Project Partners Update – Meetings with Company Representatives

Meeting at Gadash Mizra

Hello everyone,

First, I want to thank you all for your collaboration and commitment to advancing not only the cotton sector but Israeli agriculture as a whole. It is encouraging to see the growing cooperation among all stakeholders involved in the project.

Field Activities Overview

The past few weeks have been dedicated to visiting growers at the four participating farms—Gevaram, Shaalvim, Mizra, and Hazorea—alongside the supporting partner companies. During these meetings, we discussed the project, the role of each company, and the tools that will be provided throughout the season to ensure professional and high-quality support across all relevant areas. Below are the key takeaways from these meetings:

Eyal Kedoshim, Chief Agronomist at Deshen Hatzafon:

• Petiole Testing: The primary monitoring method, analyzing NPK levels based on standard thresholds. Four samplings will be conducted per farm over six critical weeks, with samples sent to the Neve Yaar laboratory.

• Soil Solution Sampling: Installation and scheduled sampling to assess actual nutrient availability in the soil.

• SAP Analysis: An advanced method for monitoring plant sap nutrients, capable of measuring a wide range of elements, including micronutrients.

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Netafim – Eyal Friedman & Rani Yifa:

• Installation of soil moisture sensors with real-time data transmission to the GrowSphere system.

• Use of tensiometers at three depths (30, 60, 90 cm) to enable precise irrigation scheduling.

• Data collection via Advisor Crop software, which provides real-time irrigation and fertilization protocols.

Down to Earth – Eran Gabay:

• Soil preparation: Termination of the service crop 7–10 days before cotton sowing, using a roller crimper and strip-till techniques.

• Sowing under wet conditions or pre-germination, depending on soil conditions.

To summarize, this period has been focused on meetings, task coordination, and aligning expectations for the upcoming cotton season. The first year of the project serves as a platform for observation and data collection, aiming to assess whether green fallow provides advantages over winter fallow in the cotton cycle. The goal is to develop a practical and effective protocol that can be adopted by additional growers, fostering collaboration and continuous learning from the field.

Best regards,

Stav Sharf Project Coordinator