Healthy Soils Week<\/a>, I had the pleasure of visiting\u00a0Westwind Farms\u00a0in\u00a0Woodland\u00a0with the Almond Board\u00a0and hearing\u00a0Kirk Pumphrey\u00a0share\u00a0his experience recycling\u00a0almond\u00a0hulls and shells as mulch in his orchard. He also spoke about his\u00a0research partnership with\u00a0UC\u00a0Davis\u2019\u00a0Tanya\u00a0Gerperle-Goncalves\u00a0to\u00a0better\u00a0understand the impacts\u00a0of these practices.\u00a0The farmers attending that event had great questions about how\u00a0these\u00a0practices\u00a0could translate to their\u00a0own\u00a0operations and what benefits they might expect, giving me insight into where they saw opportunities and where the challenges lie in broader adoption.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nLater in the week, we visited Twin Peaks Orchards in Newcastle and toured their operation with co-owner Justin Miller and staff from the Placer Resource Conservation District. It was inspiring to see their partnership in implementing a project supported by OARS\u2019 Healthy Soils Program (HSP) Block Grant and to see our friends at the Community Alliance for Family Farmers create an excellent learning environment for the legislative offices and state government leadership in attendance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I left Healthy Soils Week with\u00a0the\u00a0renewed\u00a0sense of purpose I needed\u00a0to sit right back down in front of this computer and keep collaborating with stakeholders and my staff to\u00a0strengthen\u00a0and\u00a0improve\u00a0our grant programs.\u00a0We look forward to reviewing HSP and State Water Efficiency Enhancement Program (SWEEP)\u00a0concept\u00a0proposals soon and to beginning outreach for our equipment sharing program\u00a0this spring and summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hope you are finding similar inspiration in the bustle of spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sincerely, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Tawny\u00a0Mata<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Partners and Stakeholders, Spring is in full swing and, as always, we are energized by seeing the fields come alive with bee boxes, new plantings, fascinatingly complex farm equipment, and, of course, farmers hard at work stewarding the land and bringing food to our tables. At the beginning of\u00a0Healthy Soils Week, I had the pleasure … Continue reading A Note from Our Director | May 2026<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[3],"class_list":["post-327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-informational","tag-information","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Blog-image-5-1.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":188,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/31\/collaborative-orchard-studies-improve-efficiency-and-sustainability\/","url_meta":{"origin":327,"position":0},"title":"Collaborative Orchard Studies Improve Efficiency and Sustainability\u202f","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 31, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"State and industry representatives visit Bowman Orchards. Almonds are California\u2019s #1 export crop for good reason. No place in the world has a climate better suited to consistent, high-quality almond production. Furthermore, the constricting labor market in the state has encouraged farmers to move towards almonds, with their relatively lower\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Producer Success Story"","block_context":{"text":"Producer Success Story","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/producer-success-story\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"State and industry representatives visit Bowman Orchards.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":143,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/california-conservation-planning-partnership-c2p2-advances-the-oars-technical-assistance-program-goals\/","url_meta":{"origin":327,"position":1},"title":"California Conservation Planning Partnership (C2P2) advances the OARS Technical Assistance Program Goals","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"CDFA & OARS are committed to supporting farmers through the C2P2 MOA, uniting key partners for effective conservation practices.","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dr. Sara Garcia, OARS Technical Assistance Coordinator, represents CDFA\u2019s OARS team in a C2P2 Panel Discussion at the 2024 CARCD State Conference","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":90,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/03\/28\/healthy-soils-block-grant-organizations-innovate-to-give-farmers-hands-on-help-and-advice\/","url_meta":{"origin":327,"position":2},"title":"Healthy Soils Block Grant Organizations Innovate to Give Farmers Hands-on Help and Advice","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"March 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Healthy Soils Program (HSP) Block Grant Pilot is designed to promote widespread adoption of healthy soils practices. Healthier soils provide more nutrients, retain more water, are more resilient to extreme weather, and sequester more carbon. Through a competitive selection process, CDFA awarded 14 HSP Block Grants to recipient organizations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Soil sampling with the Harveys. Farmer Rita Harvey;\u202fConor Higgins - Mobile Irrigation Lab Manager, Yolo County Resource Conservation District","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0762.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0762.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0762.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0762.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0762.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_0762.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":318,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2026\/05\/05\/healthy-soils-week-in-action-at-twin-peaks-orchards\/","url_meta":{"origin":327,"position":3},"title":"Healthy Soils Week in Action at Twin Peaks Orchards","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"May 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"On April 9,\u00a0Healthy Soils Week was\u00a0marked\u00a0with a\u00a0memorable\u00a0tour of Twin Peaks Orchards in Newcastle,\u00a0offering a firsthand look at how state investments in soil health are supporting resilient farms and sustainable food systems across California. The Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability\u00a0(OARS)\u00a0partnered\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Community Alliance of Family Farmers\u00a0(CAFF)\u00a0to bring together\u00a0legislative staffers,\u00a0CDFA\u00a0personnel, and a\u00a0Cal Recycle\u00a0team\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Producer Success Story"","block_context":{"text":"Producer Success Story","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/producer-success-story\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260409_204604315_iOS-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260409_204604315_iOS-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260409_204604315_iOS-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260409_204604315_iOS-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260409_204604315_iOS-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260409_204604315_iOS-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/02\/01\/boosting-soil-health-a-walnut-growers-success-story-with-the-healthy-soils-program\/","url_meta":{"origin":327,"position":4},"title":"Boosting Soil Health: A Walnut Grower’s Success Story with the Healthy Soils Program","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"February 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Farming practices are rapidly evolving, and sustainability is at the forefront of this transformation. In this case study, we explore how a California walnut grower successfully enhanced soil health, improved water conservation, and reduced pest issues by leveraging the Healthy Soils Program (HSP). 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This initiative funds local organizations to deliver critical on-the-ground support in three main areas:\u00a0 Conducting distribution uniformity (DU)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"farmer Celsa Ortega shares her experience learning about the flow rate of her drip tape.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Celsa-Ortega.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Celsa-Ortega.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Celsa-Ortega.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Celsa-Ortega.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Celsa-Ortega.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=327"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":329,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327\/revisions\/329"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}