Bren Central Coast Cattle Ranching Group Project

Big Sur Land Trust Project Motivations

An increasing number of ranchers in Monterey County seem to be selling their ranches for development.

The Big Sur Land Trust would like to keep as many of the county’s ranches intact or available for grazing to:

• Maintain open space• Reap the ecological benefits of ranching• Provide a source of local food• Maintain cultural benefits and connections with

the land

Ecological Benefits of Ranching?

Our Approach – Part 1

Is there a grazing-land-conversion problem inMonterey County? If so, what is the extent of theproblem? If not, can we project a problem in thefuture? This section will include:

• Past trends in ranch conversions• Trends in ranch sales and ranch-land prices• Present policy landscape in Monterey County• Future scenarios in land use conversions

Our Approach – Part 2

What is the socioeconomic state of ranching in Monterey County? This section will include:

• Literature review on ranch economics• Trends in ranch-land prices• Survey

– Demographic profile of a Monterey County rancher– Ranchers’ likeliness to sell– Ranchers’ willingness to accept for their land or

development rights – Primary incentives and disincentives for staying on the

land?

• Implications of survey data for present and future state of ranching in Monterey County (Yolanda)

Our Approach – Part 3

What kinds of strategies have ranchersused elsewhere to improve the

economicviability of their land? • Case studies of successful, innovative

ranching practices • Average benefits of each approach

Strategies

• Ranch tourism • Ranching cooperatives/niche

marketing• Conservation easements• Government assistance to ranchers• Mixed land uses• Political/ranching infrastructure

improvements

Case: Jack Varian • Practices Allan Savory Holistic Range

Management• Has conservation easement - CA Rangeland Trust• Gives ranch tours/cattle drive tourism• Hunting• “Non-verbal language” with land and animals

(assume you’re wrong, watch subtle signs, can’t overpower nature)

• Three crucial components to ranch sustainability:1. Family2. Finances3. Environmental sustainability

Case: George Work

• Practices Allan Savory Holistic Range Management

• Has won national environmental awards• Getting conservation easement - CA Rangeland

Trust• Farm stays (changed CA regulation to allow this)• Hunting (pigs, elk, deer, quail, dove)• Habitat improvement

1. Food cover2. Water improvement (specialty troughs)3. Annual controlled burns (stimulate re-growth, provide best

food)4. Leaving PG&E poles for woodpeckers