Modesto, CA — May 6th, 2025 — Sustainable Conservation and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), along with UC ANR and other partners, have released a new guidance document — Cover Cropping in California’s Water Scarce Environments — to help growers harness the many benefits of cool-season cover crops while reducing water use. As farmers adapt to a changing water supply, this guide provides practical considerations about cover crop species, timing, and management to reduce runoff, increase infiltration and water retention, and bolster overall soil health.
This guidance is part of ongoing collaborative efforts across the agricultural, research, and conservation communities to help California growers meet the challenges posed by climate change and water scarcity. It builds on findings from the 2024 Cover Cropping in the SGMA Era report, which connects the importance of effectively integrating water-smart, multi-benefit practices with groundwater sustainability planning.
This guide provides ground-truthed, practical recommendations and considerations around water wise cover cropping, perhaps more important now than ever in light of climate instability and as growers navigate the SGMA era. Emily Ayala, CAFF Ecological Farming Program Manager
Collaborators emphasize that with strategic species selection and management, cover crops can use similar or even less water than bare soil, while delivering significant water-related benefits such as:
Improved water infiltration and percolation
Enhanced soil water-holding capacity
Reduced runoff and soil erosion
Lower surface temperatures and evaporative loss
Even in water-scarce environments, the water tradeoffs of cover crops — such as improved winter soil moisture and reduced nitrate leaching — can be worth the small investment in water.
Water-Wise Tools for Growers
Understanding water dynamics with cover crops is critical for adoption for our drought prone state. This publication will help growers optimize their cover crops for maximum water and soil benefits. Sarah Light, Agronomy Farm Advisor at UCANR
The guidance includes management considerations throughout the winter cover crop season, including a drought-tolerant species selection guide, planting and establishment tips, strategic termination timing, residue management, and holistic soil health considerations for compounded benefits.
Drone footage of a Central Valley orchard with cover crops. Pusher HQ
Acknowledgments
This publication reflects the expertise and insight of many dedicated individuals from across California’s agricultural and conservation communities. Sustainable Conservation and CAFF would like to thank the authors and reviewers who informed the document, including representatives from UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, USDA Plant Materials Center, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, and Project Apis m. Their input helped ensure the guidance is practical, scientifically grounded, and relevant to growers’ needs.
Funding for this resource was made possible in part through support from The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDFA.
With smart species selection and management, cover crops can support water conservation goals and provide long-term soil and crop resilience. This guide can serve as a resource for growers to make informed cover cropping decisions for their farming contexts — even during dry years. Sarah Castle, Sustainable Conservation Senior Scientist
About Sustainable Conservation
For over 30 years, Sustainable Conservation has united people across business, agriculture, and government to steward California’s vital natural resources. Our programs promote practical solutions that enhance environmental and economic sustainability, focusing on water, land, and air quality. For more information, visit www.suscon.org and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About CAFF
CAFF is a California-based nonprofit that builds sustainable food and farming systems through advocacy, education, and on-the-ground support for family farmers. Learn more at www.caff.org.
