Learn How to Reduce Tillage and Reduce Time between Crop Sets on Large Acreage

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Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, November 18, 2019

Morales Conservation Tillage2

Healthy soils are key to organic farming and reducing soil disturbance is a cornerstone to improving soil health. No-till methods have spread to vegetable production on some small farms, but how can larger acreage be farmed to minimize soil disturbance? 

A workshop on December 6 in Watsonville will highlight the conservation low-tillage methods and equipment developed by Israel Morales, voted Organic Farmer of the Year by the Organic Trade Association. Not only does reduced tillage improve soil health, it also saves time between crops, reduces fuel costs, and saves on labor.  

The workshop will be hosted at Javier Zamora’s Triple M Ranch that will demonstrate additional soil health practices, including cover crops and compost addition. You can also learn about upcoming grant funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture to help cover the cost of soil health practices.  

The workshop will be held from 10:00 a.m. until noon on December 6, 2019, at Triple M Ranch at 420 Hall Road, Watsonville, California. To register for the workshop, contact Pam Krone at pam.krone@noaa.gov or register online

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This article was submitted by Pam Krone. 

Pam Krone is agriculture water quality coordinator with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Pam coordinates activities conducted by partners in the Agriculture Water Quality Alliance and tracks the progress and success of Agriculture and Rural Lands Plan implementation. She manages two CDFA Healthy Soils Program-funded Demonstration Projects, one on ranchland and the other on vegetable production, and also works to improve watershed health in agricultural areas.