SBRCD News Summer 2025
In this issue:
- 2025 Local Work Group Survey -- Please Respond by August 23rd!
- NEW -- San Benito Community Wildfire Resources Page
- Recap -- May planting events at San Benito County Historical Park
- Calling All Milkweed Recipients!
- 2025 High School Speak Off Competition
- County of San Benito Agricultural Element
- SBRCD Staffing Updates
- SBRCD Welcomes Cameron Chao
- SBRCD Job Announcement Coming Soon - Small Farms Specialist
- Partner Events
- August 19th Pajaro River Watershed Resilience Program Workshop
- August 21st Santa Clara County Local Work Group Meeting/Soil Health Education Event
- August 26th Braga Fresh and Dole Ranch Events with CMSF
- San Benito Agricultural Land Trust Monthly Ranch Days
- October 16th Central Coast Rangeland Coalition Fall Meeting
- Partner Updates
- San Benito Fire Safe Council Firewise Community Campaign
- USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Announcements and Deadline
- Job Opportunities
- UCCE Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources is Now Hiring!
2025 Local Work Group Survey
Looking for a way to provide input on local agricultural and natural resource issues in San Benito County?
The San Benito Resource Conservation District (RCD) and USDA Hollister Service Center are now conducting Local Work Group Surveys for all San Benito County farmers, ranchers, and community members. This is your chance to help us develop service priorities on a range of topics including soil health, water quality, wildfire risk, wildlife habitat, and more.
To better serve the diverse needs of our community, we’ve created three short, tailored surveys - one each for local ranchers, farmers, and community members.
Please take 5 minutes to complete the survey that is the best fit for you. We also encourage you to share these links with other San Benito County ranchers, farmers, and community members that you know. Your input will help guide our programs and ensure we are meeting the needs of San Benito County land managers.
Please submit your responses by August 23rd, 2025. Thank you!
NEW - San Benito Community Wildfire Resources Webpage
We are excited to announce the launch of the new San Benito Community Wildfire Resources Webpage as part of the San Benito Wildfire Resilience Program. Designed specifically for the San Benito community, this online resource hub brings together a wide range of wildfire-related information and tools to help residents and land managers stay informed and prepared.
The webpage features resources on wildfire preparedness strategies, prescribed fire, current incident updates, defensible space guidelines, and much more. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to reduce fire risk, a land steward interested in fire management techniques, or just seeking to stay up to date on local fire activity, this page is built with you in mind.
We invite all community members to explore the San Benito Community Wildfire Resources Webpage, share it with neighbors, and make use of the available resources. Visit the webpage today and take the next step in preparing for wildfire season - because when it comes to wildfire resilience, knowledge is one of our most powerful tools.
Recap: Planting Events at San Benito County Historical Park
A huge thank you to the 180 volunteers and partners who came out to the San Benito Historical Park last May to make the two Community Action Days a success! We were thrilled to see our community come together to plant native plants, remove invasive weeds, spread mulch, and install educational signage at multiple sites within the park. This created the foundation of an extensive pollinator habitat restoration project that will benefit our local butterflies, bees, and other important wildlife for many years to come. Removing invasive weeds from the hillsides surrounding the Historical Park also reduced wildfire risk.
Check out this video from County of San Benito's Facebook page showcasing the May 2nd Event. Click here to view the full event recap.
Stay tuned for upcoming volunteer opportunities at the San Benito County Historical Park and other RCD project sites this Fall!
Calling All Milkweed Recipients!
At last April's Earth Day Celebration in Hollister, and at the County Historical Park Community Action Days in May, the San Benito RCD distributed more than 300 native CA milkweed plants to local residents to create habitat for the Monarch butterfly. If you planted any of these milkweed plants in your garden and they are doing well, please snap a photo to share with us!
As summer weather heats up, don't forget to:
- water occasionally to keep the soil adequately moist (but not soggy)
- provide full sun for healthy growth
And don't worry -- milkweed will naturally die back and go dormant during winter. You can expect it to return in the spring, ready to support pollinators once again.
