Evaluation and demonstration of cover crops
A demonstration field day was held at the Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HAREC) in Camarillo on April 17, 2026 for farmer cooperators of a multiyear California Farm Demonstration Network project on healthy soil practices. The event was led by HAREC Director Annemiek Schilder with Advisor Ben Faber, Agricultural Education Specialist Kristen Mussack, and collaborators from the UC Davis Cereal Breeding Program, Rodale Institute California Organic Center, and the Ventura County Resource Conservation District. Demonstrations included 20 types of winter cover crops, the effect of planting date, new cereal varieties from UC Davis, functional cover crops for orchards, and orchard floor management (crimping versus mowing). Of the 12 participants, 100% indicated that they had gained new knowledge and 92% indicated they intended to apply it in their operations. The event also stimulated farmer-to-farmer learning. One participant commented on the “demonstration and wealth of knowledge and experience shared by hosts and other farmers”
Photo: Dr. Alicia del Blanco describing new varieties of wheat, barley, oats and triticale at HAREC in Camarillo. Dr. Blanco is a Project Scientist and cereal breeder at the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, specializing in oat and malting barley improvement. Her work focuses on developing new climate-adapted and disease-resistant small-grain varieties for California agriculture.