Harnessing Cover Crops to Manage Wind and Boost Beneficial Insects in Orchards

‍

In the high winds of Cochise County, Arizona, farming can be a battle against the elements. But for the Green Valley Pecan Company and their San Simon Farm, regenerative solutions like cover crops have turned a harsh growing environment into a success story.

‍

“We have wind all the time,” Brian Driscoll says. “March, April, and May - the wind is torrential. And we were losing leaves.”

‍

Planting new trees in January only to have them stripped bare by June was not sustainable. Dust and sand blew across the landscape, the soil eroded, and plant stress was extreme. Something had to change.

‍

Cover Crops as a Windbreak and Soil Armor

‍

The farm made a pivotal switch: integrating cover crops alongside sprinkler irrigation to combat wind erosion and stabilize soil.

“Because of our slope and because of our wind, those are the two driving forces that we have to have cover,” the grower explains.

‍

Cover crops act as living armor for the soil. They reduce the impact of wind, keep soil in place, moderate temperature, and improve water infiltration. By keeping the soil covered, they created a protective layer that shields young trees and prevents organic matter from blowing away.

‍

This is one of the core principles of soil health we promote: keeping the soil covered is foundational for building resilient farming systems. Bare ground invites erosion, temperature extremes, and biological collapse - especially in arid and windy regions.

‍

Measurable Benefits: Organic Matter and Soil Temperature

‍

The benefits of cover crops go far beyond erosion control. Since implementation, Driscoll has observed a steady rise in soil organic matter, with values now averaging between 2.1% and 2.8%, some areas even pushing 3%.

‍

“You cover up the ground, you get your soil temperatures cooler. Our organic matter has shot up.”

‍

Lower soil temperatures in hot climates protect microbial life, enhance root development, and improve nutrient cycling. The increase in organic matter reflects better carbon cycling and improved fertility, core outcomes of regenerative practices.

‍

Encouraging an Army of Beneficial Insects

‍

Perhaps the most exciting outcome of this soil health transformation is the explosion of beneficial insect populations. By reducing pesticide applications and building plant diversity through cover crops, the farm has created a habitat where native insect allies can thrive.

‍

“We have a great population of beneficial lacewings, ladybugs, assassin bugs,” he says. “It’s keeping our aphid sprays down to a third of what we would normally do.”

‍

That’s right: the farm is now using two-thirds less pesticide than before. The cover crops serve as both a food source and refuge for beneficials, creating a biological control system that’s both effective and self-renewing.

‍

This is a key tenet of integrated pest management (IPM), and it's especially valuable in orchard systems where pests like aphids can cause costly damage. By investing in habitat instead of chemicals, the farm has built a pest control system that works with nature instead of against it.

‍

Seeing Results at Harvest

‍

The presence of beneficials isn’t just anecdotal—it’s visible and measurable. During mowing and harvest operations, the grower reports seeing beneficial insects swarm the equipment.

‍

“Our mowers, when we make a pass, are covered with lacewings and ladybugs.”

‍

These insects aren’t being shipped in from labs or sprayed onto the trees, they’re native species naturally thriving in the farm’s living soil system. It’s a sign that the farm has shifted from a chemically-managed system to an ecologically-managed one.

‍

Lessons from the Wind

‍

Brian Driscoll and the Green Valley Pecan Company’s journey is a reminder that even in the most challenging environments, soil health principles can transform outcomes. What started as a desperate attempt to stop wind damage has turned into a regenerative system rich with microbial life, organic matter, and beneficial insects.

‍

It’s not about a silver bullet. It’s about building systems that can take a beating and still bounce back stronger. And it starts by covering the soil.

‍

To see more about the Green Valley Pecan Company’s triumph over wind, watch our How to Manage Extreme Wind and Increase Beneficial Insects video in our How to Soil Health video series.

‍