- Author: Sophie Loeb
To say Sheila Barry, Natural Resources and Livestock Advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension San Francisco Bay Area, knows a thing or two about natural resource and livestock management, is an understatement. Barry's passion for her work developed during her time at Mission Viejo High School in the Future Farmers program, a vocational agricultural training program. Barry paved her trail from Southern California, to UC Davis for her undergraduate degree, then to Texas A and M for her Master's degree, and finally back to Northern California, where she has spent 20 years serving the Bay Area as an Extension Advisor.
It was by a little bit of luck, and a lot of California dreamin' that Barry ended up at UCCE.
“I was at an Extension research center in Texas, looking for a job, and on the desk was a directory of all the extension offices in the whole US, so it was a handy list to begin sending out my resume,” commented Barry, who added: “I started in Extension in Colorado and was only there for a year and a half because I wanted to go to California.”
Barry's work encompasses applied research and outreach in the areas of livestock production and associated landscapes-rangeland and open space. In the Bay Area, that means primarily beef cattle production, with a few new things like pork production, some poultry and horse pasture management. Barry is also involved in many outreach projects to educate her clients, park managers and interpreters for example, on the value of beef cattle production and the use of rangeland.
“There are some really important values provided by beef cattle grazing” commented Barry. She continued: “This is a really unusual thing, how many times is someone providing you a service and paying to provide you a service?”
One of Barry's current projects is a publication series on working rangelands for park managers and interpreters, peer reviewed through UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“An important first step is to get people to understand the beef cattle production system, so there's support for it and policies that support its continuation and sustainability. Livestock grazing is providing food, and environmental management,” commented Barry.
With Barry's interest in processes, systems- and generally “things that make sense,” it only makes sense that she employs a holistic vantage point to problem solve. Proper rangeland management is valuable in terms of fire fuel management, water yield, carbon sequestration, and endangered species conservations, according to Barry. Barry noted that contrary to widely held beliefs, grazing can increase water yield by mitigating changes to the landscape that actually reduce water, such as brush encroachment. To coincide with the drought concerns that have swept California, Barry and her colleagues have been working on a project to define value of rangeland in terms of water use and yield.
Barry is constantly seeking ways to inform landowners of the value livestock grazing and the ecosystem services they provide. The goal is to figure out if there are opportunities for landowners to create those values, so that they are sustainable as landowners, and avoid the pressure to sell land to other interests.
With a knack for problem solving and solution building approaches to livestock and rangeland management, Barry is a valuable asset to a number of interests on a wide array of projects. On one occasion, Barry worked with the San Francisco Water Department, AIDS activists, and ranchers, to outline a grazing management plan addressing concerns to minimize the risk of Cryptosporidium parvum in the water supply. AIDS activists were particularly concerned with such a pathogen since it is not killed by general chlorination, and posed a health risk to those with compromised immune systems. Barry had just worked with her colleagues to complete a statewide survey centered on the shedding of Cryptosporiduim parvum in beef cattle, and had a clear indication of the incidence of the pathogen. Their collective strategy was to inform the issue from a risk management perspective and control the risk of the pathogen by focusing on pathogen-vulnerable young calves, as well as the location of the animals in relation to drinking water.
“To me that was the project that most exemplifies what extension can do because we had a community problem, we had research that would guide us with solutions, and we had the ability to work with all of the stakeholders to come up with solutions that made sense,” commented Barry.
Barry noted that the key to her success has been in establishing relationships with her clients, and informing them of ways to become more resourceful with rangeland. She is mindful of educating others about the importance of being resource conscience.
Sheila Barry enjoys a day on the range!