Please send photos or questions to info@rcdsanbenito.org
2025 High School Speak-off Competition
Bring your best public-speaking skills and knowledge of resource conservation to the annual Resource Conservation District Speak-Off Competition! San Benito RCD is now accepting local applications to be chosen to compete at the local level. Regional winners will advance to the state level which takes place during California Association of Resource Conservation District's Annual Conference in Sacramento, CA.
This year's speak off topic: How can you turn your talents and interests into a career in the Resource Conservation field?
Local, Regional, & State Speak Off Contests offer varying levels of prize money. Contestant chosen to represent SBRCD at the Regional Speak Off will receive a travel stipend.
To apply, please visit the 2025 Speak Off Competition page on our webiste.
County of San Benito Agricultural Element
The Agricultural Element (Ag Element) of the San Benito County General Plan is aimed at protecting and enhancing agricultural lands while supporting the long-term viability of the agricultural economy in San Benito County. There are two upcoming Stakeholder Group Meetings. These meetings are open to the public, with a public comment period and virtual and in-person options for attendance.
Tuesday, August 26th – 4-6 PM.
2301 Technology Pkwy Conference Room (Upstairs), Hollister
Tuesday, September 30th - 4-6 PM.
2301 Technology Pkwy Conference Room (Upstairs), Hollister
Find more information about the Ag Element HERE.
San Benito RCD Staffing Updates
SBRCD WELCOMES CAMERON CHAO AS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR TEAM
Cameron joined our team in May as the new Program Coordinator. We're pleased to have him on board to support the implementation of the San Benito Wildfire Resilience Program and other RCD programs. Prior to joining the RCD, Cameron worked at the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, focusing on the maintenance and restoration of protected and working lands. He looks forward to supporting the growth and impact of the San Benito RCD in his new role.
NEW JOB OPENING AT SBRCD - SMALL FARMS SPECIALIST
The San Benito RCD is hiring a part time, bilingual (Spanish-English) Small Farms Specialist to provide bilingual resource conservation assistance to small-scale farmers in San Benito County. Please visit our Job Opportunities page next week for details.
Partner Events
AUGUST 19TH PAJARO RIVER WATERSHED RESILIENCE PROGRAM WORKSHOP
The third of five workshops in a series of watershed resilience discussions for the Pajaro River Watershed Resilience Program (PRWRP), this workshop will focus on identifying strategies and projects that will help the watershed adapt to climate change.
This event will be held on Tuesday August 19th, 2025 @1-4pm, at the Civic Plaza Community Room, 275 Main Street, Watsonville, CA 95076. Register Here
AUGUST 21ST LOMA PRIETA RCD & NORTH SANTA CLARA RCD LOCAL WORK GROUP MEETING/SOIL HEALTH EDUCATION EVENT
North Santa Clara RCD and Loma Prieta RCD are hosting a Local Work Group Meeting/Soil Health Education Event in Gilroy on August 21st! This event will include an in-field cover crop presentation on an organic farm. Local agencies and organizations will be on hand to share information regarding resources and opportunities available for Santa Clara County agricultural producers.
RSVP Required: click here to RSVP and get event location
Please see the Event Flyer below for more details, as well as for Spanish and Chinese translation.
Información sobre este taller sobre cultivos de cobertura está disponible en español, haz clic en el enlace a continuación para obtener más información:
NSCRCD _LPRCD_LWG_FLYER
AUGUST 26TH BRAGA FRESH AND DOLE RANCH EVENTS WITH CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION
Improving Economics through Sustainability
Braga Fresh's Braga Barn in Soledad, CA, on Tuesday, August 26, 2025
8:30 am - 12:30 pm. Lunch will be provided.
Economic sustainability is a critical component to building resilient and profitable sustainable farming systems. This field day, organized by California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, will showcase tools and case studies that demonstrate how operations can improve economics through sustainability. Register here.
