Comments taken on 'safe harbor'

More public comments will be taken on a so-called "safe harbor" agreement that would provide regulatory relief for landowners along a 222-mile stretch of the Sacramento River in Northern California.

Under the pact between state and federal regulators and a conservation group, landowners along the river from its Feather River confluence near Verona to the Keswick Dam near Redding would be shielded from violations of the Endangered Species Act if they take certain habitat-enhancement measures.

Comments will be taken through April 8 on the draft agreement, which involves the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game.

Submit comments to Kathy Brown, Conservation Partnerships Program, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605, Sacramento, CA 95825 or fax 916- 414-6712.

Information: Call Brown at 916-414-6000. The Federal Register notice can be found at www.fws.gov/sacramento

-- Tim Hearden

Cattlemen hold legislative event

The California Cattlemen's Association's annual Steak and Eggs Legislative Breakfast will start at 6:45 a.m. March 23 at the Sutter Club in Sacramento.

The event will enable members to interact with elected leaders and hear from a slate of speakers about what government officials and the CCA are doing, according to an organization bulletin.

After the breakfast, the CCA will coordinate legislative office visits for attendees to meet with politicians from their area. In addition, a PAC-200 dinner will be March 22 featuring Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Solana Beach, the chamber's new Republican leader.

For information about becoming a PAC-200 member, to RSVP for the dinner or breakfast or to sign up for legislative visits, contact Chaley Paulson at the CCA at 916-444-0845 or at chaley@calcattlemen.org

-- Tim Hearden

UC to teach sheep shearing

A course in sheep shearing will be taught in May by the University of California Cooperative Extension program serving California's north coast.

The courses May 3-7 and, if there are enough participants, May 10-14 will be taught at the UC's research and extension center in Hop-land. The instructor will be Mike McWilliams of Myrtle Point, Ore., certified with the Natural Sheep Shearing Program.

Classes will be geared to both the beginner and advanced sheerer. Participants will learn how to handle fleece once off the sheep, including proper handling of skirting, and how to care for hand pieces and sharpen combs and cutters.

The course fee is $295 plus $25 for the workbook and DVD, and the deadline to register is April 2. To register, visit http://cemendocino.ucdavis.edu

Information: Contact John Harper at 707-463 -4495 or jmharper@ucdavis.edu

-- Tim Hearden

Tehama spring field day set

The Tehama County Cattlemen's Association's annual Spring Field Day is March 27 at the Foor Ranch in Vina, Calif.

Activities will include lunch as well as a stock dog trial, stockman's challenge, three-man calf branding and a working cow horse competition.

Cost is $10 to $15 for lunch and $25 to $50 for the contest entry fees. Information: www.tehamacountycattlemen.org

-- Tim Hearden