Fall 2007 Conservation Quarterly - Yolo County Resource Conservation District

8/3/2019 Fall 2007 Conservation Quarterly - Yolo County Resource Conservation District

1/6

Fall 2007

Yolo County Resource

Conservation District

Published by the Yolo County Resource Conservation District

Continued on page 2

Inside this edition:Inside this edition:Inside this edition:Inside this edition:Inside this edition: Fritz Durst in no-till field aftercorn harvest.

Volume 11Issue 3

ConservationConservationConservationConservationConservation

QuarterlyQuarterlyQuarterlyQuarterlyQuarterly

Conservation

Quarterly

Fritz Durst Conservation Profile

Tamarisk-eating Leaf Beetles Help Out

New Grant for Capay Valley

Looking for Ponds

EQIP Sign-ups

On-Farm Conservation Field Meetings

PrPrPrPrProfile in Conserofile in Conserofile in Conserofile in Conserofile in Conservvvvvation: Fritz Duration: Fritz Duration: Fritz Duration: Fritz Duration: Fritz DurstKeepinstKeepinstKeepinstKeepinstKeepin g the F g the F g the F g the F g the Farararararm Alim Alim Alim Alim Alivvvvveeeee

TTTTThrhrhrhrhrough Innoough Innoough Innoough Innoough Innovvvvvation and Cration and Cration and Cration and Cration and Crop Diop Diop Diop Diop Divvvvvererererersitysitysitysitysity

by Diane Crumleyby Diane Crumleyby Diane Crumleyby Diane Crumleyby Diane CrumleyA willingness to field-test innovative, sustainable

practices comes naturally to Fritz Durst, fifth genera-tion Yolo County farmer and rancher; diversifying hisoperations is one strategy for combating the inherentrisk associated with agriculture. On a recent Septem-ber afternoon, I rode along with Fritz and had a chanceto see some of the challenges and solutions firsthandin the context of his diverse operation. We started onthe steep, rugged eastern face of the Capay Hills whereFritz grazes cattle that are later sold to a grass-fed beefcooperative. The next stop is down through the up-

lands where Durst has planted grapes, and has usedno-till production techniques for over 20 years grow-ing grains, oilseeds, and legumes. To the south, wepass minimum-till organic fields for raising seed crops,asparagus, grains and alfalfa hay produced for organicdairy-feed. Next we head east, through the dry, roll-ing Dunnigan Hills where he has many acres of highlyerodible land currently out of production, and enrolledin the Conservation Reserve Program. This land wasformerly used for cattle grazing and dryland grain pro-

duction. We end the tour in the flat, floodplains of ricefields near the Sacramento River and Colusa County linewhere rice is nearing harvest, and great blue heron andAmerican white pelicans fly overhead.

CCCCCALIFORNIAALIFORNIAALIFORNIAALIFORNIAALIFORNIA CCCCCONSERONSERONSERONSERONSERVVVVVAAAAATIONTIONTIONTIONTION TTTTTILLIL LILLIL LIL LAGEAGEAGEAGEAGE PPPPPIONEERIONEERIONEERIONEERIONEERFritz has always enjoyed the challenges of agricul-

ture and began accompanying his father around theranchland and fields by age five. Not long after graduat-ing from UC Davis witha degree in agriculturaleconomics, Fritz and hisfather turned their atten-tion toward the problemof persistent soil erosionoccurring on the up-lands of the Capay Hillsand the foothills nearDunnigan. They investi-gated no-till techniquesfor their small graincrops that involvedplanting directly intothe residue of the previ-ous crop. No-till andother conservation till-age methods had longbeen used in the Midwest to combat severe wind ero-sion, but in California it was still considered a new anduntested technique.

