Farm Information

County: Yolo
Location: Solano County. Dixon Ridge
Slope: Flat
Irrigation system: Solid set, full coverage sprinklers
Soil type: Clay loam
Soil detail: Clay loam
Special farming challenges: Initially, some standing water. Class II soils

• Cropping Systems Information
• Crop: walnuts
  Acres of orchard or vineyard: 1000

  Other crops: Tomatoes, wheat, alfalfa, corn, beans, sunflowers
  Acres of other crops: 1000
  Organic management: No
  Certifications: None
  Certifications notes: n/a
  Where using cover crops: 56 acres of walnuts in CAFF trial

• Grower Experience, Farm Priorities, and Cover Cropping Goals
• When started farming (yr): Family started the farm in 1968, current management is 3rd generation, he officially joined the team in 2013.
  Farm priorities: Their daily work is a fight to keep a stake in agriculture in their community, and to be a good neighbor. It’s less about preserving open space but more about preserving the opportunity for future generations to participate in agriculture.
  Years growing orchard or vineyard crop: 32 years
  Years growing cover crops: 3 years
  Initial transition to cover cropping: Started with a 3-year CAFF trial in a 55 acre block.
  Goals and benefits: Soil improvement, water infiltration/retention
  Benefits description: The first priority was to learn. Secondly, improve class 2 soils. The initial cover cropping goal was to improve the soil in these blocks to “something like a class 1.5 soil”.​​​​​​​
  Change in goals over time: They are sure that the cover crop has improved the soil, but unclear of the extent and the mechanics of the process proved to be more taxing then expected.​​​​​​​
  Reasons: Ended trial that provided free seeds, unsure if they will continue planting cover crops
• Cover Crop Details, Planting and Management Methods

• Block described here: Walnuts: nonbearing (Cover Crop Trial Year 1)
  Current cover crops: Legumes, grasses
  Species and mixes: Plow down mix (25% bell beans, 20% forage peas, 5% vetch, 20% cayuse oats, 15% fall ryegrain, 15% spring triticale)
  Planting method: Drill seed
  Planting date (2020): October (nonbearing trees, so did not have to wait until after harvest)
  Was that optimal? First year planted grasses - planted too early, too much growth to mow down. Delayed irrigation the following year to reduce biomass for management issues in spring.
  Pre-plant soil prep: Cultivate, grain drill and water in with the full coverage sprinklers​​​​​​​
  Planting equipment: Grain drill (15ft Land Pride)
  Seeding rate: 25-50 lbs/acre
  Seeding depth: n/a
  Did it germinate well? n/a
  Additional management and advice: n/a

• Cover Crop Termination Methods and Biomass Management

• Termination method: Mow
  Termination equipment and process: Flail mower
  Termination date: March
  Was it optimal? n/a
  Biomass management: Left in place

• Cover Cropping Challenges and Strategies to Address Them
• Challenges: Insect pests and sanitation or nematode issues, termination difficulties, cost, other
  Challenges description: Pest sanitation (navel orangeworm), cost, systems logistics and planting timing, not clear enough weed suppresion benefits
  Strategies to address challenges: Currently in survival mode economically due to the low walnut prices. Would like to try and grow a reseeding cover crop, but unable to fit that into their navel orangeworm sanitation, where they sweep and mow the mummies in late winter or early spring.
  Was the cover crop worth it? n/a
  Least successful past cover crops: n/a