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Farmscaping for California Agriculture

Prepared by:Sam EarnshawCommunity Alliance with Family Farmers

(CAFF)(831) 722-5556www.caff.org

Funding for some projects from NFWF, SWRCB, NRCS EQIP, and WSARE

HEDGEROWSDefinition: Lines or groups of trees, perennial and annual forbs and grassed planted along field edges or other non-crop areas

Functions: Beneficial insect and pollinator habitatWildlife habitatSoil erosion controlWeed controlNon-point source water pollution reductionAir quality and dust controlBarriersRiparian stabilizationWindbreak and climate modificationAesthetic valueEconomic returnsIncrease in local and regional biodiversity

Hedgerow at John Anderson’s Farm, Yolo Co.:Wild Rose, Toyon, Redbud

Hedgerow 7 Years Old: Ceanothus, Coffeeberry, Baccharis, Elderberry, Toyon Hedgerows at Farm Edges

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Good Site for a Beneficial Insect Hedgerow

Salinas Valley Hedgerow and Grassed Berm

Distribution of Plant Communities in California Life Zones of California

ElevationRainfallClimateBiota

ZonesBoreal-alpineTransition-mountainUpper Sonoran-foothillLower Sonoran-valley

Ceanothus - California Lilac Low growing Ceanothus C. Yankee Point

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Coffeeberry Toyon - Christmas Berry

Toyon: Host for FireblightDo not plant near Apple or Pear Orchards

Perennial Buckwheat: Eriogonum latifolium

Perennial Buckwheatin Flower

Giant Buckwheat, 9 months growth;Lots of Flowers, Lots of Insects

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Coyote Brush, Giant Buckwheat

Prostrate Coyote Brush (var. Twin Peaks)

Baccharis (Coyote Brush) Invading Open LandWooly Sunflower

Bee Plant

Gumplant

Clematis (Vine)

Aster chilensis

Lavatera

Atriplex lentiformis - Quailbush, Saltbush

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Yarrow on BankMixed Hedge, Using Short Species

Hedgerow with Tall Species Hedges Used as Fences in Kenya

Insects on Flowers Beneficial Insects

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RESEARCH- Insects Associated with Native HedgerowsFrom Long, R.F., A. Corbett, C. Lamb, C. Reberg-Horton, J. Chandler, and M. Stimmann. 1998. Movement of

beneficial insects from flowering plants to associated crops. California Agriculture. 52(5): 23-26.

Plant species sampled:California lilac CeanothusBuckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatumCoffeeberry Rhamnus californicaCoyote Brush Baccharis pilularisToyon Heteromleles arbutifoliaElderberry Sambucus mexicana

Beneficial InsectsMonitored:

Minute pirate bugAssassin bugSoldier beetleGreen lacewingColopsLady beetleDamselHymenopteraHoverfliesTachinid flies

Pest Insects Controlled

AphidsMealy BugsLeaf HoppersScaleMitesCorn Earworm

WhiteflyThripsSquash BugStink BugLygus Bug

Beneficial Insects Wasps

Beneficial Insects

Use of Alyssum as In-field Insectory

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Alyssumnaturalizing

in fields; Not weeded out

Pomegranate Hedgerow

Owl Boxes, Used for Rodent ControlThings You Find in Owl Boxes

Birds Eat Pest Insects

Insects Eaten by BirdsCaterpillarsAntsGrubsMothsGrasshoppersLeafhoppersAphidsSnailsScale insectsSow bugsCodling MothInsect eggs

Planting Layout

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Causes for Failure

• Water: Too little, too much: usually need irrigation for 2-3 years

• Deer, rodents (mainly gophers)• Tractor blight• Worker damage• Plants get overrun by weeds• Planting gets forgotten, ignored

Signs Protect Habitat Plantings

Using Mulch to Control Weeds And Regulate

Moisture

Mulched Hedgerow

Use of Weed Fabric in Hedgerow Creeping Wildrye asUnderstory on Riparian Berm

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Hedgerow Densities: Gaps through Mortality Hedgerow with Gaps

Solid Hedge, Planted at Six-Foot Spacing Perennial Hedgerow - Sample Costs*

* For more detailed information refer to complete study:“Estimated costs and potential benefits for a perennial hedgerow planting (2003)”

University of California Cooperative Extension - http://cesantacruz.ucdavis.edu

739515280Total Cost/Unit Yrs 2-5

3,9382,9181,276Total Cost/Unit Year 1

000Reduced Returns/Unit

564020Int. on Op. Capital (7.4%)

739515280Annual O & M

3,1432,363976Installation (Plant)

HighRepLowCost ($) / Unit (1,000 LF)

Chart courtesy Laura Tourte, UCCE

Issues, Problems with Native Plantings

• Pests (insects, rodents) attracted to plantings

• Movement of insects into fields• Genetic Pollution-not using plants from

specific area• Hosting Diseases: Pierce’s Disease,

Sudden Oak Death (SOD), Eutypa

Host plants for Blue-Green Sharpshooter, vector for Pierce’s Disease

NON-NATIVE HOST PLANTS:• Himalayan blackberry Rubus discolor• Periwinkle Vinca major• Wild grape Vitis sp.

NATIVE HOST PLANTS:• California blackberry Rubus ursinus• California grape Vitis californica• Mugwort Artemisia douglasiana• Stinging nettle Urtica dioica• Mulefat Baccharis salicifolia• Blue elderberry Sambucus mexicana

SOURCE: Information Manual, Riparian Management for Pierce’s Disease in North Coast California Vineyards, 9/2000, (707) 933-0509

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Tree Frog in Hedgerow Gopher Snake in Hedgerow

Snakes CatchRodents

Snakes Eat Rodents

Now, that’s a snake!

John Anderson, with gopher snake

Fence BarrierEncircling Field

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Field Barriers Field Barriers

Planting on Berms - Short PlantsNative Perennial Grasses

and Shrubs on Berm

Perennial Grass (Creeping Wildrye)On a Berm

Grassed Waterway

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Perennial Grass along Roadside Picking up 4000 Creeping Wildrye Plugs from Rana Creek Nursery

Planting Creeping Wildrye plugs,one at a time Converting Eroding Ditch

To Grassed Waterway

Perennial Grass (Creeping Wildrye) along Waterway Grassed Waterway

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Seeded Native Perennial Grasses

Grasses and Yarrow SeededIn Swale

Erosion Controlin Swale with Grasses,

Wetland Plants andYarrow

BeforeAfter

Storm Runoff down Swale Jan. 1, 2004

Swale Vegetation PreventingFormation of Gully Erosion1/02/04 (one day after storm)

Before Vegetation

Swale, 3/04

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Native Grasses Grown for Seed Production at Rana Creek Native Grass Production Field Hedgerow Farms, Winters, CA

Grass Buffer between Field and Hedge Deergrass as a Border

PondsWindbreak, using Redwood, Incense Cedar, Pepper Tree,

Giant Sequoia, Soapbark Tree, Strawberry Madrone

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WindbreakPlants Growing Together to Form Natural Hedge

Plants Growing Together,Forming One Hedge

Hedgerow in Distance

Hedgerow, Salinas Valley

For More Information on Hedgerows, ContactSam Earnshaw, (831) 722-5556 or www.caff.org

Resource Guide: Hedgerows for California Agriculture Available for downloading on CAFF Web site