As with any farm practice there are benefits and drawbacks. The most immediate benefit Fritz realized was asignificant reduction in soil erosion. In 1985, after one


2/6

Conservation Quarterly

page 2 Fall 2007

Fritz Durst, continued from page 1

RCD DirectorsRCD DirectorsRCD DirectorsRCD DirectorsRCD Directors

Blair Voelz, Chairman

James Mayer, Vice Chairman

Rudy Lucero, DirectorDavid Gilmer, Director

Rachael Freeman-Long, Director

Wyatt Cline, Associate Director

Scott Stone, Associate Director

Garth Williams, Associate Director

RCDRCDRCDRCDRCD

Paul Robins, Executive Director

Jeanette Wrysinski, Senior Program Manager

William Spong, Water Quality Technician

Mark Lane, Water Lab Manager

Sean Kenady, Revegetation Specialist

John Reynolds, Revegetation AssistantTanya Meyer, Vegetation Management Specialist

Sue McCloud, Bookkeeper

Diane Crumley, Technical Writer

Sheila Pratt, Administrative Assistant

NRCSNRCSNRCSNRCSNRCS

Phil Hogan, District Conservationist

Wendy Rash, Soil Conservationist

Ha Truong, Agricultural Engineer

Nick Gallagher, Rangeland Management Specialist

S T A F F

year of no-till wheat production Durst reported a reduc-tion in annual soil loss from six tons/acre usingconventional tillage to two tons/acre in his no-till fields.Additionally, the large six foot deep gullies that appearedafter winter storms were not seen the year following thechange to no-till. During the next few years, Fritz reported

on his experiences at several no-till workshops, and re-ceived the RCD Cooperator of the Year Award in 1986for being a pioneer of no-till cultivation in Yolo County.

Currently, there is renewed interest in conservationtillage because of its potential to sequester carbon in thesoil, thereby reducing greenhouse gasses. Additionalbenefits to air quality come from reducing tractor timeand associated diesel expense and exhaust, and from pro-ducing less airborne dust, which is regulated in someagricultural areas.

No-till also tends to improve soil moisture retention,a factor particularly important to dryland farmers. Crop

residues left on the soil surface increase the ability forwater to infiltrate and reduce evaporation, conservingwater for plant growth. No-till soil quality is also im-

proved through the increase in organic matter, and thelack of disruption of soil microbes and arthropods.

For farmers converting fields to no-till, there can bethe added cost of equipment rental for special plantersutilizing the 20-ton drills needed for placing the seeds

and fertilizer through the previous crops residue. Fritzwas able to offset the initial equipment cost through acost-share program with the NRCS. Another challengeis the management of weeds that can grow amongstthe stubble. Fritz sees this as a short-term cost that willbe offset in the long-term by increased yields due toimproved soil quality.

GGGGGROWINGROWINGROWINGROWINGROWING GGGGGRASSESRASSESRASSESRASSESRASSES ANDANDANDANDAND GGGGGRAZERSRAZERSRAZERSRAZERSRAZERSFritz explained another change in practice that has

led to a more efficient use of resources on his range-land. After observing the timing of the growth of annualand perennial grasses on his ranchland, Fritz shifted from

a fall-calving schedule to calving in January, so that bymid-February, when hungry calves are first starting tobe weaned, there is a maximum amount of tender for-age available. By switching to spring calving, it matchedthe timing of the animals greatest energy demand withthe rangelands largest supply, thus reducing the costfor hay supplementation. Durst has presented work-shops on grazing management using temporary electricfencing, and describes how effective this technique canbe, since cattle can be trained very quickly to avoidthis type of fencing, allowing for potential reductionsin the costs involved in the installation and mainte-

nance of more substantial posts with multiple wires forall pasture areas. Fritz has also observed that by grazingthe foothill grasslands briefly in May after the nativeperennials have produced seed, the cattles hoof actionappeared to improve the yield of perennial grasses laterin the year following the rains. By timing grazing tomimic native herbivore grazing as much as possible,weeds can be reduced and native plants encouraged,slowly shifting the rangeland ecosystem closer to its origi-nal composition.

Continued on page 5

Prescribed grazing with electric fence trained cattle

and minimal fencing.


3/6


Fall 2007 page 3

Capay Valley orchard with bank

erosion on Cache Creek.

Leaf Beetle adult and larvae

feeding on tamarisk.

YCRCD efforts to manage invasive weeds alongCache Creek in Capay Valley are now receiving someassistance from a biocontrol species, the tamarisk leafbeetle (Diorhabda elongata). Beetles have been re-leased upstream of Rumsey as part of a study conductedby the USDA Agricultural Research Service and UCDs

Department of Entomology.Human efforts to control tamarisk remain outpaced

by the weeds rapid spread. In the 1980s, the USDAAgriculture Research Service (ARS) initiated a searchand study for an effective natural enemy of the plantthat would not impact any crop or native plants. Re-searchers succeeded in locating tamarisk-feedingspecialist beetles that appeared to defoliate tamariskin China, Kazakhstan, Greece and Crete, and con-ducted ten years of safety tests before initiatingcontrolled/caged releases in the western U.S.

