The relationship between food safety and ranching operations will be the focus of two Central Coast seminars set for this week, one in Guadalupe and one in Morro Bay.

Called &#8220Cut the Crap for Ranchers,C the seminars are designed to inform ranchers how to prevent potential contamination of surface water with pathogens from their cattle operations.

Various pathogen-management practices also will be discussed at the seminars sponsored by the San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara Counties Ag Watershed Coalition and the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District.

Speakers will include:

n Rob Atwill, UC Cooperative Extension specialist in veterinary medicine who will address water and food safety issues from pathogenic E. coli in livestock;

n Ken Tate, a UC Cooperative Extension rangeland watershed specialist, who will discuss using vegetation and wetlands to filter microbial pollutants from runoff;

n Dave Lewis of Sonoma County watershed management and research, who will address linking farm practices and watershed factors with water quality;

n Lisa McCann of the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, speaking on now rangeland water quality may be regulated in the future.

The first seminar will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Far Western Tavern, 899 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. The fee is ,10, and dinner will be provided after the meeting.

The second will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay. The fee is ,5, and breakfast will be provided before the meeting.

Reservations are required. To sign up, call 928-6301.

Jan. 28, 2007