January - February 2008 Alameda County Resource Conservation District Newsletter

8/3/2019 January - February 2008 Alameda County Resource Conservation District Newsletter

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every American should un-derstand how agriculture andrenewable resource productsare produced and should

value the essential role ofagriculture in maintaining astrong economy and healthypopulation. They should ap-preciate the role agricultureplays in providing safe, abun-dant and affordable products.National Ag Day will focuson educating Americansabout the industry, so theymay also acknowledge andconsider career opportunitiesin the agriculture industry.

Focused on sharing how agri-culture provides almost eve-rything we eat, use and wearon a daily basis, the NationalAg Day program helps edu-cate millions of consumers(continued on page 2)

Join the celebration

American agriculture isresponsible for providing thenecessities of everyday life ...food, fiber, horticulture, re-newable resources and even

fuel. Thats the messageof National Ag Day,which is celebratedMarch 20, 2008. Produc-

ers, agricultural associa-tions, corporations, uni-versities, governmentagencies and countlessothers across Americacelebrate the abundanceprovided by agricultureon this first day of spring.The National Ag Dayprogram is committed toincreasing public aware-ness about Americanagriculture. As the world

population soars, there iseven greater demand for agri-culture that the United Statesproduces.

The Agriculture Council ofAmerica, organizers of Na-tional Ag Day, believe that

Do you know where your food comes from?

Alameda County Partnership for Land ConservationAnd Stewardship (PLCS)

There are so many differentagencies in Alameda

County , that it can be very

difficult to figure out which

one does what. The Alameda

County Partnership for Land

Conservation and Steward-

ship (PLCS) is one of those

agencies.

PLCS is administered for the

County of Alameda by theAlameda County Resource

Conservation District

(ACRCD). PLCS currently

has 18 individual landowners

in the Conservation Mitiga-

tion Program (CMP) with the

intent to determine their

properties conservation

values and to seek mitigation

or other easements. These

landowners represent17,000+ acres of rangeland in

East Alameda County. The

CMP is a program of the

NRCS, RCD and PLCS,

which utilizes their individual

expertise to benefit the cli-

ents.

If you would like more infor-

mation contact Karen Sweet

at [email protected].

Celebrate Ag WeekMarch 1622, 2008

NEWLOGOCOLORS

INORDERTOUPDATE

ANDGIVEOURNEW

WEBSITEAFRESH

LOOK, WECHANGED

THECOLORSONOUR

LOGO.

WATCHFORTHE

NEWWEBSITE.

ITSALMOST

COMPLETE!

Our RCD BoardMembers

Jocelyn Combs,PresidentPaul Banke

Tim KoopmannRodney TrippBrenda Vieux

January/February 2008

Issue 2

C O N S E R V A T I O N P A R T N E R S H I P

The Partnership Newsletter

January/February 2008


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(Continued from page 1)

each year. You can join thiseffort by buying locally whenpossible and educatingchildren about agriculture andwhere their food comes from(not the store).

Events happening here during

Ag Week

March 18The Wine Grouppresents a Grape Expo featur-ing buying local bringinggrowers and buyers together.

March 19The Conservation

Partnership presents -RanchConservation Planning part 2in a series.

March 20AG DAY

For more information contactPeggy Kiefer at theConservation Partnership(925) 371-0154 ext.122,[email protected] the Agriculture Coun-cil of America at(913) 491-1895.

National Agriculture Day is or-

ganized by the Agriculture Coun-

cil of America (ACA) and spon-

sored by companies like ADM.

ACA is a nonprofit organization

composed of leaders in the agri-

cultural, food and fiber commu-

nity, dedicating its efforts to in-

creasing the publics awareness

of agricultures role in modern

society.

Grazing 101

Date to be determined

Conservation Easement

Series #3


This is a list of our currentlyplanned workshops. Check

our website and future news-letters as there may be

changes and additions.

Ranch Conservation

Planning

March 12, 19 & 26 and

April 2

California Red-leggedFrog

April 30 May 2

California Tiger

Salamander

June 17 & 18

Raptor and Squirrel

Workshop


For more workshop

information or suggestionsplease contact Peggy Kiefer

(925) 371-0154

[email protected]

Celebrate National Ag Week

The Partnership Newsletter J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 8

FUN AG FACT

HAMBURGER MEAT

FROM A SINGLE

STEER WILL MAKE

ABOUT 720

QUARTER POUND

HAMBURGERPATTIES. THATS

ENOUGH FOR A

FAMILY OF 4 TO

ENJOY

HAMBURGERS EACH

DAY FOR NEARLY 6

MONTHS.

