Buckinghams named Conservationists of the Year for Los Osos ranch

Jeff Buckingham and his family have been named Conservationists of the Year by the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District for improvements they made on their 540-acre ranch near Los Osos.

The family has worked with the conservation district as well as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cal Poly and the UC Cooperative Extension to make its ranch more drought resistant. These techniques include applying compost to improve the soil, plowing to break open the topsoil to increase rain percolation, employing rotational grazing and making creek enhancements.

“The family has done some really good work on their ranch including weed control and riparian enhancement,” said Neil Havlik, president of the conservation district’s board of directors.

The Buckingham ranch is between Highway 1 and Turri Road and includes a portion of Hollister Peak, one of the iconic volcanic peaks that run between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.

Buckingham said the goal of the work is to improve forage production and make the ranch more drought-tolerant. Because of the drought, ranchers are struggling with substantially less grass and water for livestock.

“We are already seeing dramatic improvements in the test areas and look forward to expanding the new practices to the entire ranch,” Buckingham said.

The Buckinghams’ first step was to install pasture fencing around riparian areas, said Nicole Smith, the conservation district’s conservation programs manager.

“We are now helping them to improve the soils for grazing, reduce creek bank erosion and restore riparian vegetation,” she said. “I expect them to continue to adapt and improve their land management far into the future.”

The family received a certificate of recognition from the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on March 22.

The Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District works with farmers, ranchers, cities and other land users to improve and conserve agricultural soil, water quality and wildlife habitat through technical and funding assistance.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Buckinghams named Conservationists of the Year for Los Osos ranch."