An ecologist argues that endorsing the benefits of livestock ignores the many negative impacts cows have on water quality, wildlife, plant communities, soils, and ecosystems.
Letter: George Wuerthner Responds to Sheila Barry
July 5, 2015 •
Farming & Ranching
The San Francisco Bay Area may be one of the densest metropolitan areas of the country, but roughly 40 percent of the region's total land area is made up of farms and rangelands.
Letter: Sheila Barry Responds to George Wuerthner
June 17, 2015 •
Santa Clara County livestock advisor Sheila Barry on why livestock grazing is valued for conservation.
Pro-Grazing Pieces Don’t Do a Full Accounting of Livestock Costs
May 25, 2015 •
An ecologist argues that the presumed benefits of grazing—if they are real in the first place–can only be realized in small areas and/or result in excessive widespread collateral damage to wildlife, soils, water, and vegetation.
Pro: Public Lands Need Cattle to Meet Conservation Goals
May 8, 2015 •
A livestock advisor who promotes biodiversity on grazing lands explains why cattle can be beneficial to conservation.
Con: Cattle Grazing Is Incompatible with Conservation
May 7, 2015 •
Two experts on grazing offer their opinion on why cattle should be barred from public lands.
Range of Possibilities
March 31, 2015 •
If ranchers are such great conservation partners, why has ranching often been viewed as bad for the environment?
Bayview: The Growing Understanding of Rangelands
March 31, 2015 •
Just as demand for locally sourced beef is rising, the ability of local ranchers to produce it is going down. The soaring rents and real estate prices that make it difficult for young writers and families to live in the Mission (or Gilman) District also make it difficult for local ranchers—young and old—to keep ranching in west Marin or southern Santa Clara.
A Sustainable Ocean Harvest
December 18, 2014 •
Exploring the world of kelp with Rising Tides Sea Vegetables’ Larry Knowles.
Spreading the Buzz About Native Bees
June 19, 2014 •
Native bee expert Gordon Frankie has been acquainting farmers with California’s own pollinators.
Beavers Used to Be Almost Everywhere in California
June 19, 2014 •
Beavers used to live across most of California before they were trapped out of existence. But could they be a solution to drought and climate change?