California Farmland Trust is excited to announce a new conservation easement for the 150-acre Danbom River Ranch Farm in Merced County. The River Ranch was established in 1962 by Paul Danbom’s grandfather and great-uncle. The farm grows corn, oats, and alfalfa for its dairy down the road.

“I was raised that farming is an art,” he says. With his farm sitting alongside the Merced River, Paul cherishes the wildlife that visits his land and tries to “leave as little a footprint” as he can.

Join us for our celebration to learn how Paul applies regenerative agricultural methods on his acreage and get his tips about applying for a conservation easement for your California farm.

Funds for River Ranch were made available through the California Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) in collaboration with the California Department of Conservation.

Additional funding was provided by the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation. This family foundation is helping to conserve farmland in Merced County in 2025.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Frank Mitloehner is a professor and air quality specialist in the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis, where he directs the CLEAR Center, combining research and communications to advance environmental stewardship in animal agriculture. His work focuses on reducing air emissions from livestock operations and studying their effects on farm workers and nearby communities, while also emphasizing animal welfare. Frank shares his research globally with students, scientists, farmers, and policymakers, and is dedicated to improving agriculture for future generations. He earned his M.S. in animal science and agricultural engineering from the University of Leipzig, Germany, and his Ph.D. in animal science from Texas Tech University before joining UC Davis in 2002 as its first faculty member dedicated to livestock and air quality.