“At the end of the day it is not about changing someone’s ideology, but if we can lessen their opposition then we can view this as successful.”
- Ben Higgins, California Rangeland Trust

  
         
     
 
August 5 - Story of one rancher improving public lands (for complete story click here)
  
     
 
July 9, 2010 - Rangeland Coalition partners awarded $3.75 million from NRCS for water quality improvements on private rangelands (for more information click here)
  
     
 
June 26, 2010 - Rangeland Coalition Strategic Plan Released (for more information click here)
  
     
  May -28, 2010 - Running Deer Ranch in Napa County Permanently Protected (for more information click here)  
     
 
April 27-28, 2010 - Rangeland Coalition Partners Visit Washington D.C. (For a copy of the 2010 Rangeland Coalition Federal Priorities click here)
  
     
 
April 1, 2010 - Deer Valley Ranch in Monterey County donated to the California Rangeland Trust (click for more details)
  
     
 
March 31, 2010 - Rangeland Coalition partners featured in article in the Galt Herald (click here to read article)
  
     
 
January 28, 2010 - Fourty one Rangeland Coalition members sent a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger in distress that his 2010-2011 proposed budget continues to eliminate funding for the Williamson Act. (click for a copy of the letter)
 
     
 
January 20, 2010 - Highlights from the 5th California Rangeland Coalition Annual Summit are available (click here for presentations, pictures and more)
  
     
 
January 15, 2010 - The Coalition supports Bruce Hafenfeld’s, bid for the position of Policy Division Chairman of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (click here for letter of support)
  
     
 
December 29, 2009 - Public comment period for Rangeland Coalition Local Voluntary Program extended to January 30, 2010 (click here for more information)
  
     
 

December 2, 2009 - Draft Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement documents available:
Programmatic Agreement and Environmental Analysis

  
     
 
October 16, 2009 -Rangeland Coalition partner showcases grazing in membership publication (click here for copy of the article)
  
     
 
October 10, 2009 - Rangeland Coalition supports easement to preserve private working ranch in the Sutter Buttes. (for a copy of the letter of support click here)
  
     
 
October 10, 2009 - This week Rangeland Coalition partners came together on a letter urging the California Congressional Delegation to support and co-sponsor the Family Farm Preservation and Conservation Estate Tax Act (H.R. 3524) (click here for a copy of the letter)
  
     
 
October 9, 2009 - Rangeland Coalition partners ask Governor Schwarzenegger to sign Assembly Bill 94 (Evans), the Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Act (click here for copy of the letter)
 
     
 
September 16, 2009 – 39 Rangeland Coalition partners ask Governor Schwarzenegger to sign Senate Bill 448 (Pavley), the California State Safe Harbor Program. (click here for copy of the letter)
  
     
 
August 28, 2009 - Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement for the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Notice of availability published in the Federal Register (click here)
 
     
 
August 24, 2009 - Coalition partners are selected to receive funding from NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant (click here)
  
     
 
August 14, 2009 – Rangeland Coalition writes letter of support  SB 448,  the California State Safe Harbor Program. (For a copy of the support letter click here)
  
     
 

July 24, 2009 – A Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist, Rick Kuyper, and Kern County cattle rancher, Bruce Hafenfeld participated in the "Walk a Mile in My Boots" program.  The exchange program is designed to help build conservation partnerships between cattle ranchers and the Service by giving each participant an in-depth look at how the other lives. (For more information click here)

 
     
 
June 30, 2009 – Rangeland Coalition writes letter of support for research proposal regarding prescribed grazing that is being headed up by partnership cooperators. (For a copy of the support letter click here)
  
     
 
June 10, 2009 - Record number of partners come together to support Williamson Act subvention funding to counties in the California Budget. (For a copy of the letter click here)
  
     
 
May 29, 2009 - NRCS extends deadline for producers to submit application to Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) through June 19. (For more information click here)
  
 
 
 
May 22, 2009 - Partners of the California Rangeland Coalition sent a letter to members of the California State Assembly Appropriation Committee in support of Assembly Bill 94 (Evans), the Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Act. (For a copy of the letter click here)
  
     
 
May 18, 2009 - Partners of the California Rangeland Coalition sent a letter to Humboldt State University supporting the continuation of the Rangeland Resources, Wildlands and Soils program. (For a copy of the letter click here)
  
     
 
May 4, 2009 - Farmers and ranchers interested in reducing air quality emissions from off-road mobile or stationary agricultural sources are invited to apply between April 30 and June 26, 2009, for funds made available under a new air quality provision of the 2008 federal Farm Bill (For more information click here).
  
