We Can Help!
University of California Cooperative Extension provides research-based support and technical advisement to agricultural producers of any size in Inyo and Mono counties.
Our work emphasizes improving the productivity, sustainability, and long-term success of farms and gardens in the unique growing conditions of the Eastern Sierra. We conduct research and provide guidance in areas including:
- Season extension
- Planning and budgeting
- Soil health and testing
- Pest and disease diagnosis
- Best management practices for small-scale horticultural crops
We work with producers of all sizes to address challenges that affect the success of their operations. Support may include collaborating on applied research projects, providing unbiased, science-based recommendations, and connecting producers with University of California resources and subject-matter experts throughout the state.
Assistance is also available for environmental horticulture, including issues relevant to nurseries, arborists, landscapers, public agencies, and other professionals who manage landscapes and urban vegetation.
Producers of livestock, alfalfa, forage crops, or other agricultural commodities are encouraged to contact our office. While local expertise focuses primarily on horticulture, we can connect clients with University of California specialists and advisors across California to address a wide range of agricultural questions.
Questions regarding agricultural regulations, pesticide enforcement or disputes, pesticide use reporting, or production statistics should be directed to the Inyo-Mono Agricultural Commissioner.
Soil Testing and Tissue Analysis
Although our area is remote and likely as far as one can get from California's prime farm land, we get frequent requests for soil testing at our office. Many USDA-NRCS programs require soil testing as part of their contract. In general, commercial growers should test their soil to best establish their fertility program. Fertilizer is expensive, so putting out the correct amount is important.
Our office lacks the capacity at this time to go out and take soil samples, nor do we have an in-house laboratory. About all we can look at is soil pH and, unless something was done to your soil in the past to deliberately alter soil pH, we've found those results almost always closely match the published soil pH for the field soil.
Most of the soils near our communities or adjacent to the Sierra tend to be coarse and very slightly alkaline or neutral. In the low desert they are usually very alkaline. The Web Soil Survey or the SoilWeb App are good places to start online for obtaining basic soil information about your parcel.
Those who need to get a soil test done to manage farm or pasture fertility should know there are several excellent labs available. A basic soil test should cost about $40 with a recommendation. Here in the West where we have alkaline soils, you will want to ensure the lab uses an Olsen Test for phosphorus, not Bray, unless you know your soil is acidic. This can be an issue for us with labs located on the East Coast. (Many labs do both in their routine analysis.)
If you've never done a soil test and you're handling that yourself, a good practice is call or email the lab you are considering before sending to determine costs and arrange payment/shipping. If you are working with NRCS and need someone to act as your QI, we can provide the necessary oversight to the process, but we lack the capacity at this time to collect the samples.
Soil tests are seldom of much use in our area for home gardeners, but if you have questions about that, contact the Master Gardener program.
Less often we get requests for tissue analysis of plants. Many of the same labs that test soil also will do tissue analysis for major crops to determine plant nutrient needs. This can be a very accurate way to measure nutrient levels, but the protocol used to collect samples is very important. If you need this sort of test, contact your lab or our office for information. Home gardeners should never need this service.
Beginning Commercial Operations
Starting a commercial agricultural enterprise anywhere is challenging. Our harsh conditions and an environment that is very different from most of California compounds the issue.
Our office can help you get started and answer key questions you may have. This page has several useful tips to help you get started.
Our area is well-suited for livestock grazing, forage crops, and root crops. Other crops can grow here, but we may not be the optimal location for them, and access to markets can make scaling up a business challenging.
We also have very little suitable land available to farm on. If you find a parcel, please do due diligence before purchasing it if your primary goal is to establish a farm. That includes water availability and quality, as well as soil conditions. Acreage that comes up for sale in Inyo or Mono counties often (but not always) has serious constraints related to one or more of those factors. Most financial needs a new grower will want to access do require legal control of the land. That can mean a lease or purchase, but you will need more than a handshake.
There are opportunities here, but you will find that what works elsewhere may be hard to implement in this region. We're glad to answer your questions or review any plans.
Home Gardens and Non-Commercial Growers
Home gardeners who require assistance should contact our Master Gardener volunteers for answers to their gardening and landscape questions. We also have Master Food Preservers who can help with home preservation questions.
Their help line number is (760) 872-2098. You can email your question to them at immg@ucanr.edu.
