Dr. Robert Carson, Emeritus Professor of Geology and Environmental Studies at Whitman College, was the featured speaker at EOC3’s December 4 meeting. He discussed The Blues: Natural history of the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington, a book he authored in 2021. It was published by the Blue Mountain Land Trust.
His presentation is in the video above. The program begins on the timeline at 06:30.
By Doug Warnock
Wildfire has become an increasing disturbance of sagebrush ecosystems in the Western United States in recent years. While these lands evolved with fire, in recent years fires start earlier in the growing season and have increased in intensity. Much of this change is attributed to the increase in non-native annual grasses, mainly cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae). Cattle grazing is a good tool to reduce or manage the amount of fire fuel in an area. With the development of virtual fencing, the means of controlling where the animals graze and how much forage they remove, may become easier.
A team of scientists conducted a study in Southeastern Oregon to test the use of virtual fencing in establishing fire breaks. The team included Chad Boyd, Rory O’Conner, Jon Bates, and Kirk Davies, US Department of Agriculture Research Service, Burns OR; Juliana Ranches, David Bohnert, and Dustin Johnson, Oregon State University, Burns, OR; Todd Parker, Vence Corp, San Diago, CA; and Kevin Doherty, US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakewood, CO.
The purpose of the fire breaks is partly to create fuel conditions that can slow or halt the spread of fire, but the predominant reason is to create a safe space for fire operations personnel to stage and conduct fire suppression activities. The virtual fence system used in this study was designed and manufactured by Vence Corporation.
The study was conducted within a perimeter-fenced 410 hectare (1,013 acres) pasture at the Northern Great Basin Experimental Range, located about 55 miles west of Burns, Oregon.
This study showed that fuel breaks are an important tool for managing the spread of wildfire in large rangeland areas of the western United States and that importance is growing due to the increasing presence of wildfire in these landscapes. Cattle grazing is an effective way to manage fuel for the purpose of reducing the impact of fires on these large rangelands. This study shows that virtual fencing is effective in confining grazing to the targeted areas and accomplishing the desired fuel reduction.
This study agrees with a small but growing body of evidence indicating that virtual fencing is effective for a variety of livestock management applications. One study showed that virtual fencing was effective as a way to keep livestock out of sensitive riparian areas. Still, another one showed the effectiveness of virtual fencing excluding livestock from burned sagebrush steppe rangeland. An additional study showed virtual fencing effectively controlled the grazing distribution of dairy cattle.
Virtual fencing offers a system that influences cattle distribution to manage fine fuels inside fuel break boundaries. Its advantage over permanent fencing is that it can be easily changed as the need for fuel breaks changes. Virtual fencing allows managers to make needed changes without investing in permanent infrastructure, such as standard wire fencing.
Doug Warnock, retired from Washington State University Extension, lives on a ranch in the Touchet River Valley where he writes about and teaches grazing management. He can be contacted at dwarnockgreenerpastures@gmail.com.
By Sandra Matheson, DVM
Roots of Resilience was recently honored by the Washington Wildlife Recreation Coalition (WWRC) with the Forward Award at their annual Fall Celebration for the work of the New Cowgirl Camp. The WWRC is a nonprofit coalition of several hundred diverse groups as well as thousands of individuals. It supports recreation and conservation projects across the state of Washington.
The fall celebration is a community building and fundraising event celebration “bringing together hundreds of impassioned and inspired business leaders, politicians, community leaders, philanthropists, and partners. The Annual Fall Celebration recognizes the tireless work of great leaders who make sure that Washington’s outdoor spaces are thriving.
This event provides individuals and organizations from across the state a place to connect with elected officials and key players in the outdoor economy, to share their stories and ideas, and to build lasting relationships.”
The organization recently marked a milestone of 35 years.
The New Cowgirl Camp (NCC) is a five-day, immersive experience for women that combines classroom and hands-on learning in managing ecosystems with livestock. Beginning farmers, ranchers, and those exploring a career in regenerative agriculture gain the opportunity to learn about current, science-based management practices that will put their future farm or ranch business on a sustainable footing.
During the workshop, students explore the basics of grazing planning, ecosystem monitoring, low-stress livestock handling, and veterinary medicine with a celebratory, supportive group of women. Attendees walk away with a handle on what kind of future they are managing towards and how to take the next steps to achieve their farming and ranching goals.
One of our New Cowgirl Camp alumni, Emily Trabolsi, accepted the award in Seattle, WA, on behalf of Roots of Resilience. WWRC also presented a donation to further the work of NCC.
The New Cowgirl Camp will be held on June 25-29th, 2025, at the Lazy R Ranch, Cheney, WA. More details and registration may be found at New Cowgirl Camp — Roots of Resilience. We are exploring the possibility of additional dates and locations for 2025.
Sandra Matheson, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, is a lifelong farmer, educator, filmmaker, author, speaker, and retired veterinarian. She lives and ranches in Bellingham, Washington, where she runs a cow/calf operation and grass-fed beef and Yak business.
