3 minute read
OPEN THE GATE SHOWING WHO RANCHERS ARE AND WHAT THEY DO
The California Cattle Council graciously funded a rangeland education tour in Butte County, coordinated by UC Cooperative Extension and the Butte County Cattlemen. A bus load of County Staff, Board of Supervisors and state officials that directly impact cattle ranching joined a tour of the Foster Ranch and the Daley Ranch to experience “behind the gate” on family ranches.
Cattlemen love the land and work tirelessly caring for livestock, and instilling a love of agriculture in the next generation. We share with our children our heritage, family legacy and traditions. We talk about how grandpa used to do things and how we constantly learn from that experience and try to do better every year.
It is critical that we pass this knowledge to the next generation. But the untold stories of ranchers to the larger world are lost opportunities. The opportunity to gain friends, and allies at the grocery store, ballot box, and with policy makers and regulators. We must tell the story more broadly, rooted both in important traditions and in science.
Sharing the Science
Our knowledge – rooted in science – has made us better stewards of the land we so deeply care for. Thanks to extensive investments in research, we have peer-reviewed facts to share that demonstrate the sustainability and resilience of agriculture.
Leslie Roche, Ph.D., an associate professor of cooperative extension at UC Davis, synthesized the ecological value of California’s working rangelands for tour attendees:
• Targeted livestock grazing can reduce invasive weeds and increase cover of more desirable species.
• Reintroducing conservation grazing (30+ years of exclusion) around vernal pools can enhance native plant diversity.
• Conservation of ranch land conserves biodiversity and habitat connectivity for wildlife.
• Oak woodlands alone store 675 MMT, and sequester 3 MMT of carbon per year. Managed grazing can improve soil health and enhance soil organic carbon sequestration.
• Grazing has great potential to mitigate wildfire intensity and frequency.
• Livestock grazing and provisioning of clean water can be compatible goals.
• Livestock distribution practices can improve riparian and wetland health. The sustainability and ecological importance of 34 million acres of California grazed rangelands managed by ranchers can’t be overshared.
Opening the Daley Ranch Gates
Most of us are so busy, that the last thing we need is to spend days getting ready and then hosting a tour for those from “outside our world.” But it is becoming increasingly evident that when we aren’t willing to do so, others gladly do it for us, and not always with our best interests at heart. Social media has quickly upended thoughtful conversations to “gotcha moments.” Some of you have effectively mastered the ability to communicate in that space. But most of us shake our heads at some of the inane posts, and particularly the meanspirited nature of attacks on each other. And, to be fair, that negative, insulting approach can be found both from the “I hate agriculture” crowd and from some of our producers. It doesn’t help.
Tours are expensive, difficult to coordinate and take a concerted effort to plan messaging and have meaningful exchanges. After the 2019 fire destroyed our cattle range, our cattle, and our family legacy, the commitment to telling that story has become increasingly important. We have hosted several members of the Governor’s staff and cabinet, as well as other state and federal officials, to tell the “fire story” and what unchecked fuel loads have done to destroy California’s range, forest and communities.
To share the importance of grazing to promote healthy ecosystems, protecting and enhancing biodiversity, groundwater recharge, reducing fuel loads, maintaining viewscapes, contributing to rural economies, and yes, growing high quality protein. Yeah it takes a lot of work, but at the end of the day when guests deboarded the bus, the value of the tour is those connections with people who directly influence our lives. Those connections serve in good stead as challenges continually arise. The other gratifying thing you will find, is most of them love what you do—they just don’t understand it!
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Bulls: Age advantage spring long yearlings, fall yearlings
Females: Open fall yearlings, bred heifers, pairs info@mcpheeredangus.com www.mcpheeredangus.com
Our ranch has always been family owned and operated, with a focus on raising low input, efcient females who do their job of producing sound, high performing, multi-trait bulls with the commercial cattleman in mind.
Our bulls and females are stacked with generations of performance that will provide more dollar value for less dollar input.
