Drought Tips to Ease Water Worries

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Kari Cameron

US Drought Monitor 2013 Long, hot summers in California—especially in the interior valleys—tend to spread worries and fears across the state. That’s because running low on water makes farmers everywhere question how well their crops will do and how much money they stand to lose as a result of irrigation water cutbacks.

According to AgAlert, “the season’s final survey of the Sierra Nevada snowpack … found only 17 percent of average levels. At the same time, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation reported its water transfer pumps in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta were operating at about 20 percent of capacity, due to the dry conditions combined with restrictions intended to protect fish species. San Luis Reservoir, a summer supply pool for both the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project, stood only about 50 percent full.”

These low water levels often force farmers, ranchers, and vineyard operators to find ways to conserve water and make the most of what they have available. Take a look at the tips for conserving water below, and know that the process isn’t always a quick fix, but ultimately your efforts will produce noticeable results.

Water Conservation Techniques

Effective watering techniques – This is a great place to start when trying to save water, and Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors can assist you if need be. Effective watering techniques include watering early in the day to reduce evaporation loss and watering less frequently (but for longer amounts of time). It’s also imperative to regularly check all hoses and sprinklers for leaks, and you can easily reduce water waste by making sure all sprinklers are positioned correctly and watering plants only. You can even ask your water provider if they’re currently offering any coupons or discounts on water-saving irrigation equipment.
Eliminate weeds – Weeds compete with your other plants for water. Placing landscape fabric between the soil and your mulch will minimize weeds and allow for more of the water to go where it’s supposed to.
Rain barrels – This is another good way to minimize the effects of a drought. Collecting rainwater will certainly increase the amount of available water.
Water-conserving irrigation systems – There are several options to consider if you’re planning a water-conserving irrigation system: (1) A drip system, (2) furrow irrigation, (3) alternate furrow irrigation, and (4) surge irrigation—to name a few. IrrigationTutorials.com states, “While sprinkler systems are around 75-85 percent efficient, drip systems typically are 90 percent or higher.” Implementing the right irrigation system will not only reduce soil percolation, but also will minimize surface runoff losses.
Reduce fertilizer use – Using compost instead of fertilizers will increase water retention and decrease erosion. Moreover, adding mulch to the soil surface will increase the penetrability of clay soils, increase the water-holding capacity of sandy soils, and reduce the amount of water lost by evaporation.
Provide partial shade – If you have plants in containers, then you can prevent them from drying as quickly as they would in warmer, windy areas by providing some shade.

California Farm Bureau Federation’s Rural Crime Prevention Program

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Kari Cameron

If you are a farmer, rancher, or vineyard operator in the state of California, then you should be aware of the many benefits of the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Rural Crime Prevention Program. The purpose of this program is to improve communications between agricultural communities and the local law enforcement agencies that serve them.

Rural crimes are a big problem, and one of the best ways to help prevent further crimes is to come together. By raising awareness, establishing effective lines of communication, and watching out for one another, the issue of rural crime can hopefully be somewhat contained.

Illegal dumping, vandalism, and theft are only the tip of the iceberg, too. Fraud, identity theft, and meth labs are also big issues to look out for.

California farmers and ranchers make up a substantial percentage of all U.S. farm crimes, so here are some tips provided by the CFBF to reduce your chances of becoming a victim:

“No Trespassing” Signs

While signs are not necessary around land that is cultivated or fenced, farmers and ranchers are required to post “No Trespassing” signs around their non-cultivated and non-fenced land.

If you are a Farm Bureau member, the CFBF will provide you with “No Trespassing” signs in both English and Spanish. These are a great, easy way to discourage potential thieves.

Bin Location Program

To date, the Bin Location Program has retrieved 770 missing and/or stolen bins. California’s crop farms, shippers, and processors are repeatedly experiencing a significant loss of bins, and this loss translates to a costly problem.

