Project Partners Update

Winter fallow vs "Green fallow" germination

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Kicking Off the Season

Four field crop farms have begun sowing service crops: Gvar'am, Sha'albim, HaZorea, and Mizra. Each farm has designated treatment plots (green fallow), which will be compared to control plots (winter fallow).

• Gvar'am – Service crop plot vs. conventional control plot, 50 dunams each.

• Sha'albim – Kosher-certified service crop plot vs. conventional control plot, 50 dunams each.

• HaZorea – Two double-cropping plots: wheat for silage with a high stubble cut to leave more plant material, and wheat for silage with shallow tillage before cotton sowing, compared to a conventional control plot, 50 dunams each.

• Mizra – Service crop plot on ridges vs. a corn winter fallow vs. a conventional control plot, 50 dunams each.

Upcoming Goals

1. Documenting Farm Management ActivitiesCoordination with farm operations managers to establish data collection and documentation procedures for management activities in the plots.

2. On-Site Visits by Partner TeamsScheduling visits from Deshen Hatzafon (Eyal), Down to Earth (Tutsi), and Netafim (Eyal) to assess growers’ needs regarding fertilization and machinery.Each grower will receive personalized guidance tailored to their specific land and management practices.

3. Soil Testing and Weed SamplingConducting soil analyses and weed sampling in the different plots (control vs. observation) to establish baseline reference points for comparison in subsequent project stages.

4. New Field CoordinatorStav Sharaf has replaced Meir Gadisman as the project’s field coordinator. Stav is an agronomist at Adama Haya and will oversee coordination, meeting organization, and data management among all project partners.

5. Meeting with the Soil Conservation DivisionThe Cotton Council team and Adama Haya will meet to discuss expanding collaboration opportunities.

6. Funding AwardMIGAL researchers have secured Horizon program funding, allowing the project to expand to two additional farms. Congratulations!

Stav Sharf & the Project Team