OY-KBI SAS Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A340-313 - cn 430

Image taken at Narita Airport, Chiba Prefecture Japan

A rainwater harvesting system starts at the the end of every roof gutter on 40 acres of greenhouses, at Kitayama Brothers, Inc. (KBI) a family business that was founded in 1970, and currently includes green houses and outdoor fields in Watsonville, CA, on Thursday, August 27, 2015.

The water flows to a plastic lined pond, where a pumping station can blend sterile reclaimed and recharge water from Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) and/or ground water wells for use in a variety of irrigation systems.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when family patriarch Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables on Bainbridge Island, in the Pungent Sound, of Washington. In 1945, after WWII, and the family’s internment at the Manzanar camp, in California, Takeshi’s sons Tom and Ray, returned to wholesale flower growing, and established their own nursery business in 1948. The family became leaders in the industry and more family members joined with their California operations in Hayward and San Jose. Additionally they were able to acquire other local operations. Kitayama Brothers, Inc. currently produces a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops.

Located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed and recharge water from Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA), a rainwater collection system and a hydroponics water system. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, KBI turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater. Through a system of pipes, water collects in a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI were active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

Challenger 605 ( msn 5725 ) Ex OE-IMM , D-ACUA , C-FOMU , built in 2007 , delivered

12.18 ( as T7- ) .

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. (KBI) hydroponic greenhouses with micro irrigation have been in use for years in their 40 acres of green houses on Thursday, August 27, 2015, in Watsonville, CA. Sterile reclaimed and recharge water is used all or in part from the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) and flows through micro irrigation tubes and emitters at each plant. This is one of the water saving systems the family uses. KBI are active members of the commercial agricultural community in Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County, exploring new ways to improve their quality and business efficiencies.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when the founding grandfather Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables in Washington. In 1945, after internment, his sons Tom and Ray Kitayama, started a nursery and the business grew. They became leaders in the wholesale flower industry. in the mid-90’s, the business continued to grow, and a third generation of family members joined and formed Kitayama Brothers, Inc. Today, the business grows a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops. Located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed and recharge water, rainwater harvesting, hydroponics and micro irrigation system. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, KBI turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater. Through a system of pipes, water collects in a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI were active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. (KBI) hydroponic greenhouses with micro irrigation have been in use for years in their 40 acres of green houses on Thursday, August 27, 2015, in Watsonville, CA. Sterile reclaimed and recharge water is used all or in part from the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) and flows through micro irrigation tubes and emitters at each plant. This is one of the water saving systems the family uses. KBI are active members of the commercial agricultural community in Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County, exploring new ways to improve their quality and business efficiencies.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when the founding grandfather Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables in Washington. In 1945, after internment, his sons Tom and Ray Kitayama, started a nursery and the business grew. They became leaders in the wholesale flower industry. in the mid-90’s, the business continued to grow, and a third generation of family members joined and formed Kitayama Brothers, Inc. Today, the business grows a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops. Located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed and recharge water, rainwater harvesting, hydroponics and micro irrigation system. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, KBI turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater. Through a system of pipes, water collects in a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI were active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. (KBI) Facilities Manager Stuart Kitayama talks about the founding of Kitayama Brothers Watsonville, in the early 1970's, by his father Ray Kitayama, aunt Kee Kitayama, and other family elders; and has since grown to 40 acres of green houses plus outdoor fields that have benefited from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) financial incentives and technical assistance, on Thursday, August 27, 2015.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when his grandfather Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables on Bainbridge Island, in the Pungent Sound, of Washington. In 1945, after internment at the Manzanar camp in California, his grandfather’s sons Tom and Ray Kitayama, returned to growing on Bainbridge Island, and established their own nursery business in 1948. The family became leaders in the wholesale flower industry and more family members joined with their California operations in Hayward and San Jose. Additionally they were able to acquire other local operations. Kitayama Brothers, Inc. currently produces a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops. This operation is located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed (purple pipes) and recharge water from Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA), a rainwater collection system, hydroponics, and micro irrigation systems. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, he again turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater and other ways to develop water sources. The rainwater harvesting system begins with roof gutters and a system of pipes that lead to a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI are active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. (KBI) hydroponic greenhouses with micro irrigation have been in use for years in their 40 acres of green houses on Thursday, August 27, 2015, in Watsonville, CA. Sterile reclaimed and recharge water is used all or in part from the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) and flows through micro irrigation tubes and emitters at each plant. This is one of the water saving systems the family uses. KBI are active members of the commercial agricultural community in Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County, exploring new ways to improve their quality and business efficiencies.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when family patriarch Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables on Bainbridge Island, in the Pungent Sound, of Washington. In 1945, after WWII, and the family’s internment at the Manzanar camp, in California, Takeshi’s sons Tom and Ray, returned to wholesale flower growing, and established their own nursery business in 1948. The family became leaders in the industry and more family members joined with their California operations in Hayward and San Jose. Additionally they were able to acquire other local operations. Kitayama Brothers, Inc. currently produces a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops.

