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 rains or have access to irrigation between orchard rows. In this publication, the authors review benefits and considerations for both growers and beekeepers of this potentially mutually beneficial practice.… Read the rest

Cover crop best management guide for Almond systems

Amélie Gaudin, Associate Professor of Agroecology, Department of Plant Sciences

Cover crops can provide ecosystem services in almond orchards without compromising yield, but adoption remains low due to operational constraints and lack of data on tradeoffs. This project synthesizes research, experimentation, and on-farm experience to develop a set of preliminary best management practices for cover crop use in almonds. Funded by Almond Board of California

Contact: Vivian Wauters, Postdoctoral fellow (vwauters@ucdavis.edu)

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