IN YOUR ORCHARD
crops or resident vegetation be terminated below two inches if a frost event is forecasted because cover crops keep the soil cooler than bare ground. This can prevent cover crop flowering and thus eliminate important sources of pollen and nectar. Choosing to manage cover crops for pollination benefits must be balanced with other potential tradeoffs in orchard priorities. Project Apis m . is currently dedicating research funding to help assess this question. Summary Based on their review of the research, Wauters et al. suggest that a variety of plant species be utilized in cover crops and allowed to grow for as long as possible to maximize benefits, while acknowledging that orchard conditions and a grower’s goals for using cover crops are diverse. On a Personal Note As the new Seeds for Bees program manager at Project Apis m . I bring an almond growing background to my work. In my experience, cover crops performed their best when planted in October. During bloom I noted that both the trees and cover crop were coated in bees, though the bees seemed to favor the almond blossoms in the morning hours. We would mow the crop sometime after our bees had been removed and I still marvel at how quickly the plant matter would disappear (though we did have the benefit of solid set irrigation to help break the material down). Our soil was better, and our trees were happy and healthy. We even had some personal crop records being surpassed after using cover crops for a few years.
Of greatest note, for me at least, was how well the triticale grass in our mix suppressed our Round Up resistant hairy fleabane. In some places where our planter missed a spot it seemed like we had purposefully planted that weed, it was so prevalent in that orchard.
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Setting Growers Up For Success
Growers who haven’t tried or haven’t continued with cover crops have an opportunity. With Blue Diamond Growers ’ USDA Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities Grant, cover crop seed is being almost fully subsidized for your orchard, regardless of operation scale.
Patented Smart-Till tines fracture and open the soil 8” deep with little soil disturbance. Breaks hardened soil for longer irrigation sets and less ponding in the row middles. Delivering water and soil amendments directly to the root zone for Max results. • Maximizes water penetration • Increase irrigation runs • Incorporate soil ammendments • Reduces soil compaction • Fast at 6-8 mph reducing cost/acre
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ALMOND FACTS
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