Cover crops offer water-holding benefits
As farmers statewide prepare for anticipated cutbacks to groundwater under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, they are trying to stretch every drop of water to stay in business. Merced County farmer Benina Montes, owner of Burroughs Family Farms, planted cover crops between rows of almond, walnut and olive trees at her farm near Snelling to improve soil health and attract beneficial insects. She is now seeing water savings. … Cover crops, any non-income generating crop planted to cover the soil and enrich soil diversity, hold great potential for water conservation such as improved water-holding capacity and infiltration, according to a report, “Cover Cropping in the SGMA Era,” published in May by a group of more than 30 authors.