And two, when it comes to the crops themselves, whether it be almonds or pistachios or grapes or whatever, how many growers are keeping the soil covered with some kind of mulch? We can grow the plants to mulch the soil right on-site, right in-between the rows. The machinery to cut and rake biomass into a line is nothing new. How many are looking at agroforestry in a serious way? The studies are there on how integrating just one or two other species of trees strategically into a planting has huge benefits for conservation of soil, organic matter, water and nutrient availability etc. But no one else is doing it and the extension agents aren’t recommending so few are willing to go there… In Brazil a large company did a study of diversified agroforestry plantings within an oil palm plantation. They planted 2 rows of palms and one row of diversified fruit and timber trees. Although the number of palms per acre was 2/3rd the normal density, they found the palm oil yield was equal or better than monoculture because every palm produced 30% more and the quality was way better… no pest or disease problems either. Oh and they had a nice secondary crop of cacao, açai, and after a time mahogany, cedarwood, other rare tropical timbers. And the fertility came from the prunings of all those trees, chipped into mulch to feed the palms.

Are there any growers in California who might be interested in how they can maintain the same or similar yeild, improve quality, eliminate pest and disease issues, severely reduce or eliminate irrigation and fertilizer inputs, AND have a nice couple of secondary crops on the side as insurance, including hardwood timber for the retirement fund?