Blue Diamond Almond Facts July-August 2021

site uses cover crops without putting yields or crop protection at risk. A soon-to-be-published University of California study has found that orchards with cover crops have higher almond yields. At a Merced County site, yields were 225 lbs/acre higher when compared to control orchards with resident vegetation/weeds. In Kern County, the yields were 94 lbs/acre higher when compared to bare soil. Adopting cover crops into your management has benefits beyond increasing pollinator and soil health. Driven by public demand, retailers are now encouraging growers and industry groups to develop and implement Best Management Practices to help them reach sustainability goals. Project Apis m. has teamed with The Almond Board of California (ABC) and Pollinator Partnership

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to promote the importance of providing pollinators with abundant and diverse sources of nutrient-dense forage. The ABC’s Bee+ Scholarship ties their California Almond Sustainability Program (CASP) and Pollinator Partnership’s Bee Friendly Farming (BFF) certification program to the Seeds for Bees program. CASP helps growers track sustainability practices they adopt and Seeds for Bees provides resources that help them qualify for the BFF Certification. When awarded the BFF certification, growers gain accolades for their efforts. Once your land is certified, the Bee Friendly Farm seal can be placed on websites and packaging which will communicate to other industry members and the public about the work you are doing. The 2021 – 2022 Seeds for Bees open enrollment period is going on now. Open enrollment started June 15th. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by going to the Project Apis m. Seeds for Bees website. We are currently accepting applications through November 15th, or until we run out of seed. Growers of all types can apply and first year applicants are awarded up to $2,000 of free seed. Don’t forget - early planting is key to getting the most benefit as possible from your cover crop stand. Sign up today! Feel free to contact me, Billy Synk, at Billy@ProjectApism.org for any questions regarding the Seeds for Bees program, cover crops, habitat, or bees/pollination.

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