Russ Lester of Dixon Ridge Farms in Solano County, Calif., owns an orchard with a green carpet of cover crops. This orchard is part of his organic walnut operation in Solano and Yolo Counties, California. From its micro-irrigation system suspended in the trees (emitters protected) to its on-site walnut processing plant fueled by biogas from the walnut hulls, Dixon Ridge Farms is a sort of gallery of innovative practices, all with carefully considered benefits for both production and the environment. Cover crops have an important place in Lester’s list of progressive approaches.
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