Caff

JANUARY 7, 2025

LEGACY FARMER OF THE YEAR: Russ Lester, Dixon Ridge Farms Russ Lester, co-owner of Dixon Ridge Farms and a fourth-generation California farmer, has been a pioneer in organic farming since 1989, shaping innovative practices for sustainable orchard management.

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Farming Farming Ecology Orchard 105

Caff

MAY 31, 2023

Chris and Christy Locke share the history of Locke Ranch and their participation in the original BIOS project. Photo by Nolan Kirby) The Community Alliance with Family Farms (CAFF) held a Biologically Integrated Orchard System (BIOS) field day at Locke Ranch on May 23rd.

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Ranching Orchard Crop Ecology 52

Caff

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

The first Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) event on “Impacts of Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) in Walnuts” was held in Linden at the Anderson-Barngrover Ranch on Friday August 27th. Around 30 people joined in on celebrating and learning from the past, and sharing emerging solutions and challenges.

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Orchard Ranching Ecology Production 52

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

They offer valuable resources and practical solutions for organic and transitioning producers, as well as conventional producers interested in ecologically and economically sound practices. Yet, knowledge gaps remain that warrant additional research attention. These include: Livestock and poultry breed development for organic systems.

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Food Seeding Crop Poultry 106

Modern Farmer

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

Tony Prendergast’s XK Bar Ranch sits slightly south of Crawford, Colorado, near the Smith Fork of the North Fork of the Gunnison River on the southern edge of the agriculturally rich North Fork Valley. We bought the ranch by forming a land cooperative with three other families and collaborating on different uses of the land,” he said.

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Ranching Livestock Acre Ecology 112

Modern Farmer

AUGUST 24, 2023

As a result of the ROC standards, livestock now graze the cover crops in the almond orchards, fertilizing the soil with their manure and providing space for beneficial insects. Photography courtesy of Cabriejo Ranch. At his ranch, they perform short-term monitoring of data points such as species diversity and the amount of bare soil.

Food 98

Food Ranching Ecology Fertilizer 98

Caff

JULY 18, 2024

On June 3rd, CAFF’s Ecological Pest Management team co-hosted a field day at Il Fiorello Olive Oil Co in Fairfield, CA. CAFF’s Ecological Pest Management team takes a holistic approach to managing pests that includes a suite of practices which farms and ranches can employ based on their own unique needs and circumstances.

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Ecology Farming Farming Pesticide 52