All posts in Farm Resilience
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day 2023
Happy wildfire community preparedness day! Have you ever looked at your calendar and noticed there’s a holiday that you’ve never heard of before? Sure, there are the ones that are quite well-known, but every once in a while you see
Consejos para Agricultores Familiares Preparando por Evacuaciones durante un Incendio Forestal
Hoy en día, el cambio climático, la propagación de plantas invasivas y la actualización de prácticas agrícolas están aumentando constantemente la frecuencia de los incendios forestales. Como resultado, es importante seguir pasos para mantenerse bien informado y preparado antes de
Episode 3: First Rain Farm- Nevada City
In this episode, we travel to First Rain Farm in Nevada County, where Tim Van Wagner is integrating a number of effective wildfire preparation methods on his property, as well as those of his neighbors and surrounding community. By combining
Webinar: Climate Conversations: Insurance
A conversation about how to ensure the insurance industry can continue to support Americans amidst increasing climate hazards.
Food Safety in Disaster or Emergency
Another resource with information about keeping food safe before, during, and after emergencies, such as floods, fires, natural disasters, or the loss of power.
Wildfire Ash: Impacts on Forage Crops
A report from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources with findings from a study on the impacts of wildfire ash deposition on crops grazed or harvested for livestock feed.
Webinar: Financial Prep For Disaster 101
From Farmer Campus, this recorded workshop will give you an overview of the financial resources available to farmers in the event that a disaster strikes.
Karuk Good Fire Report
Current Barriers to the Expansion of Cultural Burning and Prescribed Fire in California and Recommended Solutions
Webinar: Defensible Space and Infrastructure Hardening for Farms and Ranches
Watch the Defensible Space and Infrastructure Hardening for Farms and Ranches Webinar Recording here. Password: pT2XQ&sb
Wildfire Retardant Impacts to Organic Certification
In this episode of ‘Sustainability Now!’ host Ronnie Lipschutz and guests Amber Schat and David Obermiller discuss farmers facing the loss of organic certification due to climate-related disasters and wildfires.
Webinar: Post-Fire Remediation and Watershed Defense
From CoRenewal, this webinar features Taylor Bright and Matthew Trumm, who will explain the how, what and why of proposed bioremediation approaches, and lessons learned during post-fire wattle biofiltration installations after the 2018 Camp Fire.
Episode 2: Wild Oat Hollow Penngrove, CA
In this episode, Sarah Keiser of Wild Oat Hollow in Penngrove, CA describes her entry into ranching and how her love of the land positioned her to become a leader in developing and supporting community grazing cooperatives. Join us as
New Podcast Season: Farmer Stories of Wildfire Recovery & Preparedness
CAFF’s Wildfire Resilience Program provides specialized recovery and preparedness resources for small farms and communities in California impacted by wildfire and those seeking to prepare against future threats. One of the best mediums for conducting this type of outreach and
Episode 1: Turkey Tail Farm – Yankee Hill
In this episode we visit Cheetah Tchudi at his diversified operation in Yankee Hill, Butte County, CA. Cheetah shares his experience surviving the 2018 Paradise wildfire, and some methods for recovery; addressing toxic ash using fungi to capture and and
How to Establish an Ag/Livestock Pass Program from UC ANR
A detailed description of how to establish a county-based program that grants agriculturalists special access to their farms or ranches during disaster.
Breaking Down Soil Compaction: Does It Increase Forage Production?
Maintaining a healthy and vigorous pasture should be a major objective of grazing management, but it should also be used as a tool for maintaining acceptable soil physical conditions.
Understanding Livestock Grazing Impacts from UC ANR
Information on the impacts of livestock grazing, presented in a comprehensive and accessible guide.
The Combustibility of Landscape Mulches from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Using the results from this project, recommendations are offered concerning the use of mulches in wildfire hazard areas.
Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide
This Guide includes specific recommendations for how to retrofit existing components of a home to withstand wildfire. The illustrations throughout the Guide are intended to show best practices for reducing the vulnerability of a home to wildfire.
Webinar: Small Farms Disaster Insurance Part 1
From Farmer Campus, this webinar provides an overview of insurance for small farms, including how insurance works and what to buy.
Fire Safe Council Handbook
A Fire Safe Council is a coalition of public and private sector organizations that share a common, vested interest in wildfire prevention and loss mitigation.
