Irrigation and water management
Rolling out a new way to water: Sumisansui irrigation system
A new kind of irrigation is finding its way onto vegetable farms, and it looks a lot like drip tape — until you turn it on. The Sumisansui system, made by the Japanese company Sumika... more »
How D’Arrigo Bros. blends 100-year heritage, high-tech to grow leafy greens across the west
In its second century, D’Arrigo Bros. carries a deep growing heritage in California’s Salinas Valley. The family-owned operation spans more than 40,000 acres across California, Arizona, and Mexico, producing leafy greens, broccoli, artichokes and more... more »
Owyhee’s Idaho-Oregon onion, asparagus legacy
Taking its name from a band of Native Americans who helped shape the West, Owyhee Produce is a successful family growing operation. Owyhee grows a variety of onions along the Idaho-Oregon Snake River border east... more »
Veg Connections: Cellulose mulch shows promise for sustainable agriculture
As growers face increasing pressure to reduce plastic use while maintaining productivity, researcher Tian Li and her team at Purdue University have developed a new Janus cellulose mulch (JCM) that matches the performance of traditional... more »
Veg Connections: Heat-tolerant broccolini can integrate with clover living mulch
Many vegetable production systems rely on tillage to manage weed pressure that threatens cash crop yields. This heavy reliance on tillage is detrimental to the health of the soil and increases the likelihood of soil... more »
Good Humus Produce’s community mindset
Good Humus Produce is a small, family-owned farm located in the picturesque Hungry Hollow valley of Northern California. Founded in 1976 by Jeff and Annie Main, the farm spans 30 acres of certified organic land... more »
National Onion Association applauds Mexico water agreement
The National Onion Association (NOA) is lauding a long-awaited water agreement between the U.S and Mexico. After a prolonged advocacy effort, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has successfully brokered an agreement with Mexico to release... more »
Crop bed changes boost Florida farms water efficiencies
Lipman Family Farms wanted to mitigate flood risk associated with heavy rain on their 2,000-acre farm in Naples. As general manager, Lucas Conran helps oversee seven farming operations for Lipman in Florida and other states... more »
Sensory help: Equipment tech saves water in fields
Because managing irrigation can be difficult, Extension researchers are developing equipment that can improve water flow management to more efficiently irrigate fruit and vegetables. By helping growers reduce pest and disease spraying, the sensors being... more »
Red Sun Farms grows through vertically integrated greenhouse operations
Red Sun Farms has become one of North America's largest producers through vertically integrated greenhouse operations. By controlling every step from seed selection to retail delivery, the company guarantees year-round supply of high-quality tomatoes, peppers... more »