Bonus: Nitrogen Testing Event at Dole
Following the Braga Fresh event in Soledad on August 26, Dole will host a field day event from 1:30-2:30 pm with California Marine Sanctuary Foundation. This supplemental event is called "What Can You Gain From Implementing Nitrogen Quick Tests?"
If you plan on attending only the Dole event, register here. If you plan on attending both events, please register at the Braga link above.
SAN BENITO AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST MONTHLY RANCH DAYS
Join SBALT the first Sunday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to noon for work parties/hikes on Nyland and/or Rancho Larios Protected Lands in San Juan Bautista. Everyone welcome! Register Here.
OCTOBER 16TH CENTRAL COAST RANGELAND COALITION FALL MEETING
BRUSH BUSTING: RECLAIMING AND MAINTAINING GRASSLANDS ON THE CENTRAL COAST
The Central Coast Rangeland Coalition (CCRC) holds two meetings a year the third Thursday in October (Fall) and the third Thursday in April (Spring). This year's fall meeting will focus on improving brush management capacity on the Central Coast by improving attendees' understanding of effective control methods, ecological benefits, and practical implementation strategies for maintaining healthy grassland ecosystems.
Location- Pescadero, CA 94060, with field sites at Tom Kat Ranch and Mid-Peninsula Open Space District land
SAVE THE DATE: October 16, 2025 @8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Contact sbarry@ucdavis.edu for more info.
Partner Updates
SAN BENITO FIRE SAFE COUNCIL FIREWISE COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN
The San Benito Fire Safe Council (SBFSC) is launching a county-wide campaign to increase the number of Firewise USA® communities. Firewise communities are neighborhood-level groups that work together to reduce wildfire risks—boosting both safety and resilience.
If you are interested in learning more about Firewise communities, want your property included in a Firewise community, or think you are willing to help organize one in your neighborhood, please take a moment to fill out this short interest form:
Link To Register Your Interest In Firewise Community Membership
This form will help SBFSC connect you with others nearby and provide support in organizing or joining a Firewise community. For any additional questions please contact Rick Mazzarella at rick.mazzarella@gmail.com
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS AND DEADLINES FOR THE USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY
USDA Secretary of Agriculture Announces 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP)
Through the American Relief Act of 2025, The U.S. Department of Agriculture will deliver more than $30 billion in disaster recovery assistance to farmers and livestock producers for losses incurred in 2023 and 2024. Find timeline and other information HERE.
San Benito/Santa Clara Farm Service Agency announces the addition of two Temporary Program Analyst team members to the Hollister USDA Service Center Office.
With the daunting task of administrating all Federal FSA Farm Bill Programs and FSA Farm Ad Hoc programs amidst staffing challenges, The San Benito/Santa Clara Farm Service Agency is glad to announce the hire of Dylan Waste and Michelle Petersen as Temporary Program Analysts. Their contributions will help achieve Farm Service Agency goals and improve office workflow. Please feel free to swing by the USDA office at 2337 Technology Parkway in Hollister in August to welcome our newest team members.
Upcoming Program Deadlines for Active Programs:
ECAP Deadline: August 15th
SDRP Deadline: TBD
Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for coverage Sept 1st, 2025 to Sept 1st, 2026: Deadline for most specialty crops: Sept 1st 2025. If you have already established your farming entity with FSA, please send an email ASAP to catherine.lemere@usda.gov with crops that you are requesting coverage for. Please also be advised that NAP does have coverage premiums. Find more information on the NAP program HERE.
For questions about any of these programs, please contact: Somelane “Jecht” Souriyamath at somelane.souriyamath@usda.gov or office: (831) 637-4360 ext. 2
Job Opportunities
UC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES IS NOW HIRING!
The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension Environmental (UCCE) Horticulture and Controlled Environment Agriculture Advisor serving Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Mateo, and San Benito Counties at the Assistant rank. The Advisor will develop an innovative multi-county applied research and extension education program that supports the area’s robust environmental horticulture industry.
Open date: July 15, 2025. Next review date: Wednesday, Aug 20, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
To view the full job description Click Here.