Wildfire Recovery: The Nuts And Bolts Of Resilience With TurkeyTail Farm
Farmers Cheetah and Samantha run TurkeyTail Farm in Yankee Hill, California. During the Camp Fire in Butte County, they were evacuated for 28 days and lost everything but their livestock to severe fire damage, In this two-part blog series, the farmers share
Wildfire Response: Evacuating With TurkeyTail Farm
Farmers Cheetah and Samantha run TurkeyTail Farm in Yankee Hill, California. During the Camp Fire in Butte County, they were evacuated for 28 days and lost everything but their livestock to severe fire damage, In this two-part blog series, the farmers share
Fighting farmland and rangeland wildfires
A reference for employer’s engaged in Oregon OSHA’s Agriculture Activities.
Wildfire Preparedness in Agriculture
This course is designed to prepare farmers, ranchers and rural residents for wildfires. Over the course of seven modules, you will learn how to create an emergency farm plan for your land. This farm plan will provide prevention steps you
Go Kits And Emergency Plans: Preparing For Wildfire With Bee-Well Farms
For this story, we travel to Glen Ellen, California, to hear from the farmers at Bee-Well Farms who were heavily impacted by the 2017 Nun’s wildfire. Having recovered, they now have sophisticated emergency plans and are prepared for the next
Fighting Fire with Fire: Policy Options to Increase the Use of Prescribed Fire on National Forests
From the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC), this report provides an overview of the current science and need for prescribed fire, describes barriers to the use of prescribed fire on public lands in the western U.S. managed by the
California’s Strategic Plan for Expanding the Use of Beneficial Fire
The purpose of this Strategic Plan is to guide the expansion of beneficial fire across the state through 2025, as set forth in California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.
Pathways to Prescribed Fire Report March 2022
From the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC), three case studies highlighting opportunities for community based nonprofits to build cooperative burning capacity.
Maneuvering Through Wildfire Evacuations – for Small Farmers
Farmers face increasing fire frequency, size and severity due to several factors, including climate change, the spread of invasive grasses and by changing farming practices. If you live and farm in California, wildfire is not an “if” but a “when”.
5 Key Wildfire Resilience Practices
It’s not always obvious that some of the ecological farming practices used frequently by farmers, also provide wildfire protection and recovery benefits. Check out the infographic below which was developed by our cross team at CAFF to learn more! Click
Navigating Public Safety Power Shut Offs for Farmers
PG&E will implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff, also called a PSPS, in response to severe weather as a public safety measure. After the catastrophic fires of 2017 and 2018, they now turn off power in a proactive attempt to
Food Safety & Wildfires Case Study: Brisa Ranch
Key Details: Location: San Francisco bay area , near Pescadero Acres in Production: 16 Main Crops: Fruit, vegetables, flowers Wildfire: CZU Complex in 2020 3rd Party Audit(s): USDA Harmonized GAP Certified Organic by National Organic Program: Yes Owners: Cristóbal, Cole,
Micro Farm Program
Information about The Micro Farm program offered through the USDA. The Micro Farm program provides a risk management safety net for all commodities on your farm under one insurance policy. This insurance plan is tailored for any farm with up
Introducing The New Micro Farm Insurance Program For Farmer And Ranchers
This recorded webinar with Catharine Anderson the Risk Management Agency covers the new Micro Farm program. This new crop insurance program is offered through the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection policy and is tailored to small producers who sell their products locally with operations that earn
Hooves & Hands How We Work Together to Stay, to Heal, and to Coexist in Fire Ecosystems Facing Climate Change
This book is an anthology of resilient communities telling their story of how they built collaboration with people and ruminants. Each one is told with a different voice, a different experience, yet all are connected through the hands of their
Video: Hunter Grazing Cooperative Overview
This video details the work of Sarah Keiser and her efforts in Community Grazing Cooperatives.
Natural Product Phenolic Diglycosides Created from Wildfires, Defining Their Impact on California and Oregon Grapes and Wines
This study presents some of the first quantitative measurements of PDs bioaccumulated in premium California and Oregon grapes and wines due to wildfire smoke. Strategies of bioanalytics, oenology, and focused collections of grapes from vineyards exposed to varying smoke were
Fire Is Family: A Conversation With The Yurok Tribe’s Cultural Fire Management Council
Tribal members Elizabeth Azuz and Margo Robbins join Farmer Campus’s Farmers Build Fire Resilience online course to share knowledge with producers learning to live with the repercussions of an intensifying wildfire season.
