Introduction
Over the past several years, the San Mateo County Farm Bureau (FB) has been participating with farmers on the San Mateo County coast in the promotion and implementation of farming practices which reduce, remediate or eliminate causes and sources of agricultural non point source pollution. 

For the past two years, the FB has utilized funds provided thru a State of California Proposition 13 grant (awarded to the Santa Cruz Co RCD and administered by the Central Coast Water Quality Coalition) to fund a series of Conservation Practice Demonstration Projects with the irrigated agricultural operators/farmers on the San Mateo Co coast.

The FB sought out direction from the agricultural community thru meetings with Watershed Working Groups in 4 watersheds.  At those meetings, farmers in attendance expressed interest in winter annual cover crops. Based on the number of farmers interested, the FB Executive Committee determined that a 15-acre limit on acreage for reimbursement of seed costs should be established for the first year (winter of 2004/2005)

FB handled all the logistics for the farmers including: contacting the interested farmers and discussed the appropriate cover crop (based on their expectations and needs), contacting the seed company, arranging for delivery, payment, billing and reimbursement.  In some cases, the farmer wanted quantities in excess of the 15-acre reimbursement limit.  The extra cost was paid in full by the farmer.  

That first year (Winter of 2004/2005) FB facilitated 148 acres of cover crops, 96 acres of which benefited from the grant reimbursement for seed costs. 

During the planting, growing season and incorporation, FB tracked the conditions of the cover crop demonstration projects (including photo monitoring).  After incorporation, the farmers were asked to fill out a survey of their experiences with the cover crop.  A follow up workshop was also conducted so that the participating growers could discuss the results with other participants. 

In the fall of 2005, the FB again approached the farming community to assess interest in perpetuating the Cover Crop Demonstration Project. Interest in the program increased.  For the second year, FB agreed that a limit of 25-acres should be established, with a reimbursement rate of 50% of the seed costs for those participating for a second year, and 100% of the seed costs being reimbursed for new participants. 

The second year (Winter of 2005/2006) FB facilitated 275 acres of cover crops, 205 acres of which benefited from the grant reimbursement for seed costs. 

• Over the two year program, a total of 17 grower/farmers participated
• A variety of farming operations and crops were represented;
• Brussels Sprouts
• Field Flowers
• Pumpkins
• Conventional and Organic farms participated
• Year 1, a total of 148 acres were arranged for and planted with a total dollar reimbursable of $4,038, for a cost per acre of $27 (rounded)
• Year 2, a total of 275 acres were arranged for and planted with a total dollar reimbursable of $5,375, for a cost per acre of $19.50  (rounded)
• Each year, 100% of participants returned the “survey”. 
• Two workshops were conducted with good attendance.
• Interest remains high -- if funds are found, this program can be successfully continued.

Things learned, Constraints of this practice

• Most of the farming crops which are produced on the San Mateo coast are harvested in late fall or early winter.  This leaves only a small window of opportunity to prepare the ground and plant the cover crop seed before the winter rains make it difficult to work the ground. 
• If the planting is delayed due to weather, the soil cools and the germination of the cover crop is delayed, reducing the benefits of the quick-germinating cereal grain seeds included in the Soil Max Merced type mix (being a mix of Bell Bean, Magnus Pea, 2 varieties of vetch and a cereal grain – Merced Rye or other).  In those cases, the effectiveness of the protection to soil from early rains and runoff, which is expected of an established cover crop, is reduced.
• If, during the Spring, late rains prevent the farmer from working the cover crop into the soil before the cover crop matures, flowers and goes to seed, the farmer is faced with weeds thru the production season and a “green manure” which is more difficult to decompose in the soil.
• Some farmers did not care for the Merced Rye in the cover crop mix, due to its tendency to go to seed.
• The trials with the Mustard Cover Crops were inconclusive at best.  The first year of the project, early winter rains prevented or delayed the Mustard germination.   Additionally, the Mustards did not do well in the very wet soils.  Farmers in the field operations were not impressed with the growth rate or density of the stands.  It also proved to be difficult to plant due to the very small seed size.  Farmers did not have the right implements to evenly spread the seed.  The one trial of Mustards in a green house setting proved successful.  In that atmosphere, the seeds germinated well and grew robustly.  After incorporation, there appeared to be a reduced weed problem in those beds utilizing the mustard cover crops.

Things learned, The plus side

• Farmers recognized and talked about the increase workability or tilth of the soil after incorporation of the cover crops.
• After the first year, the farmers chose to replace the Merced Rye with a quick-germinating, slow maturing wheat grass in the Soil Max Mix.  For the second growing season (year 2005/2006), this cereal grain performed better and caused fewer problems with seed disbursement than the Merced Rye.
• The seed cost for cover crops in our area runs around $50 per acre.   In order to prepare the ground, plant the seed and later incorporate the cover crop, the farmer must make 4-5 passes with the tractor and implement.  The biggest expenses for this practice are tractor time, labor and diesel costs.   The farming community seems eager to perpetuate this practice, but the reimbursement of seed costs and the convenience of the FB facilitating the ordering and delivery of seed appears to be an effective incentive.  
• There were several methods of planting tried (broadcast or drilled) by the growers and several methods of incorporation (chopped and plowed or tandem disc).  Some growers tried to broadcast and then list the fields.  Each method seemed to result in adequate biomass at the time of incorporation.
• In concert with NRCS, some farmers participated in EQIP activities, which complimented the Cover Crop Project.  
• The Cover Crop Demonstration Project was well received by the general public.  FB is able to present the Project and its results to the non-farming public, making it easy to understand the benefits.  At the same time, the general public is educated about the costs and efforts involved in this practice.
• In combination with an ongoing Nutrient Management grant (in which many of these growers are participating); there is a recognition that well managed cover crops assist in nutrient budgeting, both from an environmental standpoint and an agronomic standpoint.
• The cover crops utilize residual or “leftover” nutrients in the soil from the previous cash crop.  This reduces nutrient loss from runoff or percolation over the fallow winter season.
• Some of the varieties of cover crop seed mixes effectively provide available nutrients for the cash crop which follows (i.e. nitrogen fixing legumes)
• Well established cover crops provide protection from soil loss during wet winter events (runoff and erosion).  This translates into both environmental and agronomic benefits.
• Reduced winter storm related Non Point Source issues
• Maintenance of productive soil in the field