We work directly with farmers in Idaho, U.S., and support them to grow the highest quality barley.
Many of these farmers are facing increased pressures due to the water stress in Idaho, and we are partnering with local experts to find solutions that will improve water management and reduce consumption.
For example, we have partnered with the University of Idaho on trials involving an efficient irrigation method known as low elevation sprinkler application (LESA), and we have helped five of our Eastern Idaho and Montana growers install LESA pivot sprinklers, which dangle hoses beneath the crop canopy to minimize drift and evaporation while improving soil-moisture penetration. We have also funded new weather stations to provide more applicable weather data in the Eastern Idaho barley production area, as part of the Bureau of Reclamation's AgriMet program. Going forward, we want to drive increased adoption of these tools in order to help farmers improve their environmental impact and profitability.