national conversation about food and agriculture and highlights the importance of local and regional food systems – one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture – to American agriculture, the economy, and rural communities. The 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' Ideas and Stories webpage will provide real-world examples of the outpouring of dedication, entrepreneurship and support for agriculture that are taking place every day across the country. For more information click here.
http://www.spranch.org/workshops.ldml
This workshop/course is intended to help participants to improve water quality and overall watershed health in California's central coast region. Participants will gain familiarity with MMPs ("management measures and practices") that can reduce erosion and sediment transport, microbial contamination, agricultural run-off, non-point source pollution and other potential impacts often associated with agriculture and forestry practices.
Contact Brian Dietterick for more details (bdietter@calpoly.edu; 805.756.6155)
