UC Rangelands – Supporting Working Landscapes

Just Published! Microbial Water Quality Conditions Associated with Livestock Grazing, Recreation, and Rural Residences in Mixed-Use Landscapes Study of fecal indicator bacteria concentrations associated with extensive livestock grazing, recreation, and rural residences in three watersheds in California found that 87% of sample sites were below contemporary Escherichia coli-based microbial water quality standards.

Just Published! Increases in Soil and Woody Biomass Carbon Stocks as a Result of Rangeland Riparian Restoration Study concludes that revegetating rangeland streambanks for erosion control has a substantial additional benefit of mitigating global climate change, and should be considered in carbon accounting and any associated financial compensation mechanisms.

Just Published! Beef production simulation of nitrate and lipid supplements for pasture and rangeland fed enterprises Long-term effects of dietary supplements on productivity, economics, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 2 beef enterprises were simulated across 30 years: Enterprise 1. Angus steers in New South Wales, Australia and Enterprise 2. British x Charolais steers (1.0 head/ha) in California, USA.

Is the water dirty? Well, it depends upon the bacteria standard
Contemporary research demonstrates that E. coli is superior to fecal coliforms as a proxy for fecal pollution from warm-blooded mammals. This is due to the “fecal” coliform test’s chronic detection of non-fecal, environmental coliform bacteria. — read more
Short-Term Impacts of COVID-19 for the Beef Industry
As grocery outlets and their suppliers and distributors struggle to keep food on the shelves, farmers and processors upstream are confronted with the challenge of pivoting away from conventional foodservice and restaurant product offerings — read more

Managing for Drought