     
 
April 30, 2009 - Expanded Drought Assistance Program. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Ed Burton is expanding a previously announced drought assistance program to $3 million. Four additional counties (Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Solano and Ventura) have been added to the program and all eligible counties will now have until May 22, 2009 to apply.
 
     
 
April 20, 2009 - NRCS announces Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) sign-up period. The program provides 75% cost- share for practices that improve wildlife habitat on private agricultural lands such as rangeland, pasture and other lands. (For more information click here)
 
     
 
April 7, 2009- Farmers and ranchers in designated counties with extreme or severe drought conditions may apply for assistance from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service in California until May 8, 2009. (For press release click here)
  
     
 
March 25, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack today named Dave White as chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
  
     
 

March 12, 2009 - The Chico Enterprise Record features an article on how a rancher and The Nature Conservancy have partnered to save the vernal pools at the Vina Plains Preserve. (For full article please click here)

  
     
 
February 25, 2009 - Steering Committee members of the Rangeland Coalition wrote a letter of support for the confirmation of Don Koch as the Director for the Department of Fish and Game. (For the complete letter click here).
 
     
 
February 6, 2009 - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Arlen Lancaster announced the availability of program funding for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for fiscal year (FY) 2009. Deadline for applications is March 20, 2009.  (click for more information and application materials).
 
     
 
February 2, 2009 - Highlights from the 4th California Rangeland Coalition Annual Summit are available (click here for presentations, pictures and more).
  
     
 

.January 22, 2009 – This week the Rangeland Coalition wrote a letter of support for the Sweet Ranch mitigation easement. (click here for a copy of the letter).

 
     
  January 15, 2009 – The weekly edition of the Chico News and Review featured a story on the Coalition’s Summit and a recently completed mitigation easement on a private working rancher (click here for complete story)  
     
  January 15, 2009 – 2008 Leopold Conservation Award winner, rancher Chet Vogt, was featured in the “Green Guide” of this week’s edition of the Chico News and Review (click here for complete story).  
     
  December 29, 2008 - Rangeland Coalition supports founding partner’s bid for position within national organization in an effort to elevate cooperative conservation model. (click here for a copy of the letter)  
     
  November 26, 2008 - WHIP sign -up begins. The new sign up period for the NRCS Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) begins immediately running through Friday, January 23, 2009. The WHIP program provides 75% of the cost of approved practices undertaken to benefit wildlife. Eligibility is now limited to private agricultural landowners. For more information click here or contact your local NRCS office  
     
  November 19, 2008 - This week a record number of partners to the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition came together to protect California’s largest conservation program, the Williamson Act.  On the letter sent by the Coalition to the California Legislature and the Governor, 37 partners advocated for the continuation of $34.7 million in state subvention funds to counties for participation in the Williamson Act in the State Budget that is currently under review (for a copy of the letter click here).  
     
  October 1, 2008 - 4th Annual California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Summit scheduled for January 8, 2009 in Chico, Calif. More details will be posted on this site in late October.  
     
  September 26, 2008 - Rangeland Coalition supports funding for voluntary ecosystem restoration project that will enhance riparian wildlife habitat and facilitate better range management on private working ranch. (click for support letter)  
     
  September 26, 2008 - Rangeland Coalition supports funding for conservation easements to preserve 4,000 continuous acres on two working ranches in Tehama County. (click for support letter)  
     
  August 22, 2008- A record 29 partners in the Rangeland Coalition came together to express our priorities for the developing of rules that create an effective and efficient Natural Resources Conservation Service, Grasslands Reserve Program. (click copy of letter, including signatories)  
     
  August 22, 2008- Rangeland Coalition partners support the creation of a California Agricultural Vision that includes the importance of preserving and enhancing California rangelands, as well as educating the public on the benefits of working landscapes. (click copy of letter, including signatories)  
     
  August 5, 2008 - Rangeland Coalition partners give California young ranchers the opportunity to learn about cooperative conservation in the Nebraska Sandhills and educate them on how similar initiatives can occur in their home state. (click complete story)  
     
  July 7, 2008 - Rangeland Coalition partners come together for projects that benefit federally listed species on private ranches in the San Francisco Bay Area. (click here for story)  
     
  June 25, 2008 - Rangeland Coalition supports funding for conservation easement to preserve a working ranch. (click for support letter)  
     
  June 12, 2008 - Rangeland Coalition partners support proposal for Rapid Watershed Assessments in the Sacramento Valley Region (click for support letter)  
     
  June 6, 2008 - The NRCS announces the availability of cost-share funding to restore, create or enhance wildlife habitat on private lands. (click for more details)    
     
  April 11, 2008 - Highlights and information from the 3rd annual California Rangeland Conservation Coalition lobbying trip to Washington, D.C. in made available (click for details)  
     