The CFBF website features a form to report missing or found bins, in an effort to return them to their rightful owners. To report, all you need to know is the type of bin and identify any markings or registered brands on the bin. The form can be found here: http://www.cfbf.com/bins/

Solar Panel Theft

The Rural Crime Prevention Program also offers tips provided by the Napa County Sheriff’s Office Problem-Oriented Policing Program on reducing your risk of becoming a victim of solar panel theft:

Ensure all solar panels have serial numbers. This allows owners to verify which panels have been stolen and provides law enforcement officers with evidence when stolen property is recovered.
Use locking bolts to secure solar panels and make them more difficult to remove. You can also put epoxy over the bolts, weld them down, and/or run aircraft wire through all panels to secure them to the frame.
Place tamper-evident stickers with the owner’s name on all panels. This way, if the panels are stolen the stickers can be used to identify the owner.
Utilize alarms specifically for solar panels.
Employ security cameras to cover your solar fields.
Place a fence around the panel systems to make getting to and removal of the panels more difficult.

For more information on the Rural Crime Prevention Program, and for more information on identifying meth labs and avoiding fraud and identity theft, visit the CFBF website here: http://www.cfbf.com/index.cfm

Railroad Ties for Ranches and Vineyards

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Kari Cameron

Rail Road Ties North Bay Recycling old railroad ties to use in the ranch or vineyard can be a low-cost option for erosion control, retaining walls, stairs, fences, driveways, decorative borders, and more. Especially when paint or tile is added to the surface, railroad ties can easily transform into a highly-aesthetic addition to your design scheme.

A word of caution: The wood that composes old railroad ties is most often treated with a chemical called creosote. Creosote is used to protect wood from the harsh elements of nature and the brute forces of trains passing over.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, creosote is “used as a fungicide, insecticide, miticide, and sporicide to protect wood and is applied by pressure methods to wood products, primarily utility poles and railroad ties. … Creosote is a possible human carcinogen and has no registered residential uses.”

If you’re unsure whether or not your railroad ties contain creosote, then it is best to play it safe. This means always wear gloves when handling them; do not utilize them in or around vegetable gardens, herb gardens, ponds, or other wet areas to avoid contamination; and instruct children not to play on them (to avoid getting creosote on their hands and possibly ingesting it).

Here are a few ideas on how to use railroad ties to enhance the appeal and/or function of your ranch or vineyard:

Apply Paint or Tile for Decoration

If you want to paint your railroad ties to spice them up a bit, then be sure they do not contain creosote (painting on top of creosote usually doesn’t work because the paint cannot adhere to the surface).

The first step to painting a railroad tie is to clean it thoroughly. Once it dries, use spray paint or a paint brush to evenly coat the railroad tie (you can spice up the colors by using stencils or patterns, too). When the painting is complete, apply a coat of sealant to protect it.

If you want to use tiles instead of paint, be sure to apply wood filler and/or leveling compound to the holes and cracks to smooth the surface. You’ll then need to sand the entire railroad tie before securing the tiles to it.

Create a Retaining Wall / Prevent Erosion

Erosion can become a major issue when ignored. Pesticides and fertilizers can drift into water supplies, sediment can enter watersheds and harm certain fish, areas once good for gardening can become too sloped to be useful, and more problems can arise. A good retaining wall will improve drainage and properly direct water flow.

Basically, building a retaining wall begins with a trench. A sledgehammer and railroad spikes can be used to secure the new wall in place, and plastic landscaping fabric may help to prevent creosote from entering into the surrounding soil.

Other Ideas

You can also utilize railroad ties by making a border or a walkway, outlining a driveway, constructing outdoor steps, and stacking them to create a fence.

Cavity-Nesting Birds Provide Significant Benefits to Sonoma County Farms and Ranches

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Kari Cameron

When maintained in healthy populations, cavity-nesting birds can provide farmers and ranchers with many benefits. The information below is intended to advocate the importance of individual species of cavity-nesting birds—such as their role as an all-natural pest control option—as well as outline these birds’ relationships to the land they occupy.

Twenty-five different species of cavity-nesting birds reside in Sonoma County alone, and each one fulfills its own significant role. The sheer presence and the daily activities of these birds are vital to long-term sustainability, biodiversity, and overall function of the area.

Pest control is widely considered to be the most favorable effect of cavity-nesting birds. When a landowner encourages these birds to inhabit their land, many different direct and indirect pest control benefits are the result.

One very beneficial cavity-nesting bird, in terms of pest control effectiveness, is the barn owl. By regularly consuming a variety of rodents, barn owls can be a landowner’s best pest control operative. A breeding pair of owls can wipe out two or more rodents each night—and even more once their young have hatched. At this rate of consumption, barn owls dwelling on a farm or ranch will not only decrease rodent activity, they will also help to prevent rodent populations from becoming too large, minimize control costs for landowners, and increase overall productivity of the land.

