100 Years of Boswell

Chapter 4

The Crops

California is truly America’s breadbasket. In 2009, the state led the country in producing over eighty different crops. It is the go-to source for more than 99 percent of America’s almonds, dates, pistachios, raisins, and pomegranates, just to name a few. The J. G. Boswell Company is a large contributor to that basket, with its primary crops including Pima cotton, alfalfa hay, tomatoes, onions, and wheat grown across the San Joaquin Valley in both Kings and Kern Counties. That’s a lot of farmland, and a lot of good food! Science At Boswell, the most important consideration of farming is the health of the soil. We improve soil health and productivity by blending tradition with science to grow the best crops. From the seed to the harvest, every step is guided by research and technology. A close eye is kept on the fields using drones and satellite images to check on crop health, while soil testing ensures the plants are getting the right nutrients. Crops are regularly rotated to give the soil a boost. Advanced technology also helps track weather and moisture so that farmers can make smart, real-time decisions. And crops are planted using satellite-driven, high-speed tractors. Boswell also teams up with agricultural experts to develop stronger, healthier crops and more eco-friendly ways to farm. Plant Health The J. G. Boswell Company has always been at the forefront of research and development of new technologies that improve both soil health and plant genetics, specifically salt management in our land’s heavy clay soils and improved plant vigor to improve plant health. Constant research was used to improve the genetics of the crops the company is growing. Through its work with PhytoGen, Boswell became known for producing some of the best cottonseed varieties, including Acala and Pima. We have shown the same effort in all of the crops we have grown over the last one hundred years, with each crop designed to thrive in different growing conditions. But it is not just about cotton—the company also produces seeds for crops like wheat and alfalfa, always focused

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