River Point Farms Highlights Water Application and Conservation
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.
River Point Farms Low Pressure Center-Pivot Irrigation System
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.”
Bob Hale, CEO,
River Point Farms
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
River Point Farms Pump Station
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.
Columbia River