Researcher David James (back) looks for beneficial insects at Moon Family Farm

Growing Resilience at Moon Family Farm

In one of the driest corners of the Pacific Northwest, Moon Family Farm has built a farming system where water scarcity isn’t just a challenge - it’s the foundation for everything they do.

Moon Family Farm, run by Garrett and Jessica Moon, grows several grain varieties and hosts cattle from nearby ranches for grazing. They also keep bees, support burrowing owls and native insects with habitat, and have placed raptor perches across the property.

Field Day at USDA Spence Farm

Planting for Beneficial Insects: Hedgerows, Insectary Strips, and Habitat Patches

Date: September 30, 2026 from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Spence Research Farm at 1572 Old Stage Road in Salinas, California

Cost: $15 ticket price includes lunch, sliding scale options available. Prefer to skip lunch? Attend free with a no-lunch ticket, RSVP is required.

CE Credits: Continuing education credits are offered through the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Learn from researchers and growers about the benefits of hedgerows, insectary strips and alyssum intercropping, plus the latest food safety research. The day will include a walking tour of a new, long-term hedgerow trial established in 2025, and a 23 year-old hedgerow at the site.

Farmers Lost Conservation Experts in Trump’s Federal Cuts. Now They’re Hurting for Help.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service lost nearly a quarter of its staff after the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal government. Many were local experts that help farmers with soil and water conservation efforts

By Abigail Bottar | Harvest Public Media

Tomorrow: California Marine Sanctuary Foundation Cover Crop Webinar

Join California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF) for a webinar focused on cover cropping at a large scale. The session will begin with CMSFsharing the year 1 results from the CDFA Healthy Soils Cover Crop Trial with Dole, happening now in Soledad, CA. Then Sarah Lopez, the Director of Central Coast Water Quality Preservation Inc. will discuss how cover crops can help growers in reaching Ag Order 4.0 compliance. Richard Smith and Nick Clark, from UCCE will talk about cover crop species selection and timing. Finally, a grower panel will talk about their experiences and insights learned from cover cropping.

Tomorrow: State Solutions for Wildlife Conservation Webinar

9/22/2026 at 2:00 EST/1:00 CT/12:00 MT/11:00 PST

Join American Bird Conservancy (ABC) to hear from state legislators discussing innovative ways to protect wildlife and habitats.

Speakers:

• State Senator Jeff Golden of Oregon about the 1.25% for Wildlife Bill (HB 4134), a novel funding mechanism for state wildlife agencies

• State Senator Cathy Kipp of Colorado about pollinator and pesticide advocacy and protecting invertebrates through new laws

• ABC Director of Government Relations Hardy Kern about the increasing role of states in protecting wildlife
• ABC will also discuss Maryland's state-level endangered species protection bill from Delegate Julie Palakovich-Carr, HB 578

Balance Soil Health and Wildlife Conservation

By Rebecca Kern-Lunbery, Farm Progress

Increasingly in the agriculture industry, we hear producers referring to themselves not as corn growers or soybean producers, but rather as land managers.

This title indicates a lot more than driving a tractor and harvesting crops. It indicates they are the stewards of vast stretches of our rural landscape. They understand they are responsible for taking care of the ground and the wildlife living there.

“Aboveground diversity cannot exist without belowground diversity," said Jonathan Kerman, Ward Laboratory’s agronomic adviser.

Albert Tomechko, president and founder of Vitalize Seed, added, “It begins with a conservation mindset.”

According to Tomechko, the ultimate goal is to create and sustain a diverse ecosystem to leave healthier, more productive land for the next generation of ag producers, and wildlife too.

2026 National Cover Crop Report Shows Continued Expansion of Cover Crop Use

Results of the 2026 National Cover Crop Report indicate strong interest in cover crops among many farmers who produce a wide range of crops and livestock. Among respondents to the survey, the average acreage planted with cover crops was 397.9, and their projections anticipate crossing the 400-acre mark by next year. Almost half of the cover crop users in the survey had 10+ years of experience with cover crops.

The 2026 survey was conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, and American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and is the ninth National Cover Crop Report published by CTIC and SARE since 2013.

Registration Open for CalCAN’s California Agriculture & Climate Conference

San Joaquin Valley perspectives. Statewide agricultural solutions.

Date: November 9, 2026 | 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Location: DoubleTree Fresno Convention Center • Fresno

Includes breakfast refreshments, opening plenary, all conference sessions, lunch, and the closing reception.

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