379: Grazing California's Public Lands: Partnerships & Conservation with Thomas Workman

Grazing on public lands often sparks debate, but in California, innovative partnerships between ranchers, conservation organizations, and public agencies are creating new opportunities for both livestock production and land stewardship. In this episode of the Cattle USA Daily Podcast, Lauren sits down with Thomas Workman, a California ranch manager, to discuss how his operation works alongside organizations like The Nature Conservancy, the Bureau of Land Management, and California Fish and Wildlife to manage grazing on public lands. They also explore how virtual fencing is transforming grazing management, improving conservation efforts, and giving ranchers new tools to better manage cattle, wildlife habitat, and natural resources.Links:Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-workman-79a8223b7/CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/CattleUSA App IOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cattleusa/id1673147759CattleUSA App Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edgarmcbee.cusamobile&pcampaignid=web_shareFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamediaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusa.shop/products/cattleusa-drive-premium-daily-newsletter?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&brid=YWdncwFNXt0EmdzFy5cJJBp84J9gCattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ShowboatmediacoThe Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/Key Takeaways: How ranchers are partnering with conservation organizations and public agencies in CaliforniaThe role cattle play in responsible public lands managementHow virtual fencing is changing grazing management on large ranchesUsing technology to protect sensitive wildlife habitat and native plant speciesWhy flexibility is improving relationships between ranchers and land managersHow virtual fencing helps maximize labor efficiency and grazing decisionsThe importance of balancing conservation goals with profitable cattle productionWhat the future of technology looks like for ranchers managing public landsChapters:00:01 Introduction & Thomas Workman's Journey to California03:41 Ranching on California's Public Lands07:29 Virtual Fencing & Conservation Partnerships14:10 How Technology Is Changing Grazing Management18:35 Public Lands, Wildlife & Conservation24:33 Is Virtual Fencing Worth the Investment?30:25 The Future of Virtual FencingCalifornia ranching, public lands grazing, California public lands, Thomas Workman, virtual fencing, grazing management, cattle ranching, ranch management, conservation grazing, The Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management, BLM grazing, California Fish and Wildlife, rotational grazing, regenerative grazing, cattle technology, ranch technology, livestock management, grazing partnerships, land stewardship, public land management, cattle industry, beef industry, ranch conservation, virtual fence technology, cow-calf operations, western ranching, agriculture podcast, Cattle USA Daily Podcast, Lauren Moylan