Our Farms

The Flying M Ranch Trust is approximately 253 acres of almonds located in East Merced County. This property was closed in early 2022 and is one of the many conservation easements protecting the working landscapes of Flying M Ranch Trust. Approximately 5,900 acres of grazing land on their farm has been preserved through other conservation organizations. Funding for this conservation project was provided through the Agricultural Land Mitigation Program (ALMP), which is administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC) on behalf of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

Lone Tree Ranch is approximately 327 acres of various irrigated field crops two miles east of Los Banos, California. Owned and operated by Bowles Farming Company, the 160-year-old operation involves the sixth generation of Bowles and Lawrence families. This property was permanently protected by an agricultural conservation easement in the fall of 2021 and was the 35th property protected in Merced County. Funding was provided by the California Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC), in collaboration with the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Vander Woude Dairy is approximately 65 acres of field crops that source the dairy. Located in Merced County, it is primarily made up of prime farmland and farmland of statewide importance. The property is in a robust agricultural area that supports various orchards, field crops as well as dairy operations. This property was permanently protected by an ag conservation easement through a mitigation agreement in 2020.

The Hooper Ranch is comprised of two parcels totaling 275.5 acres in a scenic agricultural area that supports orchards, row crops and grain crops. The primary use of this land is being used for the cultivation of field crops planted on a rotational basis. This property is located in Merced County and was permanently protected in 2018 by an agricultural conservation easement.

Rows of colorful Freestone peaches line Espinoza Farm, located northwest of the City of Livingston in Merced County. After owning the property for four years, the Espinoza brothers decided to conserve their 78 acres of prime farmland through an agricultural conservation easement in 2018. The brothers continue to sell their peaches to Dole Foods, while protecting part of an important complex of lands in the Delhi region of California.

Koehn Farm encompasses two properties located just south of Livingston in Merced County. Its prime soil supports rows of charming almond orchards. In June 2015, Koehn Farm was indefinitely protected by an agricultural conservation easement.

AKT Santa Nella Farm is a beautiful property located just south of Los Banos in Merced County. A sea of wheat grass and row crops line its 178 acres of prime farmland. In July 2014, this land was forever protected by an agricultural conservation easement.

Rows of colorful Freestone peaches line Espinoza Farm, located northwest of the city of Livingston in Merced County. After owning the property for four years, the Espinoza brothers decided to conserve their 78 acres of prime farmland through an agricultural conservation easement in April 2018. The brothers continue to sell their peaches to Dole Foods, while protecting part of an important complex of lands in the Delhi region of California.

This beautiful farm is located in Merced County near the town of Livingston. In the early 1960s, Joe Alvernaz purchased these 211 acres of prime farmland which is ideally suited for growing sweet potatoes. Joe and his son Jim rotate the sweet potato plantings with Merced Rye grass. The family decided to protect the farmland from urban encroachment with an agricultural conservation easement in July 2011.

This picturesque ranch is located in Merced County east of the City of Merced. The ranch is part of the historic Del Monte Peach Ranch. It is a large, efficient ranch to farm with excellent soils. Members of the partnership decided to protect these 243 acres of prime farmland in 2011.

This dairy is located along the Merced River in Merced County near the town of Ballico. The land was purchased by Charles and Christina Magneson in 1890. These 89 acres of prime farmland produce pasture for the herd of Holstein dairy cattle. The dairy milks 700 cows and is fully organic. This means there are no artificial hormones and no antibiotics used in producing the milk, and the cattle are fed 100 percent organic feed and graze on the permanent pastures. This land was permanently protected in December 2006.

This farm is located just east of the town of Planada in Merced County. The land has been in the family for over 100 years and has a beautiful view of the Sierra Nevadas. These 391 acres of prime farmland produce alfalfa, sileage, oats, and wheat. The family’s concern over rapid development in the county led to their decision to pursue an agricultural conservation easement, and the land was permanently protected in July 2000.

Pfeiffer Ranch is located in the foothills of the Diablo Mountain Range in western Merced County. It is the largest easement held by the California Farmland Trust at nearly 7,000 acres. The ranch is comprised predominantly of open grazing land. It was permanently protected in 1999.

This beautiful farm is located in Merced County near the town of Livingston. The land has been in the Okuye family for over 100 years, and these 79 acres of prime farmland produce almonds. Okuye family members believe that protecting farmland protects the farmers, provides food security, and pays tribute to those family members who worked so hard in earlier years to save the farmland during difficult times. This land was permanently protected in December 2007.

This picturesque farm is located along the Merced River in Merced County near the town of Ballico. The land was purchased by Charles and Christina Magneson in 1890. These 382.9 acres of prime farmland produce corn, wheat and permanent pasture. Recent environmental enhancements include a Wood Duck pond and Wood Duck nest boxes installed in trees near the river; enhanced salmon spawning; replanting of willow and cotton wood trees along the river levees and planting a hedge row of native shrubs at the end of the slough. This land was permanently protected in December 2006.

This scenic property is located in Merced County near the town of Gustine. The land has been in the Jorgensen family for over 100 years. These 290 acres of prime farmland produce walnuts, alfalfa, beans and other field crops. In tribute to their parents William and Elinor and grandfather Jacob, children Jim, Joanne and Janice placed an agricultural conservation easement on the property. This land was permanently protected in December 2008.

This protected 270 acre parcel at the northern edge of Merced County has established a permanent separation between the City of Turlock to the north and the community of Delhi to the south. What was once a jungle of Bermuda grass-covered stump grapes is now a cornucopia of cling peaches, almonds and walnuts. This land was permanently protected in April 2005.

This ranch is located just east of the town of Planada in Merced County. The land has been in the family for over 100 years and has a beautiful view of the Sierra Nevadas. These 615 acres of prime farmland produces pasture for a herd of red and black Angus cattle. The family’s concern over rapid development in the county led to their decision to pursue an agricultural conservation easement, and the land was permanently protected in July 2000.

Espinoza Farm is located near the City of Delhi in Merced County. These beautiful 39 acres produce almonds and peaches and were purchased by the Espinoza Brothers in 1998. Working on the family farm gave them a great appreciation of the hard work it takes to produce a crop and the importance of the central valley’s farmland. This awareness was their motivation for conserving their farm, and the land was permanently protected in April 2008.

Cole Farm is located in the Delhi District of Merced County. These 28 acres of prime farmland produce two varieties of almonds; Nonpariel and Price. The land has been in the family for 35 years and continues to be farmed and managed by family members. An agricultural conservation easement was placed on the property to ensure the land would always be farmed. It was permanently protected in 2002.

Carman Farm is 38.8 acres located near the town of Hilmar in Merced County. The farm was purchased by Samuel and Katherine Langille in 1910, and was subsequently passed on upon their death to their son Colin and daughter Katherine. Colin worked the farm until his death, and when Katherine died it was passed on to her son and daughter-in-law Bruce and Barbara Carman. This prime farmland currently produces corn and alfalfa. The family donated this agricultural conservation easement, and it was permanently protected in 2009.

Beach Farm is a beautiful 80 acre parcel located near the City of Livingston in Merced County. This prime farmland produces almonds and has been in the family for 25 years. An agricultural conservation easement was placed on the property and it was permanently protected in 2008.

Cochrane Farm is a lovely 44 acres located in the Delhi District of Merced County. This prime farmland produces three varieties of almonds; Nonpariel, Mission and Neplus. The land has been in the family for 40 years and is currently managed by the Samran family. An agricultural conservation easement was placed on the property to ensure the land would always be farmed. It was permanently protected in 2002.