Already, thousands of acres of tamarisk are being

successfully defoliated by the beetle in Nevada andWyoming, but it has taken longer for the beetles toestablish in California, partly because of the differ-ences in day-length sensitivity by the beetles from morenorthern latitudes. Tamarisk leaf beetles imported fromGreece and Crete appear to be better matched to theconditions and particular tamarisk species in California.

Despite a wet year in 2006 and a very dry, coldwinter in 2007, the Cache Creek population of leaf

YCRCD successfully applied for funding to support alarge-scale geomorphic and hydrological study of causesof and appropriate solutions for stream bank instabilityin Capay Valley. The grant from the CALFED WatershedProgram will be funded for $389,000 to conduct twoyears of work starting in January 2008.

Kamman Hydrology & Engineering (KHE) will col-lect historic and current data on creek function to producemodels that predict the locations and future rates of ero-sion. This will aid in the selection of optimal places alongthe creek to focus (or avoid) efforts in bank stabilizationand restoration projects. KHE will also develop restora-

tion designsthough collabora-tion with the locals t a k e h o l d e r sgroup, a watershedassessment team,the Cache Creek

Watershed Forumand other YoloCounty partners.

beetles released about four years ago has expandedfrom Rumsey to Camp Haswell in the north, and tothe Guinda Bridge in the south. The affected tamariskstands appear completely defoliated and brown incolor. According to YCRCD weed warrior TanyaMeyer, that is all due to the feeding of the adult and

larval tamarisk beetle. The process takes about fiveyears to completely kill a stand, and beetles may pro-duce two to three generations during a season. In thewinter, the beetles wont be visible because they seekshelter in leaf litter.

Keep your eye outfor this helpful yellow andblack beetle in the CacheCreek area next springand summer, as they willagain be busy in theirbiocontrol activities.

We will extend the expertise and information obtained through the study to develop a watershed scienceeducation program for Esparto Middle School studentsThe STREAM (Student Training in Reporting for Envi-ronmental & Agricultural-Science Media) program wilbegin in fall 2008 and will supplement 6th graders on-going studies of earth and life sciences.

The Center for Land-Based Learning will offer lo-gistical support during student field visit days alongCache Creek. During field visits, students will learnphoto monitoring and measures of watershed condition. Students will also be trained to use digital A.Vequipment from Davis Media Access, a communitymedia organization, to produce their own documentaries, podcasts and websites for presentation to thecommunity each May, as part of Watershed Aware-ness Month activities. By providing students withtechniques to investigate, document and communicate findings about the health of their watershed, wehope that students will have an increased awarenessand long-term interest in resource stewardship withinthe local community.

TTTTTamarisk-Eatinamarisk-Eatinamarisk-Eatinamarisk-Eatinamarisk-Eatin g Leaf g Leaf g Leaf g Leaf g LeafBeetles AidinBeetles AidinBeetles AidinBeetles AidinBeetles Aiding Wg Wg Wg Wg Weed Manaeed Manaeed Manaeed Manaeed Managggggementementementementement

NeNeNeNeNew Grant fw Grant fw Grant fw Grant fw Grant for Eror Eror Eror Eror Erosion Controsion Controsion Controsion Controsion Control & Enol & Enol & Enol & Enol & Envirvirvirvirvironmental Education in Capaonmental Education in Capaonmental Education in Capaonmental Education in Capaonmental Education in Capay Vy Vy Vy Vy Valleallealleallealleyyyyy


4/6


page 4 Fall 2007

Sacramento Perch.

YCRCD is currently seeking land-owners interested in developing anew pond or modifying an existingpond to host the native Sacramentoperch. Funding from the CALFED Eco-

system RestorationProgram will covermost of the costsof pond con-s t r u c t i o n / modificationand vegetation,with the remainder ofthe cost to be covered bythe landowner, or other cost-sharemechanisms such as the NRCS EQIPor WHIP programs. YCRCD, NRCS

and Audubon Landowner Steward-ship Program staff will provideassistance in pond design, acquiringpermits, and installation. Research-ers at UC Davis, led by wildlife andfish biology Professor Peter Moyle,will provide the fish stock and an-nually monitor their success inestablishment and growth.

