Grant to provide growers with cost sharing

FALLBROOK – Mission Resource Conservation District and the San Diego County Water Authority have secured funding from the California Department of Water Resources’ Proposition 84 grant to provide growers with cost sharing – up to $5,000 for the purchase of soil moisture sensors. It will allow growers to make more precise irrigation management decisions.

The Precision Agricultural program begins with the creation of a soil map for the property, which is created using electrical conductivity mapping, a precision agriculture practice that is used frequently throughout the country.

In tests conducted in San Diego County, fields that were described as having a single soil type by the U.S. Department of Agriculture WebSoil Survey were found to actually have three distinctly different water holding capacities. Understanding these soil characteristics allows for the proper placement of soil sensor stations to allow for better data driven irrigation management.

For more information about this program, eligibility and how to apply, contact Lance Andersen at Mission RCD, (760) 728-1332 or [email protected].