Financial Recovery And Support After A Wildfire
In this two part photo blog series, Farmer Campus talked with farm manager David Cooper to hear his wildfire story and get a glimpse into the realities of farming with wildfire and how to recover.
Climate Intervention with Biochar
A White Paper about Biochar and Energy (BC&E) for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Emission Reduction (ER).
Building Vulnerability to Ember Exposure
As part of its research effort to study and understand the vulnerabilities of buildings subjected to wildfire exposures, IBHS developed the capability of simulating ember exposures on building components and assemblies. These videos show the results of their simulations.
An Overview of Fire Effects on Soil
Fires in forests and rangelands produce some of the most profound impacts on ecosystems of the Southwest. Wildfires and prescribed fires affect the vegetation, soils, wildlife, and water resources of watersheds. They impose a wide range of effects depending on
Sonoma Biochar Project
Biochar is a specialized form of charcoal that is produced by heating biomass using high heat (typically 350 C to 1000 C) in low-oxygen environments, and that is suitable for use in agriculture. It is commonly used as a soil
Sisikyou Livestock Pass Program
The Siskiyou County University of California Cooperative Extension (“UCCE”) and the Siskiyou County Agricultural Department have established a program, through the issuance of a Livestock Access Pass, which may permit commercial livestock operators to gain entrance to evacuation zones or
Counting the Losses: Tallying the True Costs of Wildfire for Farmers
In this two part photo blog series, Farmer Campus talked with farm manager David Cooper to hear his wildfire story and get a glimpse into the realities of farming with wildfire and how to recover.
Quick Intro to On-Farm Fire Preparedness
In this 7 minute overview, you will learn about basic concepts to get your farm prepared for wildfire season.
Fighting Farmland and Rangeland Wildfires
A reference for employers engaged in Oregon OSHA’s Agriculture (Division 4) activities.
Wildfire Preparedness in Agriculture – Online Course Certified for OR OSHA
This course is designed to prepare farmers, ranchers and rural residents for wildfires. You will cover wildfire risk awareness, emergency response and prevention planning, and creating defensible space. Over the course of seven modules, you will learn how to create
Forest Management Handbook for Small-Parcel Landowners in the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Range
A significant portion of Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades forests are owned and managed as small parcels (10 to 100 acres) by nonindustrial private landowners. This handbook is for such landowners; it provides succinct, straight-forward, and thorough information to help
Ready on the Farm Disasters Preparedness Plan
From Farmer Campus and Nuestra Comunidad, Disaster Preparedness Plan for farming or ranching families, businesses and their workforce.
Go-Kits and Wildfire Emergency Plans from Bee-Well Farms
Getting your farm and crew prepared for a disaster like a wildfire can feel overwhelming – but having a plan and Go-Bags ahead of time is a critical step in decreasing your risk and increasing your ability to safely and
Intro to On-Farm Wildfire Preparedness with BeeWell Farms, Farmer Campus and CAFF
As we head into spring, there’s no better time to evaluate your on-farm risk, get your evacuation plan made and practice your response plan ahead of fire season! Check out this workshop recording featuring guest farmer educators Austin and Melissa
Fire Recovery Assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has multiple agencies that provide financial and/or technical assistance to help farmers, ranchers and rural landowners recover from natural disasters, such as wildfires. Listed are USDA agencies and an overview of applicable programs. Funding for
Service Providers for Small Farmers – Crowd Sourced
From Farmer Campus, this crowd sourced spreadsheet contains recommendations for farmers to obtain support and connect with agents around disaster and crop insurance, as well as bookkeepers, CPAs, and attorneys.
Rescue Small Farms, California!
Irrigation pipes beside a fallow field that last year overflowed with vegetables for a local CSA. Photo by Kelsey Joy Murphey Farming has always been a risky business, but here in California, 2021 is proving to be another beast altogether.
Mycoremediation in the Wake of the “Camp” Fire
This video outlines some of the concepts and research of fungal bioremediation and the potential to address fire-borne toxins. Topics covered are the types of environmental pollutants that are generated in forest fires and urban firestorms, how and which fungi
USDA Disaster Assistance Programs At a Glance
A quick summary of all of FSA (Farm Service Agency) disaster programs and a guide that shows what type of disasters they cover.
Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool
Learn about USDA disaster assistance programs that might be right for you by completing five simple steps.
Protecting Outdoor Workers Exposed to Smoke from Wildfires
Smoke from wildfires contains chemicals, gases and fine particles that can harm health, especially those working outdoors. We know our family famers want to keep their crews safe and healthy. Learn more here and please take all necessary precautions for
Food Safety After a Disaster
A comprehensive website from UC Davis featuring many post-disaster resources exploring food safety for producers and consumers alike.
Insurance Post-Declared Disaster
If you are a property owner and your property is located in an area designated as a disaster by the President of the United States or the Governor, and you cannot locate the insurance policy for the property and are
CA Dept. of Insurance
The California Department of Insurance (CDI) provides several information guides, tips and tools to help you understand home/residential insurance so that you can make the best decision for your situation. If you do not find the information you need, we invite you
The FAIR Plan
The FAIR Plan provides insurance as a last resort, and should be used only after a diligent effort to obtain coverage in the voluntary market has been made.
Community Grazing
Build resilience by transforming our wildland-urban-interface from neighborhoods into communities with grazing ruminants while increasing each community’s ability to withstand wildfire and drought by grazing livestock across property lines.
On-Farm COVID-19 Food Safety Info & FAQs
By: Kali Feiereisel, MPH Senior Manager, Farmer Services Last updated: April 7th, 2020 We realize this is a time of great uncertainty and anxiety. Hopefully this blog post can provide some tangible information to help answer some of your
Farm Operational Continuity Template
What if you or members of your crew get sick? Use this template, combining standard operations procedures with emergency planning to help keep your farm going when unexpected events happen.
California Farmers Face a Long Road to Recovery After Wildfires
CIVIL EATS – At the peak of the state’s fire season, we spoke to five farmers who endured wildfires over the past two years. Here are their stories. David Kaisel had completed his weekly trip to the Ferry Plaza farmers’
Fire Survivor: David Kaisel, Capay Mills
David Kaisel of Capay Mills in Rumsey, CA David Kaisel first came to the Capay Valley in Northern California about 30 years ago to learn to paddle white water on Cache Creek. “I remember coming up here when the river’s
Burned Oaks: Which Will Survive?
Each year fires burn thousands of acres where the predominant vegetation is oak tress and grass. Where fires burn intensely, trees can be totally consumed. In other places, leaves on trees can be scorched, but the trees remain standing. Where
Seeding After a Fire
After a fire many trees are weakened from burning around the base of the trunk. The trees can fall over or blow down without warning. Shallow-rooted trees can also fall. Therefore be extremely alert when around burned trees.
Planned Herbivory in the Management of Wildfire Fuels
Grazing is most effective at treating smaller diameter live fuels that can greatly impact the rate of spread of a fi re along with the flame height. Wildfires are increasing in number, intensity, and size. Five of the most significant
To Graze or Not To Graze
Determining when to graze livestock after a fire can be a controversial and sometimes difficult decision. Much of the post-fire consideration depends upon site characteristics (percent slope, soil type), plants that grew in the area burned, and intensity of the
Smoky Character in Wines
Smoke flavors in grapes and wine were a concern in the 2008 growing season following the Mendocino Lightning Fires of June 20-July 20. Most research has been done in Australia during the past decade. These are articles that you may want
Keep Your Food Safe During Emergencies
Power Outages, Floods & Fire. Keep an appliance thermometer in both the refrigerator and freezer. Make sure the refrigerator temperature is at 40 °F or below and the freezer is at 0 °F or below. Group foods together in both
Coping with Disaster
This page offers disaster survivors information regarding dealing with the emotional effects of the event. Below you will find guidance on recognizing the signs of and minimizing the impact of disaster-caused stress. Please remember that reactions and risk response to disasters
Helping Children Cope with Disaster
This booklet offers parents, caregivers, and other adults suggestions on how to help children cope with the effects of disaster, as well as how to be prepared before a disaster strikes.
Small Business Disaster Loan Assistance
SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters. SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace the following items damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster: real estate, personal property,
Wildfire Insurance 101
Have you ever gone on a family vacation for more than two weeks, during which you lived out of a suitcase? If your family is anything like mine, it can get pretty stressful! Now imagine having to live in temporary