  April 1, 2008 - Partner of the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition meet with agency leadership and congressional members in Washington, D.C. (click for details)  
     
  March 20, 2008 - California Rangeland Conservation Coalition hosted a public workshop regarding the Safe Harbor Agreement and Voluntary Local Program. (click for program details)  
     
  February 7, 2008 - Yolo Land and Cattle Company was selected as the winner of the National Environmental Stewardship Award. (click here to learn more about this ranching family and the award)  
     
  January 22, 2008 - Partners gathered in Sacramento, California for the Third Annual California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Summit. Miss the event?? You can view speaker presentations and obtain copies of participant handouts. (click for details)  
     
  January 15, 2008
PRESS RELEASE: Ranchers and Environmentalists to Host Third Annual Summit in Sacramento (click here for Press Release) 		 
     
  November 16, 2007
The 3 annual Summit of the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition is scheduled for January 22, 2008 at the Holiday Inn, Sacramento, Calif.(click here for details) 		 
     
  November 5, 2007
Governor Schwarzenegger sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee chairman and ranking member regarding the Food and Energy Security Act (2007 Farm Bill). Within the letter, the Governor emphasized the importance of the Grasslands Reserve Program and referenced the support of our coalition for the protection of working ranches. (click for a copy of the letter) 		 
     
  November 1, 2007
The new version of the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition newsletter is now available – Summer/Fall 2007		  
     
 
October 9, 2007
The April-May 2007 edition of Bay Nature featured an article entitled Islands in a Sea of Grass: The Unexpected Life of Stock Ponds. The article highlights a study on how grazing can shape and maintain the landscape to benefit native amphibians. (click for complete article)
 
     
 
October 8, 2007
This week the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition joined together to send Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein a letter regarding the continuation of the Landowner Incentive Program.
 (click to see letter to Boxer) (click to see letter to Feinstein)
  
     
 
August 16 , 2007
25 partners joined to send letters Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein outlining priorities for the Grasslands Reserve Program in the 2007 Farm Bill. (click to see letter to Boxer) (click to see letter to Feinstein)
  
     
 

June 2007
The magazine Beef Producer featured an article highlighting the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition entitled Revolutionary Coalition Marries Ranchers and Environmentalists. (Click for copy of the story)

 
     
  June 2007
Range Magazine featured the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition is an article focuses on working Landscapes. (Click for copy of the article)		  
     
  July 13, 2007
Speaker Pelosi received a letter from the Coalition stating our strong support for the allocation of additional funding to the Conservation Title of the 2007 Farm Bill and urges the speaker’s leadership in identifying the necessary budgetary offsets. (click to see letter)		  
     
  June 19, 2007
Rangeland Coalition expresses support to Governor for subvention funding to California counties for the Williamson Act. (click to see letter)		  
     
  May 24, 2007
Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein hear priorities of the Rangeland Conservation Coalition for the 2007 Farm Bill. (click to see letter to Boxer) (click to see letter to Feinstein)		  
     
  May 8, 2007
"Guardians of the Range" featured on the front page of the Sacramento Bee highlights the work of the Rangeland Coalition. (click to see article) 		 
     
 

March 20, 2007
California Rangeland Conservation Coalition officially thanked Congressman Dennis Cardoza for introducing the EAT Healthy America Act.(Click to see letter)

 
     
  March 16, 2007
California's Congressional delegation was urged to take an active role in the development of the 2007 Farm Bill and to co-sponsor the EAT Healthy America Act co-authored by Congressman Dennis Cardoza. (Click to see letter) 		 
     
  January 17, 2007  
  The Coalition's priorities for the 2007 Farm Bill are articulated to Congressman Cardoza. The letter addresses the clear need for additional funding for the conservation title and explicitly outlines program changes that would make the Farm Bill more effective in California and appealing to California ranchers. (Click to see letter)  
     
  January 12, 2007  
 

The Coalition applauds Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announcement at the 2nd Annual Conference. At the summit where ranchers, environmentalists and agencies built upon landmark partnership to improve conservation efforts on California’s rangeland, Ed Burton, California State Conservationist for the NRCS announced a new pilot wildlife initiative, supported by $1 million in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funds. (Click to read press release)

 
     
  October 30, 2006  
  The California Rangeland Conservation Coalition announces the affirmation of director and mission. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) corroborated their commitment to the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition by funding a Rangeland Director position to advance the goals of the Coalition.(Click to see press release)  
     
  August 1, 2006  
  The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) hear the priorities of the Coalition on the 2007 Farm Bill. CDFA lead the effort to develop California's perspective on the 2007 Farm Bill. (Click to see oral testimony) Click to see written comments)  
     
     
 
* * * ADDITIONAL HISTORY WILL BE ADDED SOON * * *