20150416-NRCS-LSC-0718
The Mota Ranch 36 acre almond orchard uses cover crops and micro irrigation in Livingston, CA, on Thursday, Apr. 16, 2015 Owner Jesse Mota worked with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Merced Service Center Soil Conservationist Tomas Aguilar-Campos to create a conservation plan for Mota Ranch. California currently faces three looming challenges in agriculture: drought conditions, bee decline and protecting soil health. Planting cover crops helps overcome all three issues by helping to trap moisture in the soil, improve soil organic matter, and attracting pollinators. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.
20150416-NRCS-LSC-0718
The Mota Ranch 36 acre almond orchard uses cover crops and micro irrigation in Livingston, CA, on Thursday, Apr. 16, 2015 Owner Jesse Mota worked with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Merced Service Center Soil Conservationist Tomas Aguilar-Campos to create a conservation plan for Mota Ranch. California currently faces three looming challenges in agriculture: drought conditions, bee decline and protecting soil health. Planting cover crops helps overcome all three issues by helping to trap moisture in the soil, improve soil organic matter, and attracting pollinators. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.