Category Archives: Resources

Benefits, barriers, and use of cover crops in the western US: Regional survey results

L.A. Golden, M.L. Hubbard, S. Utych, S.M. Newman, S. Hines, J. Thomas, N. Andrews, R.L. Som Castellano, D.P. Collins and C. Sullivan Published in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation March 2023 View the full publication here (subscription or fee required): https://www.jswconline.org/content/early/2023/03/10/jswc.2023.00170 Abstract Cover crops provide known benefits to water, air, and soil quality. The western United States is a large cropping region whereContinue reading "Benefits, barriers, and use of cover crops in the western US: Regional survey results"… Read the rest

Monitoring Soil Nitrate to Estimate Cover Crop Nitrogen Contribution in Organic Vegetable Production Fields

Authors: Nick Andrews, Dan M. Sullivan, and Kristin Pool, Oregon State University View the full document here. Organic vegetable growers rely on legume cover crops as an economical source of plant-available  N. This research evaluated N contributions to summer vegetable crops by cover crops (CC)  residues by monitoring soil nitrate (NO3-N) concentrations during the summerContinue reading "Monitoring Soil Nitrate to Estimate Cover Crop Nitrogen Contribution in Organic Vegetable Production Fields"… Read the rest

Estimated Costs for a Winter Cover Crop in an Annual Crop Rotation

Authors: Sarah Light - UC Cooperative Extension Agronomy Advisor, Sutter, Yuba, Colusa Counties; Margaret Lloyd - UC Cooperative Extension Small Farms Advisor, Yolo, Solano, Sacramento Counties; Helaine Berris - Graduate Student, UC Davis, Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources; Donald Stewart - Staff Research Associate, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis; BrittneyContinue reading "Estimated Costs for a Winter Cover Crop in an Annual Crop Rotation"… Read the rest

SIFT 2021: A Small-Scale Urban Intensive Farm Contributes to a Resilient Food System

Authors: John Wallace and Andrew Coggins, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Read the full publication here: https://attra.ncat.org/publication/sift-2021/ NCAT’s Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training program (SIFT) operates a high-altitude urban demonstration farm in Butte, Montana, that is focused on production of food for the good of the community. This publication provides details on the role that the farm playsContinue reading "SIFT 2021: A Small-Scale Urban Intensive Farm Contributes to a Resilient Food System"… Read the rest

Economic Considerations of Growing Bee-Friendly Cover Crops in Almond Orchards: Grower and Beekeeper Perspectives

Authors: Marieke Fenton and Brittney Goodrich View full publication here: s.giannini.ucop.edu/uploads/pub/2023/02/15/v26n3_3.pdf Planting bee-friendly cover crops in almond orchards can improve honey bee colony health and lower beekeepers’ costs of feeding, while also providing soil health benefits. However, for the full bee-health benefits to be realized, growers must plant in the fall and receive timely rainsContinue reading "Economic Considerations of Growing Bee-Friendly Cover Crops in Almond Orchards: Grower and Beekeeper Perspectives"… Read the rest

Cover crop calculator – Economics

This interactive calculator is a decision-support tool that estimates the costs and benefits of winter cover cropping in almond and processing tomato operations in California's Central Valley. The tool estimates how much farmers can expect their profits to change after growing winter cover crops for a certain number of years. All values that are usedContinue reading "Cover crop calculator – Economics"… Read the rest

Overcoming Barriers to Cover Crop use in Hazelnut Production

Authors: Shannon Cappellazzi, Abigail Tomasek, Nik Wiman This project will collect and communicate information that will help producers incorporate cover crops into hazelnut production. We will conduct a survey to identify the major barriers for grower adoption and aggregate data on the methods and practices local producers are using to make cover crops work. WeContinue reading "Overcoming Barriers to Cover Crop use in Hazelnut Production"… Read the rest

Cover Crops Database – UCANR

In an effort to make information on specific cover crop species available and easily accessible, the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program created the cover crop database, first released in 1999 (and it remains one of the most highly visited features of UC SAREP's extensive website). The database contains detailed entries for over 40Continue reading "Cover Crops Database – UCANR"… Read the rest

Building on Farmer Experience to Increase Cover Crops Adoption in Orchards and Vineyards

Sonja Brodt, UCANR This project is creating an online searchable database of best management practices as implemented in California's southern Sacramento Valley and North Coast regions, by orchard and vineyard growers experienced in cover cropping. The project will also provide detailed case studies of grower cover cropping strategies, organize field tours of successful cover croppingContinue reading "Building on Farmer Experience to Increase Cover Crops Adoption in Orchards and Vineyards"… Read the rest