treatments, although there was an upward trend tied to cover crop seeding rates. On a positive note, she found no significant differences in greenhouse gas emissions. One challenge with the trials is they were only three years, Light said. “Most say it takes five years to measure (soil) changes,” she said. “However, what we’re hearing from growers is unquestion- able. Growers report better moisture infil- tration rates even after one year.” Not all cover crops are created equal, and each one has its strong points and drawbacks. The Parks draw on past expe- riences when choosing the best single va- riety or blend for each field, and they also factor in the previous cash crop as well as the upcoming one. Pulling off their crop rotations, which Brian Park described as like putting togeth- er a “big Lego set,” takes proper timing. In the spring, for example, they walk a fine line when terminating cover crops. The Parks want to get the benefits of lots of nitrogen-rich biomass, but they don’t want so much that it overwhelms ground preparation equipment or takes too long to break down. If the cover crops are allowed to grow too late into spring, they begin dry- ing out the ground. Once the Parks terminate the cover crop, they like to wait about two weeks before Regenerative Continued from Page 8
Brian Park, who handles day-to-day operations at Park Farming Organics in Sutter County, says the farm clears cover crops from fields before they begin drying the ground. Cover crops leave nitrogen-rich biomass to nourish soils for spring planting.
they plant. This allows the ground to mel- low, the vegetation to break down and soil- borne pest activity to decrease. As an example, Scott Park showed a field with a recently terminated vetch crop that was destined for processing tomato trans- plants in mid-April. “Because we held onto the moisture, we can plant the transplants into moisture, and it lets us go 30 days without irrigating,” he said. On some of their later-planted fields, they’ll bring in sheep to graze the cover crops. Livestock don’t provide additional nutrients to a field. Rather, they recycle those found in vegetation and excrete
them in forms more readily taken up by plants and soil microbes. Brian Park said they decided to incor- porate sheep after hearing Gabe Brown, a North Dakota farmer well known in regen- erative agriculture circles, speak at the Soil Health Academy in 2017. “We respected his opinion on introduc- ing the animals and the connection to the land,” Brian Park said. The Parks don’t own sheep and instead have an arrangement with Kaos Sheep Outfit, which brings its animals from the Napa Valley after they’ve grazed vineyards in late winter. The flock of about 1,000 sheep can
graze about 2 acres of farmland per day. Brian Park said they’re still trying to fig- ure out stocking rates since the current flock can’t cover their approximately 1,400 cover-cropped acres during the relatively short grazing season. But any solution likely won’t involve becoming sheep owners. “We looked into getting a herd of sheep, but I’m thankful we haven’t,” Brian Park said. “There are certain times of year they couldn’t be here. Where do they go and who’s in charge of them then?” (Vicky Boyd is a reporter in Modesto. She may be contacted at vlboyd@att.net.)
Agricultural Market Review
Quotations are the latest available for the week ending March 29, 2024
Workplace Violence & Unions on the Farm Upcoming Webinar April 16, 2024
Year Ago Week Ago Latest Week
Livestock
Slaughter Steers – 5-Area Average Select & Choice, 1100–1420 lbs., $/cwt. Hogs – Average hog, 51-52% lean, Iowa-Minn. market, $/cwt. Slaughter Lambs – $ per cwt. 85–176 lbs. National weekly live sales Field crops – basis prompt shipment Cotton – ¢ per lb., Middling 1 3/32” Fresno spot market Corn – U.S. No. 2 yellow $/bu. trucked Alfalfa Hay – $ per ton, quality * , FOB Region 1, Northern Inter-mountain
165-167
186-190
185-191
73.70
82.20
83.00
10:00AM - 11:00AM Presented by FELS Free Webinar!
133-156
211
170-270
80.03
81.99
81.13
8.78
6.13-6.22
6.27
Topics Include:
Scan to RSVP:
17 (G/P, per bale)
270 (S)
No quote
Region 2, Sacramento Valley
No quote
280-300 (P)
No quote
Workplace violence training requirements Card Check is Here Get Updates and Resources from FELS How is Farm Bureau working for you!
Region 3, Northern San Joaquin Valley
No quote
255 (P)
310 (P)
Region 4, Central San Joaquin Valley
400 (G/P)
180 (F/G)
320 (S)
Region 5, Southern California
25 (P, per bale) 19 (P, per bale) 19 (P, per bale)
Region 6, Southeast Interior
340 (P)
200-220 (P/S)
195-215 (P)
Rice – Milled #1 Head, FOB No. Calif. mills Medium grain, $ per cwt.
70-72
30-32
30-32
Provided by the California Farm Bureau as a service to Farm Bureau members. Information supplied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market News Branch.
Brought to you by Stanislaus and San Joaquin County Farm Bureau
*ADF=Acid detergent fiber; (S) = Supreme/<27%ADF; (P) = Premium/27-29; (G) = Good/29-32; (F) = Fair/32-35.
RSVP here: https://stanfarmbureau.org/events/
April 3, 2024 Ag Alert 9
Powered by FlippingBook