The Livestock Pass Program allows for eligible San Benito County livestock producers access to their livestock in the event of a disaster such as flooding or wildfire. 

A holder of livestock pass may have access to a closed area during a disaster if granted by the incident commander, a law enforcement official or their designee.  Access to the ranch property is only for the purposes of sheltering, moving, transporting, evacuating, feeding, watering or administering veterinary care to livestock.

*Eligibility, must obtain or be able to present proof of at least one of the following:

1. Commercial livestock producer
2. Resident of San Benito County for at least part of the year
3. Operator Identification Number issued by a County Agricultural Commissioner
4. Assessor's Parcel Number confirming  agricultural zoning for the property upon which access is sought
5. Agricultural land lease documentation
6. Williamson Act enrollment  documentation
7. Documentation from the USDA Farm Service Agency attesting that the applicant is a commercial livestock producer
8. Current registration of a livestock brand with the Bureau of Livestock Identification; brand inspector may confirm eligibility based on number of cattle owned
9. Letter of Authorization from ranch owner

Eligible candidates will need to attend a 4 hour fire safety workshop provided by Cal Fire.

The pass holder and ALL managerial employees must attend the training in order to be listed on the Livestock Pass. 

***RSPV is REQUIRED

Click the link to see training details. San Benito County Livestock Pass Program Training Flyer

How are livestock managers working with Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) and scientists to explore improving the region's rangeland stewardship through work at Cal Poly's Swanton Pacific Ranch?

Join Swanton Pacific Ranch to hear from and discuss varying perspectives about how to improve rangeland management on California's central coast. Sean Baird (Cal Poly) and Paige Pastorino (Pastorino Farms) will discuss their strategies for livestock and rangeland management while touring the ground they manage. Sacha Lozano and Dan Hermstad (both Santa Cruz RCD), and Bailey Smith-Helman (UC Tech. Assistance) will lead a discussion about how to better collaborate on and access financial incentives (or cost-share) programs meant to improve carbon sequestration on ranches and farms. Cal Poly researchers Stewart Wilson, Seeta Sistla, Yamina Pressler, Marc Horney and Grace Damaschino will co-lead a discussion about how  management and soils interact and how we are starting to understand how to improve productivity while sequestering carbon given varying soil types in our region.

Registration is limited: to reserve a spot email Grey Hayes gfhayes@calpoly.edu or call 831-227-7163

Cost: no cost- this is a free workshop (including a free lunch!)

Deadline to register: October 11, 5pm

Click here for the agenda.

This workshop is sponsored by Cal Poly and the California Department of Food and Agriculture in partnership with California Climate Investments- carbon cap and trade funding at work.

Join the Central Coast Rangeland Coalition for our Fall 2023 Workhsop in Santa Cruz County. See details below.

Thursday, October 19, 2023, 8:30 – 4:15

Morning Location: Scotts Valley Community Center
360 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley

and

Afternoon Location: Glenwood Open Space Preserve
Parking at--127 Vine Hill School Rd, Scotts Valley

Cost:  $40

Cattle ranching on the Central Coast supports conservation of rangeland ecosystems including habitat for numerous threatened and endangered species. This workshop will consider two challenges facing ranching and its ability to support conservation (1) declining availability of and changing requirements for liability insurance for grazing lessees and (2) lack of ranch worker housing; and will consider the value of rancher-landowner collaboration.
 
The workshop includes a visit to the Glenwood Preserve where the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County is working with a grazing lessee to conserve habitat for the Ohlone Tiger Beetle and other special-status species, reduce fire fuels, support compatible recreational uses, and meet the operational needs of the rancher.

Click here to register and see below for the meeting agenda.

The University of California Cooperative Extension is looking for a half-time administrative assistant. The position will be based at of our office in Hollister. We're looking for a great candidate to join our small, but dedicated team. Please share this job announcement with anyone who may be interested.

The main focus of the position is to provide administrative services to the University of California Cooperative Extension Office in San Benito County. Services provided include receiving and processing information, planning, scheduling, creating spreadsheets, compiling and manipulating data, creating and compiling reports and handouts, creating correspondence, formatting newsletters, and reports, coordinating workflow, and working with clientele. This position will also handle website and media support, answer general phone lines and emails, and provide general program assistance.

This position is a career appointment that is 50% fixed.

Pay Scale: $27.34/hour to $32.84/hour

This job is open until filled, but the first applicant review date will be two weeks from the posting, which will be 8/28/2023. 

For more information or to apply, please check out this website: https://ucanr.edu/About/Jobs/?jobnum=2609.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.