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Livestock also getting the genebank treatment in the US. .” I wonder what it has to say about walnuts. Nut genebank gets an upgrade in Oregon. No, not walnuts, alas. It’s Miller time! Lots of genebank action in Hawaii too. But not just in the US: Norway too. Love these back-from-the-brink stories.
Selecting the right type of hay for your livestock is a critical decision that can significantly impact their health, growth, and productivity. We've added information about different types of hay, the nutrients in hay, and the needs of different types of livestock. Without this livestock cannot function.
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.
Knowing the weight and nutritional content of a hay bale not only helps to ensure that you have enough livestock fodder on hand for winter, it also helps to make sure that you provide ample nutrients and protein to your animals. Hay is also used when a pasture is too lush or nutrient-rich for the well-being of livestock. What is Hay?
The University of California and The Organic Center are collaborating on research to help organic orchard growers safely incorporate livestock grazing into their farming practices. Related ATTRA publication: Food Safety Considerations for Integrating Livestock into Produce Cropping Systems
Want to find out more about the benefits and tradeoffs of integrating sheep into orchard systems? Check out our newest case study on Sierra Orchards of Winters, CA. The post Integrating Sheep into Walnuts: a case study on Sierra Orchards appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers. Learn more here.
On April 10th, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) hosted a field day at Heartwood Farms in Linden, CA with farmers Franz Eilers and Emma Wade to discuss all things compost and pest management on their biologically-integrated walnut and cherry orchards. The compost created from ground-up walnut prunings and cover crop mowings.
These collaborations have provided snapshots of how practices like compost, cover crops, livestock integration and reduced tillage (to name a few) can impact soil health on a given farm in a given region.
OREI also prioritizes research that takes place on working farms, like this research project that investigated the pest management services a robust bird population can provide orchards. These include: Livestock and poultry breed development for organic systems. Yet, knowledge gaps remain that warrant additional research attention.
They had tasted the hit-or-miss wild varieties that grow in the fertile soil along the Susquehanna River, but got hooked during a visit to Deep Run, a Maryland orchard with a range of pawpaw cultivars among its 1,000 trees. Now, Horn Farm Center runs the show. The Canadian NC1 ripens early, with fewer smooth black seeds than other varieties.
Additionally, the department has opened a Disaster Hay and Livestock Resources Assistance Portal to connect suppliers with those in need. My orchards and nursery were in complete disarray due to wind damage, but even so, I was spared much of the grief many others are still battling. Farmers can call 866-645-9403 for assistance.
Photo: Ansel Klein In this episode, we learn about integrated crop livestock management from two Northern California Farms. Ken Walker of Pasture 42 in Guinda, CA then walks us through how they incorporate sheep and poultry into their orchards, which were designed with animal integration in mind.
Ross spoke to what makes their partnership work, and the benefits and challenges of incorporating livestock into vineyards: “So from my perspective, it’s great to work for people like LangeTwins that have enough ground to maintain a flock of sheep on it year round. You may have to network with some other farmers and figure it out.
51:08 – Aaron talks about how, and why, he’s integrated livestock on his farm. 21:02 – Aaron describes the landscape of Snowy Mountain Farms. 28:27 – Why is diversity important? 42:50 – What is Aaron doing to help stimulate fungal growth in the soil? 56:04 – Why is regenerative agriculture important to Aaron?
They grow one thing, till underneath to suppress vegetation, have no soil cover, and use no livestock. There is not an orchard, citrus grove, coffee plantation, almond farm, or pecan forest that wouldn’t benefit from poultry especially and other livestock generally. Extend living vegetation (no fallow) 5. anywhere in the world.
He admits that wolves will present challenges for livestock producers, but he added, “There may be some interesting new opportunities that come up for ranchers and for all of us here in western Colorado. One partner rejuvenated the old apple orchard, planted another 120 heritage-variety trees and started a cider business. “A
It’a not just because it’s cheaper and not just because Capay Hills Orchard , his farm just north of Sacramento, is in an area of California that is increasingly drought-prone. The shells are used in cosmetics, as bedding for livestock and in biofuels. My orchard has a lot of trees,” says Paddock. “I’m
For example, at Eckert’s Farm in Belleville, MO, Chris Eckert has seen extreme freezes killing off parts of his peach orchard. From a corn and soybean farm, she has developed rotational sheep and cattle grazing, silvopasture, a riparian buffer, perennial (Kernza) grain fields, pollinator habitat, and a micro orchard.
The certification, funded by the Rodale Institute, Patagonia and Dr Bronner’s, insists on five practices to improve soil health: integrating livestock, keeping the soil covered, minimizing soil disturbance, incorporating diversity and zero chemicals, as well as a soil test every three years. Photography courtesy of Cabriejo Ranch.
They’ve taken a somewhat experimental approach in the orchard to see what grows best, and found that jujubes, apricots, and pomegranates thrived while apples and chestnuts didn’t do well due to the heat of the region and plums were too susceptible to disease.
They’re actively managed in hives and are considered domestic livestock. I’ve seen this in my own fruit orchard. But squash bees aren’t distracted by other plants: They’re reliable squash pollinators.” Honey bees arrived in North America in the 17 th century, carried by European colonists.
For example, increasing aridity in the Southwest and increasingly wet conditions throughout the northeast regions of the country–from the Midwest through New England–are likely to challenge crop and livestock production. the Osage Nation’s community orchard. from NCA5 Higher temperatures can stress both crops and livestock.
