Summer 1994 (v6n3)
	FIRST ALMONDS . . . New Walnut BIOS Open to Farmers It's working for Almonds growers in Merced County, the Clinton administration ration likes it, and now there's money for walnut farmers in Yolo and Solano counties to participate in a new Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) program. More than $200,000 n grower incentives and technical support is now available for farmers who wish to reduce the use of agricultural chemicals from the walnut BIOS program,; Chuck Ingels, SAREP perennial cropping systems analyst and a member of the BIOS management team, notes that the program is open t o 20 walnut growers, each of whom will enroll approximately 30 acres n the program.; With the help of the management team/ farmers and 0 their pest control advisors will develop a farm plan, participate in on farm workshops, cover crop management, innovative equipment use, beneficial insect releases, and earthworm management, according to Ingels. USDA undersecretary of agriculture Richard Rominger, a Winters farmer, recently visited almond BIOS program participants and noted that "These are the kinds of projects the Clinton administration wants to see taking place all across the country." Funding and services for BIOS are provided by Community Alliance with Family Farmers Foundation and the USDA's Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, and by 0 grants from the Pew Charitable Trust and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. For more information contact CAFF at (916) 756-8518. [ Back | Search | Feedback ]