Spring, 1991 (v3n3)
	From the Director Farm Survival California farmers and ranchers continue to feel the results of Mother Nature's latest one-two punch: the freeze and the drought. Fiscal crises continue to affect rural counties' survivability. With so many issues out of their hands, what can farmers do to make their own survival easier? Reducing off-farm inputs is a theme we've addressed before. California is in a major transition. By planning for this and taking action farmers help set their own agenda. Increasing their reliance on internal resources and their own management skills will help. Farmers who take advantage of information the university system has to offer may be less damaged by the drought. (See Drought & Sustainability this page.) Good basic soil management and preventative pest management is a starting point. Soil management may involve the use of biological material including green manures, manure, and compost. Many farmers may be able to avoid purchasing much of the nitrogen they thought they needed just by using what is still in their soil. Due to the lack of rain, most nitrogen in the soil last fall is probably still there. A simple soil nitrate test can confirm this. Other on-farm sources could include irrigation water and legumes in the rotation. If manures or composts are used as soil amendments, they also contribute nitrogen. Creating biological diversity in farms and ranches can help reduce pest problems. Grass and legume covers do this by providing habitat for beneficials. Diversified farms offer growers some protection from crop-specific freezes or droughts. Mas Masumoto notes in an article on farms in transition (see page 10) that the chaos of changing water patterns can actually inspire creativity and innovation on the farm. Philosophical shifts can help farmers make decisions that may save their farms' economic viability. -Bill Liebhardt, director, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program [ Back | Search | Feedback ]