57. In Southern Idaho, Tillage Reductions Help Growers Exceed Water Conservation Goals and Improve Soil Health, with Justin Place

Center pivot irrigation is so prevalent in Southern Idaho, you can see it from space. With only 12 inches of annual rainfall, Justin Place says his 1,250-acre operation is heavily reliant on pumping water from the Upper Snake River aquifer to grow wheat, barley, alfalfa and mustard. But, faced with a mandate to cut water use by 15 percent, he's spent the last decade incorporating no-till and minimal-till into his practices; and that has allowed him not only to exceed those water management goals, but also improve his soil health. So in this episode, we spent some time learning more about Justin's operation, as well as his involvement as President of the Idaho Grain Producers Association. We'll discuss how sustainability means different things to different folks in the Rockies, how commodity groups can help growers incorporate new sustainability practices, what practices are working in the arid valley along the Upper Snake River, and what new technologies are helping him thrive in a challenging climate. Visit agrible.com to sign up for Nutrien Ag Solutions' free digital toolkit, and info.nutrienagsolutions.com/SNO to learn more about Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes.