Ag Field Day in Richfield Focuses on Sustainable Farming
A local newspaper article from the Corning Observer / Appeal-Democrat (published September 2022) covering a Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)-sponsored agricultural field day held August 19, 2022 at Handy Farms in Richfield, Tehama County. More than 40 attendees — primarily family farm owners and employees of larger farming companies in the North State — […]
BIOS Field Day at Unruh Farms
A blog post recap from Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) documenting a June 16, 2022 Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) project field day held at Unruh Farms in Princeton, CA. Attended by approximately 30 participants, the event featured demonstrations of predatory mite releases using Daniel Unruh’s custom-built mite blower, predator attractant application (soy flour, […]
Regenerative Practices Have Yielded Unruh Walnut Farms Big Dividends in Chemical Savings
A grower profile article from National Nut Grower magazine (November/December 2024 issue) covering Daniel Unruh’s regenerative transition at his 193-acre walnut orchard in Colusa County. Focuses on how his mustard cover crop strategy resolved a severe nematode problem without chemicals, the evolution toward diverse 30-species cover crop mixes, no-till and crimping practices, biological pest management, […]
Unruh Walnut Farms – Colusa County, California: A Soil Health Academy Case Study
An in-depth producer case study profiling Daniel and Rachelle Unruh’s 193-acre Chandler walnut orchard near Princeton, CA. Covers their transition from conventional to regenerative production starting in 2013, driven by an intractable nematode problem, and details their practices: diverse cover crop mixes (including mustard for nematode suppression), no-till, reduced synthetic nitrogen, pheromone mating disruption for […]
From the Orchard: Rich Gemperle Applies Hydrogeology Expertise to Farming
A Q&A profile of Rich Gemperle of Gemperle Family Farms in Turlock, a second-generation almond grower with a background as a hydrologic engineer. Gemperle discusses how his hydrogeology training informs a science-driven, trial-based approach to sustainable farming — including a long-running compost program using poultry manure from the family’s egg operation, cover cropping and hedgerow […]
Burroughs Family Farms: Pioneering Regenerative Organic Certified Almond Farming
A Q&A-style article featuring Benina Burroughs Montes, managing partner of Burroughs Family Orchards, describing how the fifth-generation family farm became the first Regenerative Organic Certified almond operation in the country, and how their practices — including cover cropping, planned sheep grazing, hedgerows, whole orchard recycling, and a catch-frame harvest system — improve soil health, water […]
Managing Irrigation in your Orchard: Phytophthora, IPM, and SGMA
Interactions Between Cover Cropping and Integrated Grazing in Walnuts
BIOS: Sanitation, Pruning, And Nematode Management in Walnuts (IN-PERSON EVENT)
BIOS: Sanitation, Pruning, and Nematode Management in Walnuts
Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) invites you to a free, in-person event in Linden, CA. We will discuss orchard sanitation, pruning, and nematode management. Farmer James Chinchiolo will demonstrate his custom mower prototype that includes a blower, flail mower, and weed sprayer attachment that combines orchard floor sanitation and weed management in one pass. This will […]