- Author: Chris M. Webb
Sustainable agriculture is a way for food producers to increase profits and improve communities while taking good care of the air, water and soil. Sustainability can be approached and successful in many ways.
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE) has produced a booklet describing some techniques used by producers throughout our country. Some examples include:
- Grazing
- Cover crops
- On-farm energy conservation and production
- Marketing
- Conservation tillage
- Riparian buffers
This resource is designed as an introduction and inspiration into the concepts of sustainable agriculture. It can be downloaded for free. Print copies are also available.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Our office is offering a smart irrigation scheduling and monitoring tour and seminar for commercial fruit tree growers on Thursday, April 29 from 12:30-4:30 pm.
Topics will include:
- Implications of irrigation management for nitrogen and phosphorus leaching
- Computer-controlled irrigation
- Irrigation system upgrades
- Improved efficiency
- Irrigation soil sensors
This education opportunity will be translated simultaneously into Spanish.
Education credits for Los Angeles Region and the Central Coast Ag Waiver
will be provided.
Please register in advance to ensure your participation by calling Maren
Mochizuki at 805-645-1467 or by email mmochizuki@ucdavis.edu. Additional details can be found here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Are you a farmer looking for ways to improve your water management strategies, or a citizen interested in learning about the transformations taking place now in production agriculture? The California Agricultural Water Stewardship Initiative (CAWSI) has an online resource center for you.
Some of the on-farm practices available online include:
- Managing farm water wisely
- Using less applied water
- Transforming the farm into a water catchment and storage system
- Dry farming
- Use of recycled water
- Irrigation and soil management
Each section includes an overview of the practice, estimated water savings, other benefits, case studies and many additional resources.
This online resource will be updated frequently, and can be found here . Check it regularly for new tips and information.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The center for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) has a new publication available. Best of all the entire book can be downloaded or viewed online for free.
From their website,
“Building Soils for Better Crops (3rd Edition) is a one-of-a-kind, practical guide to ecological soil management, now expanded and in full color. It provides step-by-step information on soil-improving practices as well as in-depth background—from what soil is to the importance of organic matter. Case studies of farmers from across the country provide inspiring examples of how soil—and whole farms—have been renewed through these techniques. A must-read for farmers, educators and students alike.
Read more about the book, download, or order a printed version here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Improving water quality is an important step towards building and maintaining sustainable natural ecosystems. We can all help reach water quality improvement goals by making small changes in our behavior. Small changes multiplied by many people make a big difference!
What is urban runoff? Urban runoff is the water that washes away all the chemicals we use, which then flows into storm drains and creeks and then out to the ocean. These chemicals include: home pesticides, fertilizers, cleaning products, oil and many other products. Urban runoff is a significant contributor to poor water quality.
This rainy season is a good time to think about our contributions to urban runoff and to make some small changes. Here are some good places to start:
- look into ways to reduce home pesticide use
- learn about composting to improve soil quality and possibly reduce the need for fertilizers
- find safer alternatives for cleaning products.
- keep mechanical equipment in good repair.
Our office has great resources to help further improve water quality.
A collection of "green sheets" designed to help people make small changes to improve water quality
Management Practices to Portect Water Quality: A Manual for Greenhouses and Nurseries
Orchard Water Quality Management
Please contact our office if you would like further information.