Solutions

INFORMATION

science-driven solutions

Here in Oregon, we love local food, and we are proud of our favorite Oregon brands. That’s why we are working to find solutions that keep our local food supply strong while also protecting our water resources. We believe we can balance these needs with new farming technology, ongoing monitoring and specific strategies to address legacy contamination. And we can only do it by working together.

doing our part

Agricultural practices from decades ago contributed to the elevated nitrate levels in the Lower Umatilla Basin – but not all of it. Other practices not related to agriculture, such as septic systems near well water in sandy soils, also contribute to ongoing contamination. Growers have been modifying practices for years to lower the risk of nitrates reaching groundwater, and they continue to be a critical part of the solution moving forward.

Advances in farming technologY

Farming practices are now much more advanced than they were even 20 years ago. They include:

Monitoring: On a weekly basis, farmers measure how much nitrate uptake has occurred in plants and how much is going into the soil. By monitoring in real time, we can ensure that we are applying fertilizer at a rate that keeps the crops healthy while also preventing nitrates from reaching the groundwater.
Fertilizing: Nitrogen is a necessary part of growing healthy crops. Without nitrogen, most crops today wouldn’t exist. Over the years, farming practices have advanced so that it’s possible to apply just what the crop needs and no more. Nutrient management is based on soil health information, plant tissue sampling and recommended fertilizer rates for each crop. Precision irrigation equipment ensures both water and fertilizer are applied according to the specific needs of that field – or even a zone in that field.
Timing: The industry has dramatically shifted how farms operate to apply nitrogen to crops only when we know they can use and absorb it. Fall and winter nitrogen is generally only applied when the ground is not frozen.

Next steps

Cleaning nitrates in the Lower Umatilla Basin is an incredibly complicated issue, and we are still working to understand it. We believe a comprehensive plan is needed to:

Get clean drinking water to all residents: Local businesses have collectively invested $500 million in improvements in water usage, pretreatment and efficiency. We support these efforts, including installing filters, connecting residents to city drinking water and providing ongoing water delivery.
Invest in research: We need to do more research to understand the hydrology of the Lower Umatilla Basin, the legacy groundwater contamination and how to fix it.
Establish standards: We should codify best practices in farming to ensure ongoing monitoring of plants and soils and careful application of nitrates to prevent further contamination.
Move forward with aquifer recharge projects that remove high nitrate groundwater and recharge aquifers with fresh clean water.