TEST SBRCD News- March 2026

In this issue:

SBRCD News

New Hedgerow Plantings at Two Local Farms

Partner Updates/Events

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Key Deadlines and Opportunities
San Benito Livestock Pass Fire Training on April 3rd - RSVP by March 27th!
March 28th -- San Benito County Cattlemen's Association 41st Annual Fundraiser Dinner
March 28th -- County of San Benito IWM Community Cleanup
April Farm Visits -- Tera Farm
April 16th- Central Coast Rangeland Coalition (CCRC) Spring Workshop
April 19th -- San Benito County 4 - H Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
April 25th -- San Benito IWM Earth Day Celebration

Job Opportunities

San Benito Agricultural Land Trust is Now Hiring a Stewardship Manager

New Hedgerow Plantings at Two Local Farms

This past fall and winter, our pollinator and wildlife habitat program incorporated two new sites to implement native plant hedgerows on farms in San Benito County. Hedgerows provide an array of benefits to agricultural operations by attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects, blocking wind and dust, reducing erosion, increasing water infiltration and carbon storage, and beautifying farm edges. Hedgerows also provide important habitat for declining native butterflies, bees, and songbirds. When replacing large stands of invasive weeds, native plant hedgerows that receive regular irrigation can also help increase wildfire resilience. This work was funded through a grant from the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), in partnership with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD).

People planting native plants in freshly tilled soil on farm edge with a barn and mountains in the background. — SBRCD staff worked with the farmers and conservation partners to install 1,200 feet of hedgerows on this 22-acre farm in San Benito County.

At one of these sites, the San Benito RCD led the implementation of 1,200 feet of hedgerows along multiple boundaries of a 22-acre diversified vegetable farm to enhance habitat for native pollinators and other wildlife. Partners who contributed to the project included RCD of Monterey County, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT).

At a second site, our partners at Point Blue STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed) led the installation of a 1,300 linear foot hedgerow planting along the boundary of a 10-acre organic farm to improve pollinator habitat and on-farm biodiversity. Through this collaboration, more than 100 local elementary school students participated in educational field trips, helping to plant native plant species while learning about pollinator conservation and agriculture.

In total these two plantings resulted in the installation of 524 California native plants!

A young plant with woodchip mulch, growing along a field edge, marked by a pink flag, with hills and a blue sky in the background. — This Chapparral currant (Ribes malvaceum) hedgerow plant will benefit monarch butterflies, native bumblebees, and other native bees.

Partner Updates/Events

Key Deadlines & Opportunities from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)

Upcoming deadlines:

April 30th -- Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP)- The American Relief Act, 2025, provides more than $16 billion in disaster relief payments to producers who suffered revenue, quality or production losses to crops, trees, bushes, or vines due to qualifying disaster events in calendar years 2023 and 2024. If your crops suffered from severe weather in 2023 or 2024, whether you had insurance or not, you could be eligible for the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). If you are interested in receiving assistance through this $16 billion program, the application deadline is April 30th, 2026.

For questions about SDRP or other FSA programs, please contact: Somelane “Jecht” Souriyamath at somelane.souriyamath@usda.gov or office: (831) 637-4360 ext. 2

County of San Benito Livestock Pass Fire Training on April 3rd --RSVP Required by March 27th

County of San Benito, CAL FIRE, and the San Benito County Sheriff's Office will host a Livestock Pass Fire Training on April 3rd, 2026 at 9:00am in the Riverside Ballroom at Bolado Park. A holder of a San Benito County Livestock Pass may have access to a closed area during a disaster if granted by the incident commander, a law enforcement official or their designee. For more details and how to register, see flyer below.

Announcement for a Livestock Pass Fire Training by CAL FIRE in San Benito County, requiring RSVP by March 27, 2026.

San Benito County Cattlemen's Association 41st Annual Fundraiser Dinner -- Saturday, March 28th

The San Benito County Cattlemen's Association will be hosting their 41st Annual Fundraiser Dinner on Saturday, March 28th, at the Bolado Park Fairgrounds. Doors open at 5:00pm. See flyer below for more details.

Flyer for the 41st Annual Cattlemen's Fundraiser Dinner on March 28th at Bolado Park, featuring BBQ, auctions, and music.

County of San Benito IWM Community Cleanup -- March 28th

County of San Benito Integrated Waste Management (IWM) will be hosting a community cleanup on Saturday, March 28th, from 9am-12pm. Participants will meet at Hollister High School in the multi-purpose field parking lot off Riverview Parkway behind the football field. Volunteers 17 and under need a parent or guardian to sign a waiver:

Waiver Form 17 and Under (1).pdf

Community cleanup event in Hollister on March 28, 9 AM to 12 PM at Hollister High School. Volunteers under 18 need a waiver.

Community cleanup event on March 28, 9 AM-12 PM at Hollister High School. Volunteers need parent consent if under 17.

April Farm Visits -- Tera Farm

Tera Farm is a California nonprofit on a mission to support small farmers while helping consumers build connections with the food they eat. They will be facilitating tours of 3 small organic farms in San Juan Bautista growing vegetables, flowers, apples, citrus, and plants for home gardens. The tours will occur on April 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, and 20. Click here for more info and how to register.

The image shows farming activities: planting seedlings, vibrant flowers, rows of crops, and an orange tree with harvested fruit.

Register By April 3rd -- Central Coast Rangeland Coalition (CCRC) Spring Workshop on April 16th

The CCRC typically holds two all-day meetings per year on the third Thursdays of April (Spring) and October (Fall). This year's Spring Workshop will explore existing technologies for ranching operations and monitoring that assist with both livestock management and habitat/wildlife management. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, April 16th, from 8am to 4pm at Las Piletas Ranch Preserve, Carrizo Plain. For more information and how to register click here.

Image of spring rangeland meeting for Central Coast Rangeland Coalition, focusing on forage, water, and technologies for ranchers.

San Benito County 4-H Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser--Sunday, April 19th

San Benito County 4-H will be hosting their Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Sunday, April 19th, from 7am to noon at the Veteran's Hall in downtown Hollister. Tickets can be purchased from any San Benito County 4-H member, at the door, or by scanning the qr code on the flyer below.

Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on April 19, 2026, from 7 AM to 12 PM at Veterans Hall, Hollister. $10 for buffet.

San Benito County IWM Earth Day Celebration -- April 25th

San Benito County Integrated Waste Management will be hosting an Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 25th, at San Juan Bautista State Historic Park from 11:00am-2:00pm. The San Benito RCD will be hosting a booth with information on our programs, as well as zero-waste giveaways. Stop by and say hi! See flyer below for more details.

Earth Day Celebration on April 25, 2026, from 11 AM to 2 PM at State Historic Park, San Juan Bautista. Activities include games and art.

The image promotes the Earth Day Celebration on April 25, 2026, from 11 AM to 2 PM at State Historic Park, San Juan Bautista.

Job Opportunities

San Benito Agricultural Land Trust (SBALT) is Now Hiring a Stewardship Manager

The San Benito Agricultural Land Trust is seeking a passionate and motivated Stewardship Manager to help protect and care for the agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, and natural resources that define San Benito County. This position plays a key role in ensuring that conserved properties and conservation easements are monitored, maintained, and stewarded for future generations. Working closely with staff, landowners, volunteers, and community partners, the Stewardship Manager will help advance the Land Trust's mission of preserving the region's working landscapes and rural heritage. Candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting a cover letter and resume outlining their relevant experience and interest in the position to lynn@sanbenitolandtrust.org

Full job description:

Job Description - Stewardship Manager.pdf