HERMISTON, OR - In a time when water conservation is being kept top of mind for many growers, River Point Farms is showcasing its latest efforts to save this precious natural resource.
Utilizing a combination of low pressure center-pivot irrigation and drip irrigation systems, River Point Farms has contributed to the conservation of about 7.6 million gallons of water per year – enough to supply roughly 600,000 people for a full year, according to a press release.
Working in tandem, these irrigation systems are controlled and monitored by radio telemetry and computer systems that can manage the volume of water being used for each crop, as well as the speed of each irrigation pump.
“As water is our most precious natural resource in irrigated farming, conservation and quality preservation are two of our primary objectives at River Point Farms,” said Bob Hale, CEO. “We’ve continued investing in the necessary tools to successfully conserve water.”
River Point Farms says that pivot irrigation systems provide “some of the most efficient and cost-effective water applications by operating on various soil types, as the pivots touch and irrigate every spot in every field every day.” In addition, drip irrigation systems use approximately two-thirds of the water as pivot irrigation systems, while still precisely watering the crop.
A reservoir tillage system is also used during cultivation to capture water from irrigation or rainfall. Small holes or reservoirs are punched in the soil between the onion rows to capture this excess water.
Each onion field utilizes real time soil moisture monitoring systems at 4”, 8”, 12”, and 20” depths. Growers have online access to actionable insights that allow them to optimize moisture levels and nutrient management for optimum crop growth on every field whether they’re in the office, at home, or out on the field.
For more information on River Point Farms' conservation efforts, check out our exclusive video here:
All of the irrigated farmland, on which onions are grown by River Point Farms, contain Certificated Water Rights, with the majority of the water being sourced from the Columbia River.
The irrigation distribution systems are state of the art systems which are privately owned by the company’s affiliated parties.