By the time Byron passed away in 1931, he had accumulated 2,000 acres, on which he grew timber and raised livestock. Grover established a peach orchard in 1935, and cultivated grain and raised livestock until the late 1970s. On the farm, Arthur raised some livestock and vegetables but mostly grew row crops like tobacco.
If we lose our livestock, we lose our culture, our dignity, said Rabari. The conditions impacted crop yields, livestock, the transportation of goods, and the larger supply chain. Other pastoralists are nomadic, walking at least 10 miles a day herding cattle from region to region in the hunt for pastureland.
CLIMATE SMART FARMER OF THE YEAR: SIERRA ORCHARDS When a small film crew arrived at Sierra Orchards last year for a video shoot on integrated crop livestock systems, the interviewer asked farmer Sean McNamara about his seed mix.
Along with taro patches, the triangular swaths encompassed a range of terrain, from upland timber forests to rain-fed crop fields and orchards in the lowlands. We’ll be eating those buggers soon,” he says of the livestock. “We We sell them, we trade them, we give them away.”
Its agrihood model uses tiny homes as the residences, with 11 families currently sharing the responsibilities of gardening and caring for the chickens, honey bees and orchards. Some agrihood farms choose to focus on vegetable production to avoid the smells and noises of livestock, which can limit diversity of agrihood-produced goods.
Livestock, heavy machinery and hikers along mountain paths create compaction, not just lawns. I am lucky I am an annual vegetable grower, so I do not rely on chilly winters like orchard growers do. The solid mass proved impenetrable to the new growth and my trowel—now bent at an obtuse angle from my efforts.
If a farmer wishes to contain livestock or create a more structured barrier, living fences can be cultivated in the traditional European fashion. Thorny species are preferred because the hedgerows are supposed to be a deterrent to livestock—I call them the original barbed wire.” A hedgerow that includes perennial flowers.
Food grown in local fields, orchards, and pastures with healthy soil management practices simply make for healthier, more nutritious, and more flavorful meals, he says—the perfect ingredients for changing the “stigma” associated with hospital fare. Santana Diaz, Executive Chef, U.C. Davis Med Center.
Q: If you want to plant an orchard with a guild but are limited on resources, which plants should be prioritized? Farms using agroforestry sell products through the market channels all farms use—they just have more trees at work benefiting the crops and livestock on their farms.
Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees into cropping and/or livestock systems, inspired by Indigenous wisdom, and it can be applied in many ways and in many different places – even in cities! What are the skillsets, knowledge, experiences, and resources that the community could contribute to a forest garden or community orchard?
The Ecological Farming program area works with farmers, researchers and technical assistance providers in central and northern California to carry out projects including: Small-scale Biointensive No-till Vegetable production; Integrated Crop Livestock Systems; Cover Cropping; and Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems.
Orchards, vines and other perennials cultivated as long-term investments have steadily replaced ephemeral crops such as tomatoes and cotton, which are far less costly to sacrifice or replace. Despite competing for land and water, the region’s orchards and milk farms have developed an unlikely partnership, says Sumner.
The San Joaquin Valley is the largest agricultural producing area in the nation; it produced crops, livestock, and agricultural commodities worth $36.5 Citing the difficulty of securing a burn permit in recent years, McIsaac’s operations have turned to chipping orchard residue, which is more expensive than burning. billion in 2022.
From sheep to blueberries BlueWave director of sustainable solar development Jesse Robertson-Dubois grew up on a homestead with a vegetable garden and livestock, and launched a career as a commercial farmer and conservationist. But soon, “the intersection of land use and solar piqued my interest,” he said.
A disused orchard that had been stewarded by the Sisters of St. Vrain’s innovative wide-ranging experiential learning programming, which includes livestock, greenhouse production, and culinary arts. Francis since 1938, Sister Gardens has become a bustling site of food production and also of reawakened community cultivation.
Plant a holly orchard and let nature do the work for you,” read one brochure. When the Legislature created the board in 1969, lawmakers defined “noxious weed” as any plant that harms “crops, livestock, or other property.” “This is a worst-case scenario. But it could get even worse.”
And just last week, California lawmakers voted to move a bill that would ban paraquat in fields and orchards starting in 2026 forward. How much new feed additives could actually reduce methane emissions from belching cows remains unclear, according to a review of the research to date published by the Expert Panel on Livestock Methane.
Maximizing Photosynthesis: The #1 Soil Health Building Approach B y: Chuck Schembre , Understanding Ag, LLC In the previous regenerative orchard blog, we discussed the connection between perennial crops and soil fungi , and introduced the importance of maximizing photosynthesis on the orchard floor. Historically in the western U.S.,
Before 7 th October 2023 , farms and orchards covered almost half of Gaza’s total land area and more than 7,500 greenhouses contributed to an agricultural sector normally worth over $575m a year. Livestock including cattle, sheep, goats and poultry, were also raised. A third of Gaza’s greenhouses have been destroyed.
Some farms, orchards, ranches, etc. Take a look at our farm management software for crop and livestock farmers to help you organize your CSA. The CSA allows producers to sell directly to consumers without a middle entity, which translates to less money invested in distribution and more affordable prices for the consumer.
The Preamble: The Government Promised to Pay — Then it Didn’t TriState Livestock News: Frozen Funding, Stalled Programs, Farm Bill Impacts: Farmers, Ranchers, and Advocates Elevate Urgent Priorities on Capitol Hill Lancaster Farming: Pasa Sustainable Agriculture Executive Director Opposes Federal Grant Freeze Pittsburg Post-Gazette: Pa.
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