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California Dairy Drip Irrigation

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California Dairy Drip Irrigation

Project  —  suscon.org/project/managing-dairy-manure

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Agricultural Manufacturing Office Strategic Interest
Projects:
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Organizations:
Agricultural Manufacturing Office Strategic Interest
Projects:
Proposed In Progress Completed
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Area: 5888268 km2
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Brazil; Peru; Suriname; France; Colombia; Guyana; Bolivia; Venezuela; Ecuador
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Santa Cruz; Manaus; La Paz
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Quick Info

Countries: United States of America
Basins: North Pacific (446) (San Joaquin & Sacramento)
Project SDGs:
Includes Sustainable Development Goals from the project and its locations.
Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4)
Water Quality (SDG 6.3)
Water Use Efficiency (SDG 6.4)
Project Tags:
Includes tags from the project and its locations.
Conservation Agriculture/Agronomy
Dairy and Livestock
Services Needed: No services needed/offered
Desired Partner: Business
Language: English
Start & End Dates: Jan. 01, 2014  »  Ongoing
Project Website: suscon.org/project/managing-dairy-manure
Project Source: Other
Profile Completion: 74%

Project Overview

Sustainable Conservation and its partners have developed and demonstrated an innovative drip irrigation system that reduces water use, nutrient use, and GHG emissions while growing quality feed crops for dairy cows. Manure (nutrients) is collected from the cow barn into a lagoon, and from there is mixed with water and then applied via buried drip irrigation to the feed crops.

This water efficient technology targets nutrients directly to crop root zones in monitored quantitie…

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Sustainable Conservation and its partners have developed and demonstrated an innovative drip irrigation system that reduces water use, nutrient use, and GHG emissions while growing quality feed crops for dairy cows. Manure (nutrients) is collected from the cow barn into a lagoon, and from there is mixed with water and then applied via buried drip irrigation to the feed crops.

This water efficient technology targets nutrients directly to crop root zones in monitored quantities to better meet crop demands. A successful pilot ran from 2014 to 2016, and the system wasdemonstrated on dairies across the San Joaquin Valley from 2017 to 2019 through a USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant. The partners are now scaling adoption through outreach, guidance, and incentives, such as cost share funding from NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentive Program.

Project Results

  • Since development in 2014 the technology has operated successfully on multiple dairies with distinct characteristics.
  • Pilot results: 14 percent increase in crop yield, 48 percent decrease in water application, 70 percent reduction in irrigation-related GHG emissions.
  • As a result of the project, the system is now eligible for NRCS' EQIP cost share program. NRCS California is currently providing up to about 80 percent EQIP cost share.

Project Files

  Case Study - California Dairies  English (244.9 kb)
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Partner Organizations


Bonneville Environmental Foundation (Organization)

businessforwater.org

BEF scopes, develops, supports, and designs environmental water programs and projects across the U.S. The organization has been instrumental in building an NGO-led environmental water stewardship movement around Western Water issues and volumetric flow solutions. BEF collaborated in the creation … Learn More

Nestlé (Organization)

www.nestle.com

• Nestlé’s ambition is to enhance people’s lives through nutrition, health and wellness. We offer healthier and tastier food and beverage choices at all stages of life and at all times of the day. Based on science and Research and … Learn More

Netafim (Organization)

www.netafim.com

A pioneer and the world-leading provider of Drip Irrigation solutions, Netafim is the largest player in the global irrigation industry. With 14 manufacturing facilities in 11 countries, 27 subsidiaries, and a strong global distribution network across 110-plus countries, Netafim combines … Learn More

Sustainable Conservation (Organization)

suscon.org

Sustainable Conservation helps California thrive by uniting people to solve the toughest challenges facing our land, air, and water. Learn More

Cora Snyder
Primary Contact  

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