Sustainable Cotton Project

In 2017, SCP utilized grant funding through a grant from the California Nonpoint Source Pollution Control program Federal Clean Water Action Section 319 (h) administered through the State Water Resources Control Board. This is a three-year grant for $749,997 with all work to be completed by June 30, 2019.The SCP/San Joaquin Sustainable Farming Project education and demonstration project was designed to promote agricultural practices that encourage clean water and reduce agricultural pollution in regional watersheds. This is accomplished first by educating growers about agricultural water pollution, reduced risk practices, environmental stewardship and dealing with increasing regulation and constraints on growing as usual. A second focus is on helping growers with on-farm technical issues, implementation of practices to reduce pesticide and fertilizer use, showing growers how to document their environmental footprint and compiling data to show the effectiveness of the project. The project scope includes not just cotton, but also almonds and alfalfa, since the majority of cotton growers in the region grow one or more of these three crops. Growers of alfalfa, almonds and cotton are invited to participate and enroll an orchard or acres of cotton or alfalfa. SCP staff along with UC Cooperative Extension, UC Integrated Pest Management and other technical experts provide advice, support and education to help growers implement practices that reduce agricultures pesticide impacts on our watersheds. Accomplishments for 2017 include: Enrollment of 35 fields (cotton and alfalfa) and almond orchards in Fresno, Madera and Merced Counties. Provided growers with weekly field scouting report of pests and beneficial insects in each of their enrolled fields or orchards. Ensured access to expert technical support, which enabled growers to reduce their use of the most toxic chemicals used on the three crops, thereby benefiting the watershed in the rural communities where they farm. Implementation of best management practices including use of pheromone traps in almonds, annual hedgerows in cotton, releases of beneficial insects, strip cutting in alfalfa, and reduced risk materials for pest control. Over the project area growers of alfalfa, almonds and cotton were able to reduce their use of chlorpyrifos and diazinon (organophosphate chemicals targeted for reduction by State Water) in 2017 resulting in decreased pesticide loading of organophosphate pesticides in the San Joaquin River watershed. Held six informational field days, which included cropping experts, pest management technical advice, marketing ideas and whole farm planning. Produced a program newsletter that went out to over 1,500 growers in the region. Published a weekly blog during the growing season called: "Sustainable Ag: A View From the Field" at httpcentralvalleyfarmscoutblogspo... Over 122,000 readers have viewed this popular blog since it was started in 2011. Received positive press about our work with growers, attended meetings and conferences to promote the project as well as the marketing of the Cleaner Cotton which the program growers produce. Promotion of Cleaner Cotton On October 24, SCP hosted our annual cotton farm tour. It was similar to last years tour, but for 2017, we partnered with the Better Cotton Initiative to invite their supporting members. This included participants from GAP, Levis and Nike. About fifty participants attended the tour, which included seeing cotton in the field, meeting with local farmers, a tour of a working cotton gin and a delicious lunch at the Cardella Winery in Mendota. Marketing consultant Lynda Grose was able to make several presentations of Cleaner Cotton to industry and provided information to brands interested in possibly utilizing the fiber in their product lines. Both yarn suppliers Lunatic Fringe and Quince & Co. feature information about Cleaner Cotton yarns on their websites.