Careers

Sustainability

Planting the seeds of a healthy future

Sustainable Producers

At AgriNorthwest, we use almost exclusively hydroelectric power. Still, we upgrade facilities and work with local electrical suppliers to improve energy efficiency.

We cooperate with the local universities and extension centers to do on-farm research to improve our practices as well as those of other farmers in the region.

As sustainable producers, we promise to continue to drive progress while contributing to the goals and priorities of our customers and the industry at large.

Learn About Our Environmental Sustainability Practices:

Click the topics below to learn more »

Water

We manage water use by:

  • Monitoring water penetration during the irrigation season
  • Scheduling irrigation based on evapotranspiration and/or in-field soil moisture monitoring
  • Using irrigation systems that are considered efficient by industry best management practices given crop type, date planted, and soil type
  • Using aerial drones to search for leaks, broken lines, and plugged lines in the irrigation systems
  • Performing efficiency evaluations

We protect water quality by:

  • Applying fertilizer based on best management practices
  • Following best management practices that are consistent with water quality directives as outlined by the state of operation
  • Implementing best management practices to limit nutrient runoff
  • Utilizing cover crops or ground cover

Soil

We protect soil health by:

  • Using a practice called strip tillage. We don’t till the entire field; we till 7-inch strips to plant our corn into. This minimizes wind erosion and dust pollution.
  • Taking soil tests or tissue samples
  • Utilizing soil maps
  • Monitoring erosion and compaction
  • Training employees on soil health management
  • Utilizing cover crops throughout the farm

Nutrients

We manage nutrient use by:

  • Utilizing comprehensive nutrient management plans
  • Implementing best management practices to guide annual nutrient management
  • Use of variable-rate fertilization, so that nutrients are placed only on the parts of the field that need it
  • Operating our own soil lab to do soil and Petiole testing

Pest Management

We manage pests and disease by:

  • Utilizing integrated pest management strategies, including infrared photography of all crops to spot pests and disease
  • In-house scouting and trapping to understand and proactively manage pest pressure

GHGs

We manage greenhouse gas emissions by:

  • Promotion of energy efficiency, productivity, and technology upgrades
  • Using renewable energy
  • We try to use the newest models of tractors to be more fuel efficient, and the use of electric vehicles is in the testing stages
     
  • Performing seasonal/crop nutrient management planning
  • Implementing genetic selection for efficiency and productivity

We support soil carbon sequestration by:

  • Utilizing cover crops or ground cover
  • Implementing no till/reduced tillage practices

Biodiversity

We support biodiversity by:

  • Preserving natural vegetation. Approximately 41% of AgriNorthwest land is uncultivated, with these acres dedicated for wildlife habitat
  • Being the winter range for more than 20,000 cattle that graze crop residue and cover crops as well as unirrigated parts of the farm each year