Landowners have several choices depending on various factors. Stage Ranch Farm Management will help assess the properties topography, soil type, climate and general suitability of the site for a specific range of crops, after which the Landowner will be assisted in determining which crop meets their desired criteria, whether it be profitability, aesthetics or simply a hobby.

Each crop has its own challenges and offers its own unique rewards. Citrus and avocado groves are generally less labor intensive BUT require substantially more water and can be more pest and nutrient sensitive than vineyards or olive groves, which require a lot less water. Vineyards, however, are very labor intensive and require a lot more infrastructural upkeep due to the trellising systems typically used.

Olive groves are the least costly to maintain but also yield the lowest crop volume and return.

The typical development and planting season starts in December and ends in June.

Returns vary greatly depending on current market conditions, input and labor costs. Stage Ranch Farm Management will take all factors into account during the process of developing a property and will consult clients on their respective returns prior to deciding on the crop best suited for the Landowner.

Generally it can be said that long term agricultural interest DO return value to the Landowner, if high quality farming practices and operational efficiencies are maintained.
Farming is a long term commitment however and generally will not yield positive cashflow prior to the 7th or 8th year of operation.

Temecula is ideally suited for agriculture.

It has two distinct microclimates. That of “De Luz” which benefits from a direct coastal climate, generally making its temperatures 10 degrees cooler than the Valley floor. This microclimate is one of the very few areas in California that is able to produce three citrus crops annually due to how moderate and well suited the climate is. It is also perfectly suited for avocado and wine grapes (certain varieties).

Additionally, the second microclimate is that of the “Temecula Valley Floor” which primarily is where Wine Country is situated. The climate here is a little drier, generally more exposed and has grown outstanding quality wine grapes for decades. Additionally, the Valley Floor still produces a wide variety of crops including olives and citrus.

1. Budbreak
2. Flower Cluster Initiation
3. Flowering
4. Fruit Set
5. Berry Development
6. Harvest
7. Dormancy

A head trained or single planting style is best planted on a sloped terrain while vertical shoot positioning in a trellised format can be planted on a flat terrain. Planting vineyard rows with a north to south orientation is ideal; however, topography does play a major role in determining the best orientation of each vineyard row.

From your planting date, all applications to the crop must be organic OMRI certified and recorded for three years before you can apply for Organic Certification.

Other conditions do apply.

The following spacing allows for the following approximate number of vines per acre. It is important to not that roadways and setbacks are also required and are not calculated in the following totals:

• Vertical Shoot Positioning (Spaced 6’x9’ = 807 vines/acre)
• Head Trained Vines (Spaced 6’x6’ = 1,210 vines/acre)
• Citrus or Avocado Grove Planting (Trees Spaced 15’x20’ = 145 trees/acre)
• Citrus or Avocado Grove Planting (Trees Spaced 20’x20’ = 109 trees/acre)