Climate Smart Farming & Biodiversity
Compared to other fruit and nut orchards grown in California, almond trees store one of the highest amounts of carbon per acre.
To increase numbers of carbon sequestration on our farms, we are currently laying the groundwork for whole orchard recycling. By adding the composted biomass back into our soils, we hope to increase soil organic matter, water retention, and eventually cumulative orchard yields.
Over the past 5 years, we have actively planted various cover crops throughout our orchards to assist with our pest management strategies, enhancing insect biodiversity, and soil health.
In addition, we are proud to be Bee Friendly Farmer certified through the Pollinator Partnership with Blue Diamond. Both the utilization of cover crop and water buckets, have encouraged bee biodiversity as well as significantly improve fruit set through orchard pollination.
We are proud of our almond and walnut cultural practices that are low-carbon, low-waste, and water efficient.
Practices like whole orchard recycling, cover crops, and bee friendly farming help create regenerative systems that build biodiversity across the state.
Goats can be used as an effective tool for noxious weed management because of their preference for particular weeds.
Goats are being used on non-agricultural land to control weeds and vegetation at one of our newest ranches, to maintain an oak grove instead of traditional herbicides. They can be used in areas where other management methods may not be efficient, effective, or allowed, as well as being quite effective when used in combination with other weed control measures.