On March 12, 2019 the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District (ESRCD) held a Soil Health Workshop at MJC's West Campus. The workshop showcased the use of cover crops as a method to increase soil biological diversity, increase soil carbon, decrease erosion, compete with weeds and add habitat for beneficial insects, including honey bees. This work shop was an outreach operation of the ESRCD as part of a statewide program funded with cap and trade money to increase awareness and use of ‘soil improving practices’ in California.
Exhibits of different cover crops and their relative benefits were presented by speakers from the ESRCD, USDA, University of California Cooperative Extension and Kamprath Seed. Kamprath seed installed the different cover crop materials as part of an ongoing educational project that seeks to educate students, growers and ag sales representatives in the benefits and uses of plants for improving the soil and environment. This project has been going on for 18 years on the west campus and has benefited numerous classes and companies over the years.
