- Author: Houston Wilson
- Author: Rebecca Ozeran
- Author: Phoebe Gordon
- Author: Rob Straser
Rivers are an important part of our communities. However, some agricultural practices can detrimentally affect river health and water quality. The University of California Cooperative Extension conducts research and extension to educate growers about science-based practices that can reduce the impacts of agriculture on river health. These practices include such things as nutrient management, integrated pest management and conservation grazing. At the same time, local communities may not be aware of the choices that growers make to protect the environment.
River Camp Firebaugh is a summer camp for first- through eighth-graders in western Fresno County, and is managed by the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust. We...
- Author: Mark Bell
“Does it really take 500 to 1,000 years to form an inch of soil? No wonder we have to protect our soil."
“I've heard about soil organic matter, and I know it is supposed to be good for my soil – but how does it really help and what can I do about it?"
People increasingly have such questions as they realize the importance of living in a healthy environment and the role that healthy soils play. An overarching question from many though – including farmers, home gardeners, ranchers and natural resource managers – is, “Where can I go to get practical tips about building healthy soil?”
We're glad you asked! UC Agriculture and Natural...
- Author: Dan Macon
Like any livestock management tool, livestock guardian dogs come with both costs and (hopefully) benefits. Some of these are easily calculated - for example, through today, we've spent $624.70 on dog food and veterinary costs related to our livestock guardian dogs this year. We currently have 3 dogs (Bodie, a 3-year-old I purchased as a pup for $350; Elko, a 2-year-old given to me as a pup; and Dillon, a 9-month-old pup purchased for $500). Some of the costs and benefits are less easily calculated, however; how do I know how many sheep didn't die because we had dogs with them? What is the value of my own peace of mind? A recent paper by Dr. Ellen Bruno (Cooperative Extension specialist in agriculture and resource economics at UC...
- Author: Matthew Shapero
Catastrophic wildfires are becoming more frequent, more intense and more destructive in California. They are burning in a variety of vegetation types — from high-elevation northern-Californian coniferous forests to southern-Californian chaparral ecosystems — and some (e.g. the Thomas [2017] and Tubbs, Sonoma County [2017]) have been fanned by unusually strong wind events. Despite these differences, however, there is broad consensus that a major part of the uptick in catastrophic fires is the state's failure to adequately manage fuel loading in range- and forested lands.
The state is currently in the process of finalizing a document, the California Vegetation...
- Author: Thomas Getts
While typically associated with timber production and arborists, chainsaws are one of the tools available to those tasked with removing non-desirable woody vegetation. What a fun, powerful, and dangerous tool they are! Ranging from small light electric saws to two-stroke saws with 30 inch bars, there is a chainsaw manufactured to fit your needs. After working a saw all day, the old adage “less is more” may come to mind, as smaller saws are easier to handle over long hours.
Recently, I have been helping out with a document focused on non-chemical control methods for weeds. While contributing to the section on chainsaws, it made me reminiscent of work I conducted in graduate school. The project I worked on focused on...
