Farm Management

We offer a full range of services for the custom management of your farm. We can work with you to determine the right services so that you can get the most out of your land.

Budgets + Planning

We prepare fertility budgets based on the needs of the orchard using ag water suitability analysis sampling, tissue sampling, and soil sampling.

We work closely with agronomists, PCA’s and academics in the industry to capture and execute on the best available information.
We monitor, document and measure progress in the field against goals established during planning for the growing season. Planning occurs during Fall/Winter.

We monitor the fertility budget-to-actual throughout the year.
- Continuous Monitoring: Changes are often made to the materials and quantities included in the approved budget.
- Data-driven Decisions: Changes are made using goal-oriented decision making based on field observations and sampling results.

Full Transparency: In such cases where there is a material increase in costs, we reach out to our clients for prior approval.

Administrative Services

We will approve and code invoices for clients who do their own bookkeeping.
We offer bookkeeping and prepare tax paperwork for clients seeking a turnkey solution for managing their orchard.
We have a longstanding relationship and outsource tax return preparation and planning to Conner Hering with Dunn, Jeffries, Hering & Wong LLP.
We will manage bank relationships for long-term financing and working capital needs We can assist with reclamation forms that must be filed by March 1 each year.
We will complete paperwork for grant and market assistant programs offered through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Irrigation

At West Hills, we work with irrigators who are trained experts on the irrigation systems they work most closely on (i.e. emitter spacing, emitter rate, pressure requirements in the field and at the filter station).

We manage your irrigation scheduling using infield boots-on-the-ground approach along with soil moisture technology.

We execute the irrigation schedule using a team of skilled irrigators.

Our team of irrigators has years of experience opening and closing valves in the field.

We have an irrigation maintenance program which includes flushing hoses and treating the hose with hydronium acid 1-2 times per year.

Frequency will be based on the quality of water being used throughout the year.

Our irrigation maintenance program also includes servicing the well motors, booster motors and pumps along with oilers at the well.

Orchard Management

Our hands-on approach allows us to use the important observations needed to execute equipment services.

We provide timely application of pesticides, timely harvest and tailored pruning techniques.
We offer cost savings for materials and equipment services by recognizing the needs of the orchard at any given point in time.
Our hands-on orchard management approach creates an opportunity for an increased ROI.

Agronomy

The science of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation requires specialized knowledge. West Hills can provide that skill in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science.

Fertilization

The right fertilizer, timing, and application can boost or cripple crop yield. Our agronomists are experts and have decades of experience determining the right combination for individual land types and plant stages.

Harvesting

The key component of our management services include our ag strategies, in-field experience, water acquisition knowledge, water well monitoring and improvements, irrigation and fertilizer execution, and our network of industry experts for agronomy, crop protection (pest control), pruning, and field labor.

Training & Pruning

Pruning is one of the most important fundamentals to growing a high producing orchard. West Hills uses a rounded approach to training and pruning using the knowledge of industry leaders including Rumaldo Perez with Pacific Farm Management, Bob Beede (insert company name), and research available through the UC Cooperative Extension. It is important that growers recognize that different techniques are used based on the rootstock, variety, age, and tree structure. West Hills has the network and in -field experience to maximize the profitability of your orchard.

Pest Control

Pest control methods date back to the first attempts at farming. In order to maximize yield, it is necessary to protect crops from competing rodents.

Weed Control

Proper weed control is essential to a healthy crop. Weeds compete with your crops for resources and are sometimes responsible for hosting destructive pests and insects. Unwanted plants can cause serious damage to the crop and can result in critical loss of yield if not properly handled. Selective herbicides and fungicides kill specific targets while leaving the crop relatively unharmed, but as techniques for weed control vary, not all implementations involve a heavy herbicide program.

Water Strategies

We have extensive experience working with federal and state water districts and know the ins and outs of developing optimal long-term water strategies. We have the necessary relationships for drilling and repairing water wells, maintaining detailed historical data, and monitoring each well's individual performance on a daily basis.

Land Preparation

Before planting an orchard, we carefully analyze its soils to determine the best approach for a particular plot of land. Our agronomists utilize their soil science knowledge to formulate the best soil amendment program before planting your valuable investment. Our fleet includes the necessary types of equipment to complement the soil amendment applications resulting in optimal planting conditions.