The annual California Grazing Academy held at UC SFREC and led by Roger Ingram, Nevada/Placer County UCCE Director and Livestock Advisor was once again a widely attended and engaging event. Over a third of an inch of rain cooled off the 24 participants that attended the two-day event that mixed lectures and hand-on activities to explore and demonstrate key principles that drive the ability of producers to be successful grass farmers. Topics included controlled grazing principles, water and mineral cycles, pasture cell design, rest/grazing periods, nutrition and supplementation as well as grazing planning and monitoring. Each participant had the opportunity to visually estimated carrying capacity, install electric fencing, move cows with calves into their designated paddocks, and watch the cattle consume pasture grass over a period of 24 hours.  This annual training has remained hugely popular across California and the West with some participants coming as far as Utah to learn from UCCE and Roger Ingram. We looked forward to another year!

Producers from the Food and Farm Show filmed and interviewed multiple speakers at the Future of Farming and Ranching Forum at the Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center on February 22nd. The Food and Farm Show highlights local agricultural events, news, and issues. They are part of Touchdown Productions, which films other regional activities like the “Game of the Week” on the local news channels.

Three episodes were released featuring the Future of Farming Ranching event at SFREC. Important speakers interviewed include Jamie Johansson, farmer and 2^nd Vice President of the California Farm Bureau; Susan Hoek, 5^th generation rancher in Penn Valley; and Roger Ingram, UCCE Farm Advisor for Placer and Nevada Counties.

These 30-minute videos give the viewer a taste of what the event covered. Click on the following links to watch:

Episode 1 – featuring the keynote speaker Jamie Johansson and the introduction

Episode 2 – interviews with Jamie Johansson and Roger Ingram

Episode 3 – featuring Sue Hoek speaking from experience about resource planning and preparing for the future

With media attention like this, SFREC is becoming more visible throughout the region. Collectively, the educational events occurring at all of the Research and Extension Centers help enforce the tangible impacts of UCANR within communities statewide.

This past Saturday, February 22^nd, SFREC hosted a forum focused on the future of farming and ranching in the Sierra foothills.

A number of local leaders involved with agriculture worked closely with SFREC for several months planning this event and the day showed it was time and energy well spent.

About sixty members of surrounding communities in Nevada, Placer, Yuba, and Sutter counties made it out to UC SFREC for a day of learning, interaction with professionals, and networking. For the vast majority of the attendees, this was their first introduction to SFREC and the UC Research and Extension Center system.

The speakers offered insightful and useful information that engaged the entire audience. Jamie Johansson, Second Vice President of the California Farm Bureau and owner of Lodestar Farms, kick started the conversations by speaking about the opportunities and challenges of farming in the foothills. Dan Macon, representing Placer County UCCE and Flying Mule Farm, offered logical business planning strategies from a personal and professional perspective.

Paul Glowaski, Sue Hoek, Matthew Shapero, Matt Wentz, and Chris Bierwagon are all local producers from a variety of backgrounds who spoke about their experiences and offered advice for beginning farmers and ranchers. Shermain Hardesty, head of the UC Small Farms Program and Extension Economist, presented material to help farmers stay in business. Elisa Noble from the Placer Resource Conservation District talked about programs and knowledge tools available for beginning agriculturists.

A significant aspect of this event focused on incorporating local youth. We were able to help partner students from high schools in the region with a few of the producer-presenters prior to the forum. This additional opportunity enabled a more profound learning experience for students interested in the future of farming and ranching.

At the event, students presented information about their visit with a local producer, and other key principles discussed (targeted grazing, predator control, artificial insemination, managing for rangeland health, etc.).

There was a DELICIOUS locally sourced lunch with juicy tri-trip, salads, bread, and lavender sweets. Briar Patch co-op in Grass Valley also donated coffee and pastries for the event. Local ag and natural resource conservation groups brought educational materials to share. Attendees enjoyed the beautiful weather and slowly greening rangeland on a brief tour of the center.

Overall, it was a successful event that kindled connections with the community and opened the door for future cooperative efforts.

On February 22^nd, community members, local farmers and ranchers, professionals, high school students, non-profit groups, and regional leaders in the ag industry will be gathering in Browns Valley for a forum on The Future of Farming and Ranching in the Sierra Foothills. This event has been in the making since summer when committee members helped lay the foundation for a useful and exciting day about the opportunities and challenges of agriculture in this region.

While farmers and ranchers statewide are coping with stressful drought problems, this event will help offer some hope and pride in the great accomplishments of local agriculture.

Speakers will be sharing their personal experiences and knowledge about getting started in agriculture and reaching goals. Topics about resources needed, tools available, and strategies to stay in business will be discussed. High school ag students will present information learned from visits with local farms/ranches and other important areas researched. Multiple non-profit groups will be displaying information and resources as well. There will be a delicious lunch, sourced from local farmers and ranchers (some of which will be present). The cost to attend is $10 per family. Register through our website at http://sfrec.ucanr.edu/

Follow these links for the AGENDA and FLYER. Contact Maddison Easley - mleasley@ucanr.edu or Jeremy James – jjjames@ucanr.edu for more information.