IN YOUR ORCHARD
after SFB participation! In fact, even after this hard year, 98% of respondents said they are going to plant next year! There is no stronger metric for us at PAm. This demonstrates that after two years of planting cover crop, growers see so much value that they take on this practice themselves with their own dime and on their own time. This was exactly my own experience my first two years of planting, and with SFB mixes, no less! All this to say, we farmers don’t give up because of a bad year; we dig in. As we all know, we cannot change the weather, we must adapt to it. We must adapt to changing markets. We must adapt to changing regulations. For millennia, farmers have been adapting and thereby surviving and providing for others. We, in California, are no different. We have proven time and time again that no matter what is thrown at us, we will overcome. This is the essence of the California farmer and Seeds for Bees runs on the same spirit. Let’s dig in and get more seed in the ground this year. As the new Director of Habitat Programs, I am here to help growers adapt and overcome. I am a California farmer, and we are resilient. Resiliency comes from learning from each other, and supporting each other in our communities, just like honey bees. Each hardship brings learning and new solutions and I am excited to be in this with you. If you are asking whether you should continue planting cover crops, or if you should plant for the first time, the answer is an overwhelming YES. Droughts and floods are
two of the primary reasons we should plant cover crops, to keep soil in place when atmospheric rivers hit. We need deep taproots to get water into the ground so we can keep it in the ground where it belongs until we need it again. We are here to help you continue or start having a strong cover crop program. Let’s get to work. Newly-planted almond trees with cover crop that finally bloomed after the almond bloom; in the background, mature almond trees after petal fall and leaf out. (Photo courtesy of George Hansen)
Rory Crowley, Director of Habitat
Programs, Project Apis m. Rory@ProjectApism.org
Seeds for Bees encourages the use of cover crops to increase the density, diversity, and duration of bee forage in California orchards, farms, and vineyards, while improving soil health. First year Seeds for Bees enrollees are eligible for a $2,500 discount off their total seed purchase. Second year enrollees are eligible for a $1,500 discount off their total seed purchase. If you want to learn more about Seeds for Bees and planting cover crops in your orchards, check out our *NEW* Quick-Guide where you can access resources, enrollment information, and technical guidance, at: bit.ly/sfb-quick-guide, or visit ProjectApism.org/Seeds-For-Bees.
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ALMOND FACTS
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