With a historically wet winter behind them, California farmers are still feeling the effects of "too much of a good thing." With excess rain has come flooding with ruined crops or delayed planting.
But many regenerative agriculture and Holistic Management producers have been able to use the excess rainfall to their advantage. One example is Paul and Elizabeth Kaiser of Singing Frogs Farm who said they have been able to get their spring planting in on time despite the excess rain. They have been able to do that because their improved soil fertility and carbon sequestration means the water goes into the soil rather than ponding on top. A recent flood of their lower fields was gone within 24 hours. Likewise, their low-impact planting methods mean they can get in and work the soil sooner.
Another example is Paicines Ranch in Paicines, California, winner of HMI's Award for Outstanding Holistic Management Demonstration Site. The Ranch's Vineyard Director and Holistic Management Certified Educator, Kelly Mulville, said: "The vineyard soils are now capable of holding all the water this past series of storms has poured on it.”
Because every additional one percent of organic matter in the soil increases water holding capacity by 20,000 gallons per acre, carbon sequestration is critical to soil productivity and resilience whether dealing with flooding or drought. Key Holistic Management principles help producers create this type of resilience profitability while addressing critical environmental issues.
To learn more about the research showing why Holistic Management works, read this article.
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