{"id":14597,"date":"2021-04-15T14:59:19","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T21:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calcanstaging.kinsta.cloud\/?p=14597"},"modified":"2021-04-15T14:59:19","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T21:59:19","slug":"no-till-trials-progress-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calclimateag.org\/es\/no-till-trials-progress-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"No-Till Trials, Progress & Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the most recent edition of the \u201c<\/span>Dirt First Conversation Series<\/span><\/a>\u201d hosted by the Ecological Farming Association, four experienced and innovative organic farmers reported on their progress after two years of field trials in no-till organic, commercial-scale vegetable production. They are experimental and forward thinking, taking risks to pilot new ways of growing California row crops without tillage while maintaining or even increasing yields.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can<\/span> watch the recording<\/span><\/a> on the EcoFarm website.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"The four farmers represent a diversity of crops, geographies and growing practices.\u00a0 Phil Foster of <\/span>Phil Foster Ranches<\/span><\/a> has 250 acres of organic fruit and vegetables near San Juan Bautista and Hollister. Paul Muller of <\/span>Full Belly Farm<\/span><\/a> in Capay Valley grows 400 acres with 80 different crops and livestock as an integral part of the system. Scott Park of <\/span>Park Farming Organics<\/span><\/a> has 1700 organic acres in the Sacramento Valley where he produces 10-20 different crops including processing tomatoes, grains, beans and vegetables. Tom Willey of <\/span>T&D Willey Farms<\/span><\/a> previously farmed 75 acres in Madera, California and currently consults with other farmers on no-till practices.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is no-till?<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Photo credit: Scott Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The large majority of specialty crop growers in California till their fields to eliminate weeds and loosen up the soil in preparation for planting. On organic farms, without the use of chemical herbicides, tilling is the predominant weed control method. However, tilling disrupts the soil structure and microbiological life and is a contributor to releasing soil carbon into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to climate change. Without healthy soil fungi and bacteria that provide plant nutrients, farmers rely more on external inputs like chemical fertilizers.\u00a0 Also, soils disturbed with tilling often retain less water, a consideration for California growers facing yet<\/span> another dry summer<\/span><\/a>. The goal of reduced-till or no-till farming systems is to minimize soil disturbance while implementing alternatives practices that control weeds, provide ground cover and maintain yields.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cover crops are a powerful tool in the toolbox\u2014they are grown between cash crop rotations to provide soil nutrients, soil cover to limit weed growth, and can serve as a mulch and source of organic matter if left on the field to decompose when the next crops are planted. The farmers involved in this trial are experimenting in real-world situations with strategies such as cover crops and crop rotation. The challenge that follows is how to abate competition before planting a cash crop.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Organic strategies to remove cover crops and weeds before planting cash crops include:<\/b><\/h4>\n