20150722-NRCS-LSC-0122
Almonds grow on the Mota Ranch 36 acre almond orchard using cover crop and micro irrigation in Livingston, CA on July 22, 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.
20150722-NRCS-LSC-0122
Almonds grow on the Mota Ranch 36 acre almond orchard using cover crop and micro irrigation in Livingston, CA on July 22, 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.