Background

Our laboratory was established in 1963 as part of the USDA - Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and was first named the 'Snake River Conservation Research Center' and later the 'Soil and Water Management Unit.' It was renamed the 'Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory' in 1995 to better reflect its mission and area served. Research done on the irrigated lands near Kimberly, ID, applies throughout the western United States and many of the irrigated arid areas of the world.

Adjoining the Headquarters complex of offices, labs, greenhouse, shop and storage buildings are 30 acres leased for field research. In 1990 a 74-acre farm, located three miles southwest, was purchased to expand field research. Additional research is conducted on cooperators' farms.

Vision

Sustainable and economically viable irrigated agricultural systems in harmony with social and environmental needs.

Mission

The mission of the Laboratory is to develop environmentally compatible and economically sustainable new and improved integrated water, soil, nutrient and crop management practices for irrigated agriculture in the United States.

Research

Currently, research at the NWISRL is organized under five major research programs:

1. Manure Management to Assess Nutrient Losses, Emissions, and Pathogen Transport
2. Water Quality Protection in Irrigated Cropping Practices and Systems
3. Irrigation Management to Reduce Erosion and Improve Water Use Efficiency
4. Enhancement of Sugarbeet Germplasm for Improved Disease Resistance and Productivity
5. Improving Soil Resource Management for Irrigated Agricultural Systems

Guiding Principles

We Value

• Our employees, customers, partners, colleagues, and their ideas.
• Science based technology.
• Agriculture, the environment and our soil, water, and atmosphere resources.

We Advocate:

• Excellence through quality research, service, publications & technology transfer.
• Team research with a customer focus.
• Quality work environment that fosters a diverse work force and career opportunity.
• Sustainable agricultural production meeting environmental and human needs.
• Development of technology in cooperation with federal, state, local & private entities.
• Increased farm production efficiency, profit and rural community quality and life style.
• Efficient use of soil and water resources.
• Understanding the interconnection of urban forest, farm and wilderness needs & reality.
• A systems approach to conducting research, interpretation and application of results.

Staff

Current permanent staff totals 34, including: Eight soil scientists, two agricultural engineers, one sugarbeet geneticist and one sugarbeet pathologist. The remaining 22 staff are technical, administrative, and operational support personnel. The NWISRL usually hires several summer employees. The latter are excellent opportunities for introductory experiences in the sciences and often open doors for science-based or technical careers. We advertise our job opportunities on our website and fully support the USDA's EEO principles and encourage applications from minorities or individuals with disabilities.

Over 250 Idahoans have worked for the NWISRL in its 40 years of service to irrigated agricultural research and the environment.