Located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed and recharge water from Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA), a rainwater collection system and a hydroponics water system. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, KBI turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater. Through a system of pipes, water collects in a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI were active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. (KBI) hydroponic greenhouses with micro irrigation have been in use for years in their 40 acres of green houses on Thursday, August 27, 2015, in Watsonville, CA. Sterile reclaimed and recharge water is used all or in part from the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) and flows through micro irrigation tubes and emitters at each plant. This is one of the water saving systems the family uses. KBI are active members of the commercial agricultural community in Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County, exploring new ways to improve their quality and business efficiencies.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when family patriarch Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables on Bainbridge Island, in the Pungent Sound, of Washington. In 1945, after WWII, and the family’s internment at the Manzanar camp, in California, Takeshi’s sons Tom and Ray, returned to wholesale flower growing, and established their own nursery business in 1948. The family became leaders in the industry and more family members joined with their California operations in Hayward and San Jose. Additionally they were able to acquire other local operations. Kitayama Brothers, Inc. currently produces a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops.

Located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed and recharge water from Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA), a rainwater collection system and a hydroponics water system. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, KBI turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater. Through a system of pipes, water collects in a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI were active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. (KBI) hydroponic greenhouses with micro irrigation have been in use for years in their 40 acres of green houses on Thursday, August 27, 2015, in Watsonville, CA. Sterile reclaimed and recharge water is used all or in part from the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) and flows through micro irrigation tubes and emitters at each plant. This is one of the water saving systems the family uses. KBI are active members of the commercial agricultural community in Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County, exploring new ways to improve their quality and business efficiencies.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when the founding grandfather Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables in Washington. In 1945, after internment, his sons Tom and Ray Kitayama, started a nursery and the business grew. They became leaders in the wholesale flower industry. in the mid-90’s, the business continued to grow, and a third generation of family members joined and formed Kitayama Brothers, Inc. Today, the business grows a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops. Located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed and recharge water, rainwater harvesting, hydroponics and micro irrigation system. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, KBI turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater. Through a system of pipes, water collects in a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI were active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. (KBI) hydroponic greenhouses with micro irrigation have been in use for years in their 40 acres of green houses on Thursday, August 27, 2015, in Watsonville, CA. Sterile reclaimed and recharge water is used all or in part from the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) and flows through micro irrigation tubes and emitters at each plant. This is one of the water saving systems the family uses. KBI are active members of the commercial agricultural community in Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County, exploring new ways to improve their quality and business efficiencies.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when the founding grandfather Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables in Washington. In 1945, after internment, his sons Tom and Ray Kitayama, started a nursery and the business grew. They became leaders in the wholesale flower industry. in the mid-90’s, the business continued to grow, and a third generation of family members joined and formed Kitayama Brothers, Inc. Today, the business grows a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops. Located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed and recharge water, rainwater harvesting, hydroponics and micro irrigation system. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, KBI turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater. Through a system of pipes, water collects in a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI were active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

