ALMOND GROWER CALLS NRCS CONSERVATION PLANNING
PROCESS A "WIN-WIN"

GROWER DARRELL CORDOVA first visited the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service office in Modesto several years ago looking for financial assistance with conservation tillage in open ground.

Cordova, who farms 800 acres of almonds and grain near Denair, has since used program funds from NRCS to offset the cost of weed control technology that has greatly reduced the amount of herbicides he applied on his 200 acres of young almonds, and has also applied for technical and financial support of strategies to reduce the cost and environmental impact of his insect and fertility management programs.

By working with conservationists at the NRCS office in Modesto, Cordova says he was able to take a big-picture view of resource issues on his farm, and find ways to not only reduce impacts to water, soil, and air quality, but to save money in the process by making his farming operation more efficient.

The 2008 Farm Bill has allocated some $30 million to NRCS offices in California for cost-share assistance to growers who implement practices such as irrigation system improvements, integrated pest and nutrient management, and cover copping. Additional cost-share funds have been directed this year at production practices related to water runoff, air quality and drought management.

NRCS officials are giving funding priority for these limited resource dollars to growers who go through the process of completing a Conservation Plan with NRCS conservationists in their county, says Chris Hartley, district conservationist with the NRCS office in Modesto.

Cordova said the process started with him filling out a five-page farm plan on his current and planned future farming practices. He then met with an NRCS conservation team to go through the plan, tour the operation and identify possible strategies and cost-share programs that can address resource issues on the farm.

"It's not a bad process, it's just a matter of sitting down and doing the paperwork," Cordova says. "I know a lot of growers don't like people coming out and checking out their farming operation, but it’s really not a bad process and if it saves you money on your inputs it's worth it."

With so many options, Cordova said it makes sense to go through the conservation planning process with NRCS staff to figure out where improvements can be made and what NRCS programs can help. "Personally I think it's a win-win situation," Cordova adds. "With all the air and water regulations coming down the pipeline I think it is helpful to get involved in these programs and see what works and what doesn't and hopefully become more efficient."

-->