February 2024
Let’s get to know Conservation Easement #76.
Shortly after celebrating the milestone of protecting our 75th farm in Yolo County (read about it here), we were able to increase the total acers of farmland that will remain farms forever to 12,834 with the addition of our 76th conserved farm. *
A conservation easement was established in November of 2022 on a 156-acre pastureland located southeast of Davis. This is the second agricultural conservation easement YLT has established with willing landowners and long-time Yolo County farming family, Scott and Casey Stone, on cattle grazing pastureland southeast of Davis. Brothers, Scott and Casey Stone, are passionate about farmland conservation. Not only did they choose to put two farms under a conservation easement with Yolo Land Trust, but they also hold one of the largest conservation easements in Yolo County on their ranch headquarters with the California Rangeland Trust.
Casey Stone shared that their motivation for putting a conservation easement on their farm was to protect and preserve the agricultural land for their family’s business and it allowed them to diversify their operations. “My brother has provided agricultural mitigation and established a conservation easement on his ranch south of ours for nearly 15 years. When he learned that Yolo County needed additional ag mitigation acreage for their landfill expansion, it seemed like a natural fit for us to be involved. This parcel is prone to flooding in wet winters, and ultimately the best use for it is irrigated pasture, even though orchards now adjoin us on two sides. The compensation we receive for this easement will allow us to further diversify our operation, which provides a cushion to offset the cyclical nature of animal agriculture.”
The Stones have implemented many conservation practices on the cattle grazing pastureland with an emphasis on water management and irrigation improvements. Partnering with other conservation organizations, such as USDA-NRCS and Reclamation District 2068, they have been able to install a livestock-watering system, a tail water return system, and reduced their pumping of groundwater.
Unique to both pasturelands, Conservation Easement #76 and Conservation Easement #49, they offer the habitat necessary to support the threatened Swainson Hawk. The Swainson’s Hawk was listed as a threatened species in 1983 by the California Fish and Game Commission due to their loss of foraging and nesting habitat and decreased population across the state. Important foraging areas have been developed and converted to urban landscapes at a rapid rate. These hawks are dependent on open agriculture land for survival.
Generally, a Swainson’s hawk wildlife habitat conservation easement must follow specific provisions to ensure the growth of the species. These provisions include – no orchards, vines, rice or feed lots, tall structures row crops (sunflowers, corn) only in standard rotation, no removal of native trees, shrubs, etc. within the riparian area, and no use of rodenticides on the property.
Yolo County is a great home for Swainson’s hawks due to its warmer climate and extensive agriculture land. Swainson’s Hawks return to the site of their nest from the previous year to begin rebuilding their nest to care for their eggs. They typically nest in tall trees, often along riparian corridors, and forage on annual grasslands, annual croplands, and irrigated pastures. These raptors have adapted to open grasslands and are reliant upon fields of farmed row crops (alfalfa, wheat, tomatoes) and irrigated pastureland because this is where the highest volume of prey is found.
This working ag land will now be protected from conversion to non-agricultural use, and the Stone’s are able to increase the sustainability of his family’s cattle operations. We hope you enjoy reading about Conservation Easement #76!
Full interview with Casey Stone as he talks about the pastureland and his positive experience working with Yolo Land Trust to establish the conservation easement.
What farming activity takes place on the land?
Currently the entire easement area is in irrigated cattle pasture. Historically the back portion of the ranch was a duck pond. We re-leveled the entire piece and subdivided it into three different sets of pastures. We worked with NRCS to install cross-fencing and livestock watering systems. We have also set up a unique tail water return system, working with R.D. 2068, which allows us to re-circulate water for use on my brother’s pastures, minimizing the need to pump expensive ground water. We are continuing to improve the irrigation system. Our eventual goal is to have a turnkey, efficient grazing operation. We also hay the pastures in the spring, which provides feed for our cattle in the fall/ winter.
What does it mean to you to hold a conservation easement?
Since 2005, our ranch (Yolo Land and Cattle Company) headquarters has been protected by one of the largest conservation easements in Yolo County, held by the California Rangeland Trust. My father, brother and I made the decision to do this because we didn’t want to see our property split up into ranchettes by future generations, as is the case with so many properties.
We used the funds received from our family’s conservation easements (one with California Rangeland Trust and two with Yolo Land Trust) to diversify into other assets, which have allowed us to remain economically sustainable. California is one of the greatest states in the nation to live and work in, but production agriculture here also faces enormous challenges. I believe that the key to future success is diversification, and our easement has provided that for us.
Through our easement process, my brother became active with the California Rangeland Trust, eventually served as President, and now serves in an advisory capacity. I became active with the Yolo Land Trust and served on the board for several years, and presently enjoy serving on their Conservation Committee.
Describe your history/connection to Yolo County agriculture.
My family moved to Woodland in 1969, when my father became manager of the Production Credit Association (now AgWest Farm Credit). He ran that office until he went to work for Anderson Farms as a business manager. He and Jack Anderson formed Yolo Land & Cattle Co. in 1976 and ran cattle on numerous ranches in California and Nevada. They, along with T.H. Richards, also built a tomato cannery in Dixon, which is now owned by Campbell Soup Co. Eventually our dad acquired sole ownership in Yolo Land & Cattle Co. My brother joined him in 1983, and I joined them in 1991.
Why did you select Yolo Land Trust as the organization to hold the conservation easement with?
While we were navigating the extensive process of completing our easement with the California Rangeland Trust, we had the pleasure of working with Michele Clark, who was their Conservation Director at the time. We were highly impressed with her professionalism and ability to negotiate in a complex political arena. Around 2011 when I was President of YLT, I had the good fortune to welcome Michele aboard when she decided to “retire” to Yolo County and become our Executive Director. Under her guidance, and that of other ED’s before her, YLT has become a model organization for the preservation of agriculture in Yolo County. There really is no other choice of consequence in the field. They are the proven ‘go to’ organization.
*As of January 2024, YLT has conserved 77 farms with a total of 12,917 acres.