Another helpful cavity-nesting bird commonly found on farms and ranches is the kestrel. The kestrel’s positive, though oftentimes indirect, influence on pest control is in many ways quite different from the very direct approach of the barn owl. In addition to feeding on many rodents and insects known to damage crops, kestrels also provide pest control benefits simply by residing in and around the landowner’s land. Since the kestrel preys on a variety of smaller birds, too—considered to be pests due to the harm these smaller birds often inflict on valuable crops—the presence of kestrels in certain areas causes pesky bird species to avoid the land altogether, and to instead more on to an easier target. This double benefit of the kestrel is what makes the species so welcomed by farmers and ranchers alike.

Finally, there are the violet-green swallows and tree swallows. These birds consume insects and help to prevent localized outbreaks of certain pest species, such as mosquitoes.

On the other hand, a significant ecological benefit of cavity-nesting birds is their natural proclivity for seed dispersal. Woodpeckers are a great example of this important ecological need because they help to spread acorns from oak trees, providing food (more acorns from the new trees) and nesting sites for other species. This act keeps the entire habitat moving forward.

To help ensure that pesticides are only applied when economic risk is apparent, the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association suggests that growers use integrated pest management practices, such as cavity-nesting birds. It is, of course, necessary for farmers and ranchers to choose materials that are effective, but it is also becoming more and more important to carefully employ methods which pose low environmental impacts.

Ranch Water Quality Plans

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Kari Cameron

Ranch Water Quality Plans: A Part of California’s Environmental Protection Agency’s State Water Resources Control Board

Since 1995, the University of California Cooperative Extension, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other state advisory committees have been shepherding Ranch Water Quality Planning Short Courses for rangeland owners. According to the UC Davis California Rangelands website, “From 1997 to 2004 more than 800 ranchers have attended this short course, developing plans for more than 1.5 million acres of privately owned rangeland. Based on a survey conducted in 2002-2003, two-thirds of the ranchers who took the course implemented ‘best management practices’ that address potential pollution sources that they identified in their water quality plans.”

The purpose of these courses is to teach rangeland owners and managers about non-point source pollution, help them identify potential pollution sources on their property, and show them the ecological benefits of livestock grazing when done correctly. And it is all in an effort to develop a water quality plan for their land.

Since livestock grazing was identified as one of the many contributors of water contaminants, such as the amount of sediment and pathogens in the Sonoma Creek and Napa River, the conditional livestock grazing waiver is part of the Ranch Water Quality Plan. It is meant to reduce these contaminants by educating and implementing appropriate grazing practices.

In spite of some of the negative perceptions regarding the impacts of livestock grazing, as well as the increasing government regulations on grazing and water quality, there are many benefits that proper livestock grazing techniques can provide. These include supporting local economies, improving wildlife habitats, increasing food production, managing invasive weeds, decreasing the risk and intensity of wildfires, and, of course, improving water quality.

California’s agricultural infrastructure is supported in part by livestock, such as beef cattle and sheep. The rural regions that these species inhabit are being maintained by grazing, and the undeveloped land remains productive even when uncultivated.

Grazed rangelands also improve the habitat for wildlife, as long as they are being managed appropriately by rangeland owners. For instance, many songbirds, raptor birds and the endangered Tiger Salamander thrive when these rangelands are grazed to appropriate residue levels. This is because rangelands that are not properly grazed by livestock exhibit poor nesting habitats, encumber the natural migration of Tiger Salamanders, and allow rodents to hide from hungry raptor birds in the excess thatch.

Another interesting benefit of livestock grazing in California’s rangelands is food production. The beef and sheep who graze on the forage in these rangelands utilize a resource that otherwise would provide no real value.

Some of the invasive weed species prevalent in California’s rangelands include barb goatgrass, yellow starthistle and medusahead. These can also be managed by livestock grazing.

An additional benefit to livestock grazing is that it is a practical and cost-effective method of reducing the risk and intensity of wildfires in the rangelands. The other options, which include mowing, controlled burning and herbicides, are difficult and expensive to implement on such as a large scale.

For more information on the Ranch Water Quality Plan, visit http://californiarangeland.ucdavis.edu.