At the end of May trained SFREC staff along with members of Cal Fire conducted a prescribed burn to manage vegetation on the center. There are many advantages to conducting a burn rather than other management practices. These advantages include the ability to kill off weed-seed violations and remove any unwanted species that threaten the native species in an ecosystem. However, with the current air-quality regulations and state of drought, a prescribed burn can be difficult to get approved this time of year. SFREC had a burn scheduled last week that was postponed to a later date because of these difficulties.

The burned area will be used to look at the utility of spring burns to manage vegetation and eliminate invasive species such as medusa head and star thistle as well as look at the success rate of the native species after the invasion and burn.

We thank the members of Cal Fire for working with our staff to conduct a safe and successful burn.

On November 5^th SFREC held a day-long forum on two of the most serious rangeland weeds confronting the California rangeland community. Over 110 people from a diverse background, experience and interests in these weeds attended this event. For many, it was the first time visiting SFREC and even the first time experiencing what the UC Research and Extension Center had to offer. Some attendees travelled more than 6 hours to get to the Center. 

The forum organized over 20 UC academics, graduate students and cooperators researching medusahead and barb goatgrass management across the state. Given the broad knowledge base and the complex nature of these invasions, SFREC used a “lightening presentation” approach. Each speaker was given 5 minutes to outline their core research findings. This format encouraged presenters and attendees to get to the nuts and bolts of the issues on hand and provide a large amount of time for discussion among attendees.   Each presenter put together a one-page handout that summarized their main points.  This handout can be accessed (here) and a webcast of the day's event will be uploaded (here).  Please contact the SFREC Director Jeremy James if you want additional information about the day.

Excitement is rising amongst rangeland weed managers, researchers, and conservationists as the date approaches for a forum on The Ecology and Management of Medusahead and Barb Goatgrass. Next Tuesday, November 5^th, professionals across California and beyond will unite at the Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center under a common interest with these rangeland invasive species.

The agenda with information on the specific topics and knowledgeable speakers is available. Staff and researchers associated with UCANR and UCCE will be speaking alongside other various professionals to discuss important topics. Seed dispersal, community dynamics, grazing, prevention, and NRCS programs available are a few of the targeted concepts that will be covered regarding medusahead and barb goatgrass invasions. Field visits and a free lunch are additional compelling components of the day.

Around 100 people are expected to attend. Jeremy James, Director of the Sierra Foothill Research & Extension Center, and Elise Gornish, UC Davis Plant Sciences Postdoc, among others, have been focusing their efforts on planning and organizing this regional educational effort. 

On November 5^th, 2013, SFREC will bring together UC researchers, land managers, producers and conservation professionals from across the state to explore some of the latest research findings and management strategies on two of the most serious rangeland weeds, medusahead and barb goatgrass. Estimates indicted these invasive species may decrease forage quality and production by up to 70 percent. Additionally, these plants increase the incidence of eye problems, such as pink eye in beef cattle.  Intermountain species like medusahead create significant fuel accumulation - increasing the frequency of dangerous wildfires that destroy both livestock feed and critical wildlife habitat.

The University of California, in cooperation with producers, land managers, and agency partners, have made great strides in researching the ecology and management of these species. This forum takes a timely approach toward synthesizing outcomes of these diverse efforts.  A number of treatments, such as grazing, herbicide application, burning, and seeding, have shown promising results. However, there are risks and challenges that remain when trying to apply these efforts in unique rangeland environments at large scales. Discovering economically compatible techniques that can be molded to meet the financial constraints of producers and other land managers is a crucial investigation. A major aim of this forum is to enhance further discussion and progression towards how we might tailor future research and management efforts to address this challenge.  This free forum is open to everyone. Please pre-register on the SFREC website to receive a detailed agenda and information about the day.