Ranching in the Sierra Foothills

September 14-15, 2018 UCCE - Auburn 11477 E Avenue, Auburn, California 95603 This two-day, hands-on grazing school will provide participants with practical, field-based experience in applying the principles of managed grazing on rangeland, brushland and irrigated pasture.

Steve Cote, author of Stockmanship, is offering a four-day, hands-on stockmanship school at Cottonwood Guest Ranch outside of Wells, Nevada.

As a sheep producer and an extension educator, I'm often asked which breed of livestock guardian dog (LGD) I prefer. Some have heard that Great Pyrenees dogs are more likely to wander. Others have heard that Akbash and Anatolian Shepherd dogs can be more aggressive with humans.

Last month, I wrote about preparing our ranches for fire (Fire Season is Here: Is Your Ranch Ready?). Since that time, we've seen large fires in ranching country (including the County Fire in Yolo and Napa Counties, the Pawnee Fire in Lake County, and the Klamathon Fire in Siskiyou County).

On June 9, 2018, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife detected a signal from OR-54, a female gray wolf that had been collared in Oregon, near Andesite Peak in Nevada County (Andesite is southwest of Castle Peak, near the Sierra Crest).