US (OR): Onion producer sets standard for water conservation
As part of their continual efforts to preserve natural resources, River Point Farms uses a combination of irrigation and farming systems that have contributed to the conservation of about 7.6 million gallons of water per year – enough to supply to roughly 600,000 people for one full year.
River Point Farms uses a combination of low pressure center-pivot irrigation and drip irrigation systems, all controlled and monitored by radio telemetry and computer systems. Pivot irrigation systems use about half the water traditional surface water application does. Pivot irrigation systems provide some of the most efficient and cost-effective water applications by efficiently 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 the water as pivot irrigation systems, while still precisely watering the crop.
River Point Farms also uses a reservoir tillage system during cultivation, a process by which small holes or reservoirs are punched in the soil between the onions rows to capture water from irrigation or rainfall.
The company also uses real time soil moisture monitoring systems in each onion field at 4”, 8”, 12” and 20” depths. We achieve greater control of soil moisture and optimize moisture levels and nutrient management for optimum crop growth. At any time during the growing season, whether in the field, in the office, or at home, our growers have online access to detailed information on our soil moisture profile for every field.
Historically, irrigation systems were controlled by an on/off switch at the pivot and an on/off switch at the irrigation pump. This control system became wasteful in that you either had all pivots and pumps off, or all pivots and pumps on at full capacity, watering crops even if they didn't need water. River Point now uses a telemetry control panel in combination with variable frequency drive irrigation pumps, which individually control the speed of each irrigation pump, controlling the volume of water at a variable output as desired. Now, each crop is watered only the amount that it needs.
All of the irrigated farmland, on which onions are grown by River Point Farms in the Pacific Northwest, 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 our affiliated parties.
For more information:
Bob Hale
River Point Farms
Tel: +1 541-567-4781
Email: bob.hale@riverpointfarms.com
www.riverpointfarms.com.