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in-bed tilling and a Merced rye cover crop, capable of establishing an 8-foot root sys- tem in 90 days. These choices reduced fall groundwork from 35 passes to nine. Morgan estimates the company saves 150 acre-feet of water by removing 10 hours of running irrigation drip tape and contributing 75% less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by using smaller tractors less often. While this first-year experiment is still underway and total yield is yet unknown, Morgan said he feels encouraged by this “large-scale tomato experiment.” “Our focus is on how we can do better in an environment where laws are changing, availability of chemical inputs is changing, and agriculture is having its finger pointed at it for greenhouse gas emissions,” Morgan said. “The mindset is to solve the problem, not fight against the problem.” However, Morgan also acknowledged there is a long way to go with widespread adoption of regenerative agricultural techniques. These efforts at Braga Fresh represent less than 1% of overall produc- tion, Morgan said. A U.S. Department of Agriculture study from 2017 estimated less than 5% of vegetable production land used cover crops in the Salinas Valley. “Regenerative agriculture has yet to demonstrate that it is an econom- ic proposition,” said Ronnie Lipschutz,
Cover crops grow in a Braga Fresh field in the Salinas Valley. The company uses cover crops as part of its regenerative agricultural practices. Experts say growers face challenges translating investments in regenerative agriculture into increased farm earnings.
president of the Sustainable Systems Research Foundation, a regenerative ag- riculture think tank and project incubator in Santa Cruz. “I don’t think we’re at the point yet where there are enough success- ful farms that discuss the economics. What does it cost? What does it save?” Lipschutz said there is “no question” the main principles of regenerative
agriculture, including reducing tilling, us- ing cover crops and promoting biodiversity, are beneficial. But he said the benefits can be “difficult to impossible to monetize.” He said regenerative agriculture “is not part of conventional wisdom yet,” adding, “Conventional wisdom arises from successful practices.” A willingness to gamble with regenera- tive agriculture may be the next step, and Morgan said he expects additional produc- ers to move in that direction. “Farming with an ecological ba- sis is not just for people who can af- ford a CSA,” Morgan said, referring to Community-Supported Agriculture op- erations, in which consumers directly support farmers with advance purchases
of produce. “We need to do better than that locally, in California, nationally and internationally.” LaSalle of Chico State works with farm- ers each year from across the agricultural spectrum on how to implement ecologi- cally friendly strategies. This year, 80 farm- ers of permanent crops, annual crops and livestock are students of LaSalle’s through the Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems. “It is a movement, and it is a farmer-led movement,” LaSalle said. “In my humble opinion, it’s the only future we have and the only opportunity.” (Caitlin Fillmore is a reporter in Monterey County. She may be contacted at cslhfillmore@gmail.com.)
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