The Sacramento perch is a nativesunfish that was once abundantthroughout the Sacramento-San

Joaquin watershed. It grows and re-produces rapidly under goodconditions. Although it is consideredan at-risk species, it is not regu-lated as threatened or endangered.

One of the goals of the Yolo-SolanoConservation Partnership project isto evaluate how farm ponds andother agricultural waterways can as-sist in recovering the Sacramento

perch to its nativerange. Sofar, it isthoughtthat ani d e a l

pond hasdeep spots of

around 10 feet indepth for cool water refuge, and shal-low-sloped banks with emergentvegetation for spawning. This project

will document how well perch per-form under a variety of conditions,so even less-than-ideally-sized pondscould be eligible. Pond sites can belocated in Yolo or Solano County.

Sacramento perch provide goodmosquito control, are a good sport fishand have a high tolerance for a widevariety of water quality conditions.Because the perch is unregulated,there is no associated liability for thelandowner. If you are interested in

having a new pond installed on yourproperty or hosting Sacramentoperch in an existing pond, please con-tact Jeanette Wrysinski at YCRCD at662-2037, ext. 118.

News & AnnouncementsNews & AnnouncementsNews & AnnouncementsNews & AnnouncementsNews & Announcements

Tailwater pond with vegetation.

Sacramento Perch.

SSSSSIGNIGNIGNIGNIGN UUUUUPPPPP FORFORFORFORFOR EQIP UEQIP UEQIP UEQIP UEQIP UNDERNDERNDERNDERNDERWWWWWAAAAAYYYYY

The Environmen-tal Quality IncentivesProgram (EQIP) is abroad-ranging pro-gram that offersfarmers and ranchers cost-share andtechnical assistance for projects thatcontribute to improvements in soil,water, and air quality and range-land and wildli fe habitat.According to NRCS State Conserva-tionist Ed Burton, EQIP has beena huge help for Californias agricul-tural producers who are trying tobalance their desire to do the rightthing for the environment with thereality of fiscal constraints. Ap-

proximately 1,200 California EQIPcontracts were approved in 2007,for a total of $48 million on 447,000 acres.

Applications are being acceptednow through November 2, 2007.They are ranked according to scoresthat reflect the relative environ-mental benefit to national,statewide and locally identified pri-orities, as well as a cost efficiencycalculation. In 2008, California pri-

orities include air quality, wildlifehabitat, and water quality needs re-lated to confined animal feedingoperations. Conservationist EdBurton also stresses the importanceof having a conservation plan(which NRCS staff can assist with)that helps growers assess the needsof the resources on their lands anddevelop a timetable to help sched-ule the implementation ofconservation practices.

For more information aboutlocal goals and the ranking pro-cess go to www.ca.nrcs .gov/programs or stop by the Wood-land Field Officeat 221 W. CourtStreet, Suite 1in Woodland.

WWWWWEEEEERERERERERE LLLLLOOKINGOOKINGOOKINGOOKINGOOKING FFFFFOROROROROR A FA FA FA FA FEWEWEWEWEW GGGGGOODOODOODOODOOD PPPPPONDSONDSONDSONDSONDS . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .


5/6


Fall 2007 page 5

On-FOn-FOn-FOn-FOn-Farararararm Conserm Conserm Conserm Conserm Conservvvvvation Fation Fation Fation Fation Field Meetinield Meetinield Meetinield Meetinield Meetin g Series Calendar f g Series Calendar f g Series Calendar f g Series Calendar f g Series Calendar for 2007-2008or 2007-2008or 2007-2008or 2007-2008or 2007-2008

Fritz Durst, continued from page 2

EEEEENCOURAGINGNCOURAGINGNCOURAGINGNCOURAGINGNCOURAGING SSSSSTEWARDSHIPTEWARDSHIPTEWARDSHIPTEWARDSHIPTEWARDSHIPOver the past 25 years of farming and ranching in Yolo County, Fritz

helped pioneer locally-specialized techniques for no-till production,served as co-chairman of the RCD board of directors for five years withTom Muller from 1992-1997, and currently serves as president for Recla-mation District 108. When asked what some of his goals were for the

next 10 years, Fritz answered that he hoped farming in this globaleconomy could remain profitable and feasible for his family and hisfellow growers in Yolo County, and that hed like to continue to worktoward the development of a wildlife corridor that spans from the CoastRange to the Sacramento River floodplain. YCRCD is grateful to grow-ers like Fritz for the vision and drive to not only envision such goals butto test out the innovations that make them happen.

