In this issue:

•  New Hedgerow Plantings at Two Local Farms
• Thank you Veronica Stork
• Board Vacancies

Partner Updates/Events

• USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Program Deadlines
• USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Key Deadlines and Opportunities

 

New Hedgerow Plantings at Two Local Farms

This winter, our pollinator and wildlife habitat program incorporated two new sites to implement native plant hedgerows on agricultural land in San Benito County. Hedgerows provide an array of benefits to agricultural operations by attracting beneficial insects, protecting crops, blocking wind, and increasing privacy. Simultaneously, they provide critical habitat for insects and other animals to live, eat, and move safely. 

 At one of these sites, the San Benito RCD has been working in collaboration with landowners, producers, and conservation partners to improve habitat for native pollinators and other wildlife by implementing multiple hedgerows on a 22-acre farm located in San Benito County. These hedgerow plantings consist of 276 native plants spanning approximately 1,200 linear feet along the boundaries of this diversified vegetable farm. A big thank you goes out to our volunteers, RCD Monterey County, Xerces Society for Conservation, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the National Center for Appropriate Technology for supporting the implementation of this project.

At a second site, San Benito RCD has partnered with landowners, Point Blue STRAW, and Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation to implement a 1,300 linear foot hedgerow planting. Through collaboration with Point Blue STRAW, over one hundred elementary school students were brought out to the site on educational field trips to plant native plants for the hedgerow.

 

Partner Updates/Events

 

 

Monterey Bay Air Resources District Diesel Engine & Equipment Replacement Program

This program provides funding to encourage the replacement of older heavy-duty motors/engines operated in one or more of the Air District's three counties: Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz.  See flyer below or click here for more information.  

 

Taller Practico sobre CropManage y Sesion de Asistencia Personalizada

This free CropManage training on irrigation and nutrient management will be provided in Spanish February 13 from 10:30-2:00 in Watsonville by PVWMA and RCD of Santa Cruz County. The English version of the workshop will be offered on March 20. 

 

UC Cooperative Extension: California Targeted Grazing Short Course

The University of California Cooperative Extension is offering a new short course on targeted grazing, beginning on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The short course will feature an evening webinar every Tuesday for ten weeks covering a variety of topics, and culminate with an in-person field day at UC Davis on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Please register here by February 13, 2026.