A SPECIAL GROWERS’ REPORT OF AG ALERT ® C A L I F O R N I A Trees & Vines ®
Sheep graze among almond trees at Burroughs Family Farms in Merced County. The multi-faceted farming operation employs diversified plantings, cover crops, hedgerows, no-till agriculture and livestock.
Regenerative farming brings animals into orchards By LisaMcEwen
by using cover crops that enhance plant diversity, and integration of livestock into the cropping operation. That integrationwashighlightedonFeb. 17asBurroughsFamilyOrchardshosteda field day to share insights on how farms and communities are impactedwhen thesemethods are used together—or “stacked.” Montes said the turnout of 250 people underscored a strong interest in regenerative farming. Lundgren of Ecdysis urged attendees to consider regenerativemanagement practices on their own almond farms in the face of changing climate, loss of top soil, increased production costs and decliningwater availability. “All of these problems we are facing aremore personal than ever before,” he said. “We all need to bemore thanwhat we can be if we’re going to get out of thismess.” Lundgren is research co-author of “Defining and validating regenerative farmsystems usingacompositeof rankedagricultural practices”—workpublished last yearon theopen researchplatformF1000Research. Theproject brought together scientists fromCalifornia State University, East Bay; University of Minnesota; Purdue University; University of Nebraska; and SouthDakota StateUniversity. Lundgrensaid the research revealedhealthier soil, higher plant and insect biodiversity and faster water infiltration rates in almond orchards employing regenerative practices.
BeninaMontes returned to the family farmingoperationafter graduating fromcollege, andshe joined familymembers inslowly changing theway itwas run. Theconventionally farmed almond ranch inMercedCounty transitioned to a diversified, organic farmusing regenerative farming practices. “This is farming for the future,” she said. Montes co-owns Burroughs Family Orchards in Ballico with her parents, Ward and Rosie Burroughs. They groworganic almonds, walnuts and olives. Additionally, she and husbandHeriberto operate Burroughs Family Farms, producing organic pastured eggs. Completing the arc is Full Circle Dairy, an organic, grass-based dairy of 500 Jersey and Jersey-cross cows that is co-managed by sister Christina Bylsma and her husbandBrian. The family operations now span 1,200 acres, while using cover crops, no tilling, cattle and sheep grazing, diversified crops and hedgerows. Burroughs Family Orchards is part of a research project led by the Ecdysis Foundation called the1,000FarmInitiative.Createdby formerU.S.Department ofAgriculturescientist Jonathan Lundgren, the foundationwill complete research by 2023 that aims to quantify regenerativeagriculture’spotential impacts,withagoal of inspiring itsmethodsnationally. The principles of regenerative agriculture are similar to conservation agriculture: minimal soil disturbance, eliminating or reducing chemical use, avoiding bare soil
See FARMING, Page 8
March 9, 2022 Ag Alert 7
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