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Irrigation Automation for Cranberry Farms

Counties: Coos, Curry

Primary Resource Concern Addressed: 

  • Inefficient energy use - Energy efficiency of equipment and facilities
  • Source water depletion - Inefficient irrigation water use
  • Terrestrial habitat - Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates

Project Description
Cranberry growers use system of bogs and tailwater recovery to both irrigate and protect crops from frost; thus, they have high energy consumptive and water use. Ten percent of cranberry growers in Coos and Curry counties lack efficient irrigation equipment and therefore over irrigate leading to excess water and energy usage. To increase energy and water efficiency by installing irrigation system automation on 12 cranberry farms with an estimated impact of 200 acres.

Conservation Practices Offered

  • Irrigation Pipeline (430) 
  • Irrigation Water Management (449) 
  • Sprinkler System (442) 
  • Structure for Water Control (587) 
  • Pumping Plant (533) 
  • Conservation Cover (327) 
  • Conservation Activities Agricultural Energy Design (120) 
  • Wildlife Habitat Planting (420)

Project Partners

  • Oregon State University Extension
  • NRCS Oregon
  • Private landowners

Application Questions
NRCS uses prioritization questions to evaluate applications for this initiative. See the list of workload prioritization questions on the Oregon EQIP page. Ranking questions below will also apply.

Ranking Questions

  1.  Will the application also address pollinator habitat?
  2. The applicant will only be doing an evaluation of the irrigation system (449 Irrigation System Evaluation)?
  3. Will the applicant address Irrigation Automation (442) or Solid Set System Renovation (442) and Irrigation Water Management (IWM 449), but not targeted irrigation system (no 533, 430, 587) with a evaluation and design done by a vendor that meets PNW 293?
  4. Will the applicant address irrigation automation, Irrigation Water Management (IWM 449) and targeted irrigation system improvements (442, 449, 587, 533, 430) with an evaluation and design done by a vendor that meets PNW 293?
  5. Project site has connectivity with fish bearing stream(s) (through withdrawal from or draining into)?