Virtual Fence Workshop on November 6 in Petaluma
Venue
Petaluma NRCS office
5401 Old Redwood Hwy N
Petaluma, CA 94954
United States
Ticket Price
$0.00
Event Type
Workshops
This is an in-person event
Cost is free, but registration is required.
About the Event
Please join UC Cooperative Extension and Sonoma Land Trust for a virtual fence workshop on November 6, 2026 in Petaluma. See details below.
Workshop Title: Virtual Fencing From the Agency and Rancher Perspective
Date: November 6, 2026
Time: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Cost: Free, but registration is required. Coffee and morning snacks will be provided.
Location: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conference Room
5401 Old Redwood Hwy N, Petaluma, CA 94954
Register here: https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=48714
Workshop Goal: To add a new tool (virtual fencing) to the toolbox for grazing management and conservation on the North Coast.
Learning Objectives:
1) Attendees will learn how virtual fencing meets landowner needs related to costs, carbon footprint, wildlife movement, and plant ecology.
2) Participants will gain a better understanding about the value and benefit of virtual fencing from the livestock producer perspective.
3) Audience will increase their knowledge of and ability to access virtual fence cost share funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Intended audience: livestock producers, rangeland landowners, and land management agencies/non-profits that work with livestock producers.
Agenda
| 8:30 - 9:00 | Coffee, morning snacks, and registration |
| 9:00 - 9:05 | Welcome and Introductions |
| 9:05 - 9:20 | What is Virtual Fencing? Devii Rao, Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension |
| 9:20 - 9:40 | Benefits of Virtual fencing on Sonoma Land Trust Properties Tom Tolliver, Stewardship Program Manager, Sonoma Land Trust |
| 9:40 - 10:00 | Sonoma Land Trust’s Grazing Management Goals Chris Carlson, Stewardship Program Manager, Sonoma Land Trust |
| 10:00 - 10:10 | BREAK |
| 10:10 - 11:10 | Rancher Perspective on Virtual Fencing - Panel and Discussion Mark Mann, Rancher, Jenner Doniga Feliz-Markegard, Rancher & rangeland consultant |
| 11:10 - 11:15 | BREAK |
| 11:15 - 11:35 | Virtual Fencing with Sheep at Hopland Research & Extension Center John Bailey, Director, Hopland Research & Extension Center |
| 11:35 - 11:55 | Virtual Fence Funding Opportunities with NRCS Kristan Norman, Area Rangeland Management Specialist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) |
| 11:55 - 12:00 | Wrap-up and evaluation |
Register here: https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=48714
For questions contact Devii Rao at deviirao@ucanr.edu or 707-583-9706.