XYZ Ranch Carbon Farm Plan / archived / read-only

Technically, all farming is “carbon farming,” because all agricultural production depends on plant photosynthesis to move CO2 out of the atmosphere and into the plant, where it is transformed into agricultural products, whether food, flora, fuel or fiber. Carbon entering the farm from the atmosphere can end up in several locations: in the harvested portion of the crop, in the soil as root exudates and SOM, in “waste” materials such as compost or manure, in standing carbon stocks, such as grassland vegetation or woody perennials (trees, vines, orchards, etc.), or in other permanent woody or herbaceous vegetation such as windbreaks, vegetated filter strips, or riparian systems, forests and woodlands.

• XYZ Ranch consists of just over 80 acres, located in Northeastern Marin County, California. The climate on the Farm is typical of the region, with rainfall occurring between October and May. The average annual precipitation is 26.58 inches. Summers are dry, moderated by frequent marine fog. The average annual temperature is 39 to 57 degrees F. The frost-free period averages 300 days.

• XYZ Ranch currently raises some 5,500 birds, on 80 acres. Eggs are USDA-certified organic, and pasture-raised, and sold to Bay Area independent grocers under the brand ‘Petaluma Pastures.’ In addition to the Farm’s free-range egg production enterprise, it is also home to a small herd of Jersey cows. Un-irrigated pastures, grazed by both cows and chickens, make up nearly 75% of the Farm.

• XYZ Ranch has been in the family since 1932; today it is a 4th generation family farm/ranch. The farm operated primarily as a dairy for approximately 50 years. Upon closure of the dairy, the family began leasing portions of the property for grazing beef through 1998-2007. In 2000, Redhill Farms was established and began utilizing the land for raising sheep, transitioning to a Certified Organic Pasture-based, Year Round Sheep Operation in 2001. Until 2005, Redhill Farms raised 150-600 Dorset, Suffix, and Friesen sheep. The sheep were sheared in June, with the wool sent to Yolo Wool Mill, Woodland CA, and returned as yarn, batting, and roving. Sheep were also used for targeted grazing to provide fire protection, grass management and fertilization. In 2005, Redhill Farms entered into the chicken business, eventually phasing out all the sheep and becoming primarily a chicken ranch, producing organic, pasture-raised eggs, until In 2012 the Redhill Farms label was sold and Gilardi Family Farm was established.

• The CFP, by definition, recognizes the potential to increase on-farm carbon stocks as the principal resource concern. The plan, therefore, is constructed around potentials for increased carbon capture or conservation. To that end, other resource concerns that in some way limit carbon capture on the Farm are also identified.
• 1. Riparian systems on the Farm include: San Antonio Creek, which meanders west to east along the northern boundary of the Farm and the unnamed tributary to San Antonio Creek that runs south to north along the western boundary. Both San Antonio Creek and the unnamed tributary are incised, probably due to historical farming practices, stream channelization and road construction within the San Antonio watershed
• 1. Water use efficiency. Limited water holding capacity of the upland and floodplain soils, and channelization of the creeks combine to limit the distribution and retention of annual rainfall in the Farm soils. Increasing Farm system carbon, as both SOM and above and below ground vegetation, including tree cover, can be expected to help hold water in the Farm soils and slow the movement of water out of the Farm.
• 1. Lack of structural diversity; excessive wind impacts. The Farm sits in the lee of a line of coastal hills, including Red Hill, from which the Farm previously took its name. This provides some protection from prevailing coastal winds, but the Farm receives enough wind to suggest windbreaks could help increase forage production as well as serving as a useful carbon sink, wildlife habitat and insectary.

• Through the development of this CFP, the landowner identified Farm goals and objectives. Through implementation of the grazing plan and associated conservation practices, many of the goals and objectives will be reached. A monitoring plan has been developed to track progress toward meeting the goals and objectives. The monitoring plan is described later in the document. The following is a list of goals and objectives: ● Keep the Farm within the Family. ● Continue learning and improving land management practices. ● Integrate trees into the pasture system for shade and forage. ● Increase biodiversity on the Farm, including plant and animal diversity ● Enhance the existing compost operation. ● Maintain or improve carbon sequestration by:

• 5 acre field
• Diverse annual vegetable crops grown in rotation with two crops per year. Not currently cover cropping.

• 3 acre field
• Diverse annual vegetable crops grown in rotation with two crops per year. Not currently cover cropping.

• 2 acre field
• Diverse annual vegetable crops grown in rotation with two crops per year. Not currently cover cropping.

• 50 acre paddock with mostly annual grasses. Low-intensity continuous grazing with few rest periods.

• 75 acre paddock with mostly annual grasses. Low-intensity continuous grazing with few rest periods.

• 25 acre paddock with mostly annual grasses. Low-intensity continuous grazing with few rest periods.

• 50 acre paddock with mostly annual grasses. Low grazing pressure, seldom used.

• Heavily impacted, used for feeding out hay every day.

• Low impact most forested area made of up Bay and Oaks with Coyote Brush in the open areas.

• Vegetated riparian corridor mostly made up of thick willow cover.

• Bonnydoon gravelly loam: 21 acres
• Los-Osos Bonnydoon: 182 acres
• Blutcher-Cole Complex: 130 acres
• Saurin-Bonnydoon Complex: 5 acres

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