March 2000
Scrutiny encouraged: Farmers invited to see cover crops, tomatoes, machines
Farmers will get a chance to see how cover crops planted before tomatoes improve yields and soil quality and reduce winter rain runoff, as well as watch cover crop incorporation equipment in action at a field meeting April 4.
"Farmers have heard about cover crops, which are non-cash crops planted to enrich the soil, but many haven't had the personal experience to see how much they improve soil microbial communities and reduce runoff, or know how to incorporate them into fields," says Paul Robins of the Yolo County Resource Conservation District.
Robins and UC farm advisor Gene Miyao are presenting the field meeting to give growers an opportunity to see the advantages and challenges of planting and incorporating a vetch/pea mixture before sowing Yolo County’s big cash crop, tomatoes.
"We’re gathering data to show farmers the positive impact cover crops have on tomato yields, and how much they reduce rain runoff," Robins said.
The field meeting, set for 10:30 a.m. at the Harlan and Dumars Ranch in Woodland, is one of a series funded by the California Department of Agriculture’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers Lighthouse Farming Network and the Davis-based statewide UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP).
Media Contacts:
Lyra Halprin, (530) 752-8664, lhalprin@ucdavis.edu