No-till field after harvest with wheat stubble

remaining.

On-FOn-FOn-FOn-FOn-Farararararm Conserm Conserm Conserm Conserm Conservvvvvation Fation Fation Fation Fation Field Meetinield Meetinield Meetinield Meetinield Meetin g Series Calendar f g Series Calendar f g Series Calendar f g Series Calendar f g Series Calendar for 2007-2008or 2007-2008or 2007-2008or 2007-2008or 2007-2008

YCRCD and partner organizations are hosting another series of free on-farm workshops from October 2007through April 2008. This years series includes the following:

October 27 & November 10 ----- Farm Conservation Planning

Saturdays, 9 am - 12 noon, FREE, at the UCD campus, limited enrollment

Participating landowners will pair with an RCD or NRCS conservation planner and a UCDLandscape Architecture student. Each team will inventory farm resources during the firstsession then develop a site-specific farm conservation plan in the second. Products: acolor, aerial rendering of the property and future projects with an implementation plan forpractices, cost estimates, prioritization and options for funding.

November 2 ----- Watershed-friendly Equine Management Practices

Saturday, 9 am - 12 noon, FREE, at Pleasant Trails Road in Solano County

Training and demonstrations on methods and equipment used for conservation-minded

horse facility management for landowners on small parcels. Led by Solano RCD.November 8 ----- Conservation Project Maintenance

Thursday, 2-4 pm, FREE, at The Farm on Putah Creek Road, 5365 Putah Creek Rd., Winters

Training and demonstrations on methods and equipment used for enhancing native plantingsand controlling non-natives. Led by the Audubon Landowner Stewardship Program.

January ----- Enhancing On-Farm Habitat for Pollinators

February ----- Tailwater Management with Vegetation & Sediment Traps

April ----- Riparian Weed Control & Revegetation Projects

The Solano RCD, USDA NRCS, the Cache Creek Con-

servancy, the Xerces Society, and the AububonLandowner Stewardship Program will co-lead the meet-ings. For more information call Sheila Pratt at the YCRCD

at 530-662-2937, ext. 117.


6/6

YYYYYoloCountyRCD/NRCSF oloCountyRCD/NRCSF oloCountyRCD/NRCSF oloCountyRCD/NRCSF oloCountyRCD/NRCSFieldOffice ieldOffice ieldOffice ieldOffice ieldOffice

221W.CourtStreet,Suite1

Woodland,CA95695

Findprojectprogressreports,events,links,andupdatedconservationarticlesontheRCDwebsiteatwww.yolorcd.org

The Yolo County RCD offers various resource materials for sale. To place an order, send your requestto Yolo County RCD - Orders, 221 W. Court Street, Suite 1, Woodland, CA 95695; call 530-662-2037, ext. 117; or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Please add tax and shipping and handling costs to publication prices below:

Nonprofit

U.S.PostagePaid

Woodland,CA95695

PermitNo.31

Woodland,CA Ifyouwouldliketoreceivethisnewsletterelectronicallyinsteadofbymail,[email protected].

Know Your Natives; A Pictorial Guide to CANative Grasses (includes supplement) ..............$30

Know Your Natives - supplement ONLY............ $15

Bring Farm Edges Back to Life! ........................... $15

California Native Grass (poster) ........................ $17

Monitoring on Your Farm ...................................... $15

Working Habitat for Working Farms (video) . $10

Yolo County Soil Survey (CD-ROM) ............. $13.92

Capay Valley Conservation & RestorationManual (free to Capay Valley residents) ...................$15

Please add 7.75% sales tax to prices

Shipping & handling:Shipping & handling:Shipping & handling:Shipping & handling:Shipping & handling:

1 item: $6.00

2-5 items: $9.00

6-10 items: $12.00

11-30 items: $16.00

Poster: $7.50

Yolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD Publications

Documents

Fall 2007 Conservation Quarterly - Yolo County Resource Conservation District