Orchard Removal &
Tree Grinding
30+ years of experience across California's Central Valley
Orchard Removal On the Job
Watch our crew take down and grind a whole orchard — start to finish, with our own equipment and operators.
Custom Farm Services has been providing professional orchard removal and tree grinding services throughout California's Central Valley for over three decades. Whether you're replanting, transitioning crops, or clearing land, our experienced crews and heavy-duty equipment handle every phase of the job -- from tree pushing through final cleanup. We work with all major tree types and orchard configurations, delivering efficient, cost-effective results that keep your operation on schedule.
What We Handle
We remove and grind virtually every type of tree and woody material found in the Central Valley:
Our Process
A proven, streamlined approach from start to finish:
Assessment
We visit your property, evaluate acreage, tree density, and soil conditions, and provide a detailed free estimate.
Tree Pushing
Heavy equipment pushes trees into windrows, efficiently clearing the field while minimizing soil disruption.
Grinding
Industrial grinders process trees into wood chips with custom screen sizes to meet your specifications or biomass plant requirements.
Chip Management
Chips can be spread on-site as mulch, stockpiled, or hauled to one of three local biomass energy plants.
Cleanup
Final pass to ensure the field is clean, level, and ready for replanting, deep ripping, or whatever comes next.
Equipment & Capabilities
Grinding Equipment
Our fleet includes high-capacity horizontal grinders capable of processing entire orchards quickly. We maintain multiple machines to handle large-scale jobs without delay.
Custom Screen Sizes
We offer multiple screen sizes to produce chips tailored to your needs -- whether for on-site spreading, composting, or delivery to biomass facilities with specific fuel specifications.
Biomass Delivery
We coordinate delivery to three regional biomass energy plants, turning your orchard waste into renewable energy and potentially offsetting your removal costs.
Scale & Speed
With 30+ years of experience, we've optimized every phase of the removal process. Large acreage jobs are our specialty -- our crews work efficiently to minimize downtime for your operation.
Grant Programs
Several state and federal programs can help offset the cost of orchard removal. We've helped hundreds of growers navigate these opportunities:
NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
EQIP cost-share programs can cover a significant portion of orchard removal expenses when tied to conservation practices. Applications are accepted year-round with periodic funding cycles.
San Joaquin Valley Air District
The Valley Air District offers incentive programs for whole orchard removal as an alternative to open burning. Grinding and chipping qualifies as an approved disposal method under their agricultural burn alternatives program.
CDFA Healthy Soils Program
The California Department of Food and Agriculture's Healthy Soils Program provides incentives for practices that improve soil health, including whole orchard recycling where chipped material is incorporated back into the soil.
Request a Free Estimate
Get a no-obligation quote for your orchard removal project. We respond within 24 hours.
Service Area
Related Services
Why Growers Grind Their Orchards Back In
Whole orchard recycling — grinding an old orchard into the ground it grew in — has gone from experiment to standard practice across the Valley. This film from the Almond Board of California covers how it started and what it gives back to the next planting. It is the same work we do on site for growers who would rather recycle an orchard than haul it off.
RESILIENCE: The Whole Orchard Recycling Origin Story — California Almonds
What Our Clients Say
Trusted by growers across the Central Valley
"Custom Farm Services did an outstanding job removing our old almond orchard. The crew was professional, efficient, and left the field clean and ready for replanting. They handled everything from pushing to grinding and even coordinated the chip hauling. Highly recommend them to any grower in the Valley."
Dante Rojas
Ballico, CA
"We've used Custom Farm Services for three separate orchard removals over the past five years. Each time, they showed up on time, worked quickly, and delivered exactly what they promised. They also helped us navigate the Air District grant paperwork, which saved us a significant amount. These guys know what they're doing."
Kuldip Dola
Livingston, CA
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about orchard removal in the Central Valley
How much does orchard removal cost in the Central Valley?
What types of trees do you remove?
What happens to the wood chips after grinding?
Are there grants available for orchard removal?
What areas do you serve?
How long does orchard removal take?
Ready to Clear Your Orchard?
Get a free, no-obligation estimate for your orchard removal project. Our team is ready to help.