1. Ranch to Plate Corned Beef (and more)
This may seem obvious, but California ranchers help put corned beef on your St. Patrick’s plate! Packed with essential nutrients like zinc, iron, B vitamins, and healthy fats, beef is the superhero of protein—turning grass into a supercharged meal year-round. Fun fact: About 90% of what cattle eat in the U.S. isn’t edible for humans.
2. California Ranchers Steward 38 Million Acres of Land
For generations, California ranching families have carefully managed millions of acres across the state. Conserving the land creates a healthy balance of beautiful cities and bustling sporting arenas in the Golden State, alongside undeveloped, wide-open spaces for wildlife to thrive.
3. Grazing Helps Reduce Catastrophic Wildfire Risk
One cow can consume approximately 27 pounds of forage per day —about 5 tons per year. These 5 tons could instead be used as fuel for California’s next catastrophic wildfire. Research has proven that livestock grazing has the power to mitigate the impacts of wildfires through reducing fire spread and intensity by minimizing fuel loads and increasing fuel moisture. Well-managed cattle grazing enhances habitats for native grassland plants and animals, and maintains the open spaces of California’s iconic rangelands and oak savannas. Plants on grazed grasslands are also more likely to survive and recover following fire. The research is clear: grazing makes California more fire-resilient.
4. Ranchlands Provide Habitat for Wildlife
Well-managed rangelands support thousands of plant and animal species, including endangered species. Endangered species depend on grazing and land management practices. The San Joaquin Kit Fox is just one example in California. These ecosystems are thriving not despite grazing but often because of it, as grazing helps maintain diverse grassland habitats.
5. Ranchers Are Essential to Keeping Open Spaces
Did you know that 421,171 acres of privately-owned rangeland are forever conserved through the California Rangeland Trust? Thousands more acres are conserved with other organizations. Research found that these lands provide roughly $1 billion in environmental benefits annually, including habitat, climate regulation, food, and watersheds.
For more lucky reasons and inspiring stories, explore the California rancher profiles below. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