Page 2 NRCS biologist holds a California Tiger Salamander

CA Rangeland ConservationCoalition held its 3rd statewideSummit. The theme of the con-ference was "Let's conserveprivate ranches". The keynotespeakers were ranchers from aMontana coalition. Severalspeakers presented valuableresearch about oak regenera-tion, bird as indicators of rangehealth, rangeland monitoringprotocols, and the relationshipof private and public range-lands. The Coalition's focalarea map was presented anddiscussed. Tim Koopmannserved on a rancherpanel. Milestones to date and2008 priorities were pre-sented. Participants includedits members, including publicagencies, ranchers, and ranch-ing and conservation organiza-tions. Steve Thompson, Re-gional Director of the CA-NV

Region of Fish and WildlifeService closed the day withthese remarks. We mustuse our common goals, sci-ence and new partnerships af-fectively and aggressively toachieve measured suc-cess. "Get 'er done!"See carangeland.org for theResolution and other materials.

2008 Workshop Schedule

Lets Conserve

Private Ranches


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Creek Maintenance

Page 3

Issue 2

Are you a landowner looking for ideas on how

to solve problems in your creek? Now is a greattime to plant willows to establish vegetationalong creek banks to prevent erosion and pro-vide important wildlife habitat.

Historically, willows grew among most of thecreeks in coastal Cali-fornia, and still do inmany. Willows are aneffective and inexpensive way to armor creek banks, active headcuts, and gullies.

Revegetating with willows is the easiest way to establish woody vegetation on a bare creek bank. Adequateyear-round water is key for willow establishment and survival. Even if a creek doesn't have year-round above ground flows, thegroundwater may be near enough to the surface to support willow.

Willows can be planted from dormant cuttings or "sprigs" following these steps:

Cut willow sprigs at least 3/4" in diameter, and bigger is better. Large diameter branches can be used. Cuttings should be atleast 14" long.

Plant cuttings by pushing the cut end into soft solid, or make a pilot hole with a short stick or pick. If you make a hole, makesure to compress soil tightly around the cuttings. At least two-thirds of the length of the cutting should be buried to give plenty ofarea for root growth. Sprigs should be angled slightly downstream with buds pointing up.

Plant cuttings along streams or in gullies that have enough moisture to sustain them throughout the summer.If willows are becoming overgrown and clogging the stream channel, prune and shape them to an upright form.

More information is available online at the Urban Creeks Council website http://www.urbancreeks.org/Current_Programs.htmlor byvisiting www.nrcs.gov/(insert website you found here).

Source: Creek Care Guide for Marin Residents, from Marin Coastal Watershed Enhancement Project: Planting Willows


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3585 Greenville Road

Suite 2

Livermore, CA 94550

Phone: 925-371-0154

Fax: 925-371-0156

www.acrcd.org

C O N S E R V A T I O N P A R T N E R S H I P

Alameda County 2006 Crops

(2007 will be out soon)

Celebrate National Ag Week

Field Crops

Harvested Per

Crop Acreage Acre Total Unit Per Unit Total

Hay, Alfalfa 389 5.37 2,089 Ton $143.00 $ 299.000Hay, Other 3,648 3.00 10,944 Ton $ 86.00 941,000Range Pasture 189,000 Acre $ 17.87 3,377,000Misc. 315 (Includes sugar beets, safflower,

Corn silage, barley, oats, wheat,beans irrigated pasture, etc.)

TOTAL 193,352 $4,883,000

Fruit and Nut Crops

Bearing PerCrop Harvest Acre Total Unit Per Unit Total

Grapes (Wine)Red 1,681 4 6,590 Ton Various $ 6,090,000White 600 3 1,944 Ton Various 1,914,000Misc. Fruit 120 (includes olives, walnuts, 45,000

Strawberries, etc.)

TOTAL 2,401 $ 8,049,000

Livestock & Poultry

No. of TotalItem Head Weight Unit Per Unit

Cattle and Calves 13,812 85,502 Cwt. Various $ 8,721,000Misc. PoultryAnd Livestock Products (includes rabbits, sheep,

Wool, lambs, hogs, bees,and apiary products (honey) 155.000

TOTAL $ 8,876,000

Courtesy of the Alameda County Community Development AgencyAgricultural Commissioner, John Gouvaia (925) 245-0846

Photo courtesy of CA Farm Bureau

Documents

January - February 2008 Alameda County Resource Conservation District Newsletter