Key Takeaways
- Noble Research Institute has introduced Noble Orchard Essentials, a new 3-day in-person course for orchardists and viticulturists transitioning to regenerative management.
- The program focuses on soil health, tree and vine resilience, reduced input dependence, and whole-system profitability.
- The first sessions will be held in March and May 2026 in Texas and California, with registration now open.
- Noble Research Institute says the course provides science-backed, hands-on training tailored to specialty crop producers.
- The course aims to meet growing demand for practical, research-based regenerative education in orchard and vineyard systems.
Noble Research Institute Introduces Noble Orchard Essentials Program
Noble Research Institute has announced the launch of Noble Orchard Essentials, a 3-day in-person training program developed to support orchardists and viticulturists adopting regenerative land management practices. The organization, which has served as an educational resource for farmers and ranchers since 1945, designed the program to provide practical tools and science-based guidance for improving soil vitality, strengthening perennial crop health, and enhancing long-term profitability.
Noble Research Institute Outlines 2026 Training Dates and Locations
The inaugural Noble Orchard Essentials course will take place March 17–19, 2026, at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. A second session is scheduled for May 12–14, 2026, in Modesto, California. Registration is now open for both offerings, which target producers seeking actionable strategies for orchard and vineyard systems.
“Noble Orchard Essentials gives growers proven regenerative principles that enhance soil vitality, reduce reliance on expensive inputs and build long-term resilience — all while maintaining or increasing profitability,” said Charlie Graham, Ph.D., senior regenerative ranching advisor at Noble Research Institute.
Noble Research Institute Highlights Course Focus Areas
Noble Orchard Essentials addresses three core areas shaping orchard and vineyard performance:
- Increased Orchard and Vineyard Resilience: Participants learn regenerative approaches that improve water infiltration, support soil biology, and strengthen trees and vines against weather extremes.
- Optimized Profits and Quality: The program teaches strategies to improve profit per acre and fruit quality through natural system management, helping reduce disease and pest pressure while supporting consistent fruit development.
- Reduced Costs and Inputs: Growers explore methods for lowering chemical reliance, including orchard floor management practices that suppress weeds and disrupt pest cycles without herbicides or insecticides.
The immersive, hands-on format allows producers to work directly with the land while developing skills they can apply immediately on their own operations.
Noble Research Institute Emphasizes Practical, Science-Based Instruction
“Noble Orchard Essentials is one of the few education courses focused on soil health in orchards and vineyards available in the market,” Graham noted. “We've created a program that addresses the real-world challenges producers face, utilizing principles applicable across a range of multi-crop orchard systems.”
