Goose Lake in Modoc County
photo courtesy Matthew Stevenson
8:30 am to 5:00 pm
The Renz Ranch -- just south of Hollister and Tres Piños, San Benito County
Agenda Overview
· UC Berkeley professor Dr. James Bartolome on what science can tell us
about rangeland response to management. Can management affect rangelands?
How?
· UC Santa Cruz graduate student Lewis Reed presenting on a comprehensive
review about livestock interactions with water quality. What can we learn
from scientific literature, experts, and practitioners on how to improve
water quality in conjunction with livestock management?
· The Elkhorn Slough Coastal Training Program’s Grey Hayes moderating a
group discussion with perhaps an expert panel: how do grassland managers and
scientists work together to improve each others’ understanding of
rangelands? Tell the CCRC how it can help better integrate the realms of
science and management on central coast rangelands.
· Tour the Renz Ranch for a discussion of their work and land.
$15 donation requested at the door. Lunch included.
Reservations requested. For reservations or more information, email:
grey@elkhornslough.org or call him at (831) 274-8700
The fall meeting of the California-Pacific Section of the Society for Range Management will be held October 6-8 at Lava Beds National Monument in Tule Lake, Modoc County. The meeting will highlight the National Monument with
speakers and two field tours. Camping or motels available.
Registration fees include the following: Wed. dinner and entertainment; Thurs. breakfast, field tour and lunch, and dinner and entertainment; Fri. breakfast. Early registrations must be postmarked by September 17, 2010.
Lavabeds Meeting Brochure (PDF)
Lavabeds Campground Information (PDF)
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)
The 2010 Ecologically-based Invasive Plant Management (EBIPM) Field School is September 14-17, 2010 in Boise, Idaho.
Ecologically-Based Invasive Plant Management (EBIPM) is a framework providing land managers guidelines to make the best management decisions for a given landscape based on ecological principles. Through a step-by-step process, it focuses on getting to the roots of the problem rather than merely covering up the symptoms of invasive annual grasses and other invasive species. By addressing the causes of invasive plant infestations, EBIPM offers solutions to achieve healthy sustainable rangeland.
The EBIPM Field School is designed to teach the application of EBIPM principles in a learn-by-doing, in-the-field setting.
Our focus for the 2010 EBIPM Field School, September 14-17th in Boise, Idaho is ‘Taking Steps to Effective Invasive Grass Management and we’ll spend as much time as we can in the field, learning by doing at multiple field locations and study/demonstration sites. To learn more about the 2010 Field School, check out the program, available now on our website.
Registration forms are also available on our website at www.ebipm.org.
It is that time of the year again, time to nominate our Section’s Range Manager of the Year and Excellence in Range Management!! Please take a moment to think of a well deserving person for one of the awards, or maybe you know people that you would like to nominate for each. Please find the applications below, and if you need any other information please contact either Co-Chairs Holly George or Theresa Becchetti.
Excellence in Range Management Award nomination form
Range Manager of the Year Award nomination form
Deputy Attorney General's Opinion on CRM Licensing Issues
Presentations from the San Diego Fire Recovery Network, “2007 WILDFIRE UPDATES,” are posted at:
http://www.sdfrn.org/docs/Jan24Update/Wildfires2007_SDFRN_MeetingNotes_24jan08.doc
