Expert Grower Database: Cover Cropping Practices in Orchards and Vineyards
Database Instructions
-
Scroll down to the bottom to begin viewing all 51 farm entries. Click on a farm's name to see detailed information about the farm and its cover cropping practices.
-
If you prefer to see a shorter list of farms based on specific criteria, you may select from among the filters below. If you get no results, reset one of the filters to SELECT VALUE and try again. Any filter that is not used will automatically result in all options within that filter being included in the results. We advise that you use no more than 1 to 4 filters at the same time.
Any reference to commercial products, companies, and organizations are based on growers' statements, and do not imply an endorsement by the University of California. This website was funded in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number G158-21-W7906 through the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, under project number RGR20-006. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed on this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Download the Cover Cropping Practices Database as an Excel Spreadsheet
Farm Name | County | Soil Type | Organic | Primary Benefits | Challenges Addressed | Planting Method | Termination Method | Crops | Current Cover Crops |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dogtown Farms | Yolo | Heavy clay | Yes | Soil improvement, Water infiltration/retention, Weed control | Competition for water | Mow | Pomegranates | resident vegetation | |
Double A Walnuts: certified organic | Colusa | Sandy loam | Yes | Nitrogen supplement, Soil improvement, Insect predator support, Pollinator support | Vertebrate pests | Broadcast seed | Mow | Walnuts: Certified Organic | legumes, grasses, brassicas |
Double A Walnuts: nematode problem block | Colusa | Sandy loam | No | Nitrogen supplement, Soil improvement, Insect predator support, Pollinator support | Broadcast seed | Mow | Walnuts: Nematode problem block | grasses, brassicas | |
Double A Walnuts: transitioning to organic | Colusa | Sandy loam | Yes | Nitrogen supplement, Soil improvement, Insect predator support, Pollinator support | Broadcast seed | Mow | Walnuts: Transitioning to organic | legumes, brassicas | |
Erdman Farms: bearing almonds | Colusa, Yolo | Gravelly loam | No | Pollinator support | Establishment difficulties | Drill seed, Broadcast seed | Mow | Almonds: Bearing | legumes, grasses, brassicas, insectary mix |
Erdman Farms: non-bearing almonds | Colusa, Yolo | Gravelly loam | No | Soil improvement, Water infiltration/retention | Establishment difficulties | Drill seed, Broadcast seed | Mow | Almonds: Non-bearing | legumes, grasses, brassicas, insectary mix |
Erdman Farms: walnuts | Colusa, Yolo | Loam | No | Soil improvement | Establishment difficulties, Cost | Drill seed, Broadcast seed | Mow | Walnuts | legumes |
Frog and Bee Farm | Yolo | Heavy clay | Yes | Walnuts, stone fruits, pome fruits | resident vegetation | ||||
Full Belly Farms | Yolo | Clay loam | Yes | Soil improvement, Prevent frost damage | Termination difficulties, Risk of frost, Orchard floor residue at harvest | Drill seed | Mow, Graze | Walnuts | legumes, grasses, brassicas, insectary mix |
Gold Oak Ranch | Yolo | Heavy clay | Yes | Nitrogen supplement, Soil improvement | Risk of frost | Drill seed | Mow, Disc | Citrus | legumes, grasses |