The plastic lined pond, in the background, receives rain water from a network of black plastic drain pipes; then the pumping station (left) can blend sterile reclaimed (purple pipes) and recharge water from Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) and/or ground water wells on the properties of Kitayama Brothers, Inc. (KBI) a family business that was founded in 1970, and currently includes 40 acres of green houses plus outdoor fields in Watsonville, CA, on Thursday, August 27, 2015.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when family patriarch Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables on Bainbridge Island, in the Pungent Sound, of Washington. In 1945, after WWII, and the family’s internment at the Manzanar camp, in California, Takeshi’s sons Tom and Ray, returned to wholesale flower growing, and established their own nursery business in 1948. The family became leaders in the industry and more family members joined with their California operations in Hayward and San Jose. Additionally they were able to acquire other local operations. Kitayama Brothers, Inc. currently produces a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops.

Located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed and recharge water from Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA), a rainwater collection system and a hydroponics water system. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, KBI turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater. Through a system of pipes, water collects in a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI were active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. (KBI) hydroponic greenhouses with micro irrigation have been in use for years in their 40 acres of green houses on Thursday, August 27, 2015, in Watsonville, CA. Sterile reclaimed and recharge water is used all or in part from the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) and flows through micro irrigation tubes and emitters at each plant. This is one of the water saving systems the family uses. KBI are active members of the commercial agricultural community in Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County, exploring new ways to improve their quality and business efficiencies.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when the founding grandfather Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables in Washington. In 1945, after internment, his sons Tom and Ray Kitayama, started a nursery and the business grew. They became leaders in the wholesale flower industry. in the mid-90’s, the business continued to grow, and a third generation of family members joined and formed Kitayama Brothers, Inc. Today, the business grows a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops. Located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed and recharge water, rainwater harvesting, hydroponics and micro irrigation system. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, KBI turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater. Through a system of pipes, water collects in a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI were active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

Local: Americana - Aeroporto Municipal Augusto de Oliveira (SDAI)

Data: 09.Nov.2013

Matrícula: PP-KBI

Operador: Aeroclube de Poços de Caldas

Fabricante/Modelo: Aerotec A-122B Uirapuru

Serial Number: 116

Matrículas anteriores:

Ano de fabricação:

Water that drains from plants growing in hydroponic greenhouse systems at Kitayama Brothers, Inc. (KBI) flows through filters and treated here with UV light to clean the water for use on plants growing in nearby nursery fields in Watsonville, CA, on Thursday, August 27, 2015. The family business that was founded in 1970, and currently includes 40 acres of green houses plus outdoor fields that grow wholesale flowers.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when family patriarch Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables on Bainbridge Island, in the Pungent Sound, of Washington. In 1945, after WWII, and the family’s internment at the Manzanar camp, in California, Takeshi’s sons Tom and Ray, returned to wholesale flower growing, and established their own nursery business in 1948. The family became leaders in the industry and more family members joined with their California operations in Hayward and San Jose. Additionally they were able to acquire other local operations. Kitayama Brothers, Inc. currently produces a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops.

Located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed and recharge water from Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA), a rainwater collection system and a hydroponics water system. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, KBI turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater. Through a system of pipes, water collects in a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI were active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc.(KBI) hydroponic greenhouses with micro irrigation have been in use for years in their 40 acres of green houses on Thursday, August 27, 2015, in Watsonville, CA. Sterile reclaimed and recharge water is used all or in part from the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) and flows through micro irrigation tubes and emitters at each plant. This is one of the water saving systems the family uses. KBI are active members of the commercial agricultural community in Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County, exploring new ways to improve their quality and business efficiencies.

Agriculture has been a part of the Kitayama family for three generations, since before WWII, when the founding grandfather Takeshi Kitayama began growing flowers and vegetables in Washington. In 1945, after internment, his sons Tom and Ray Kitayama, started a nursery and the business grew. They became leaders in the wholesale flower industry. in the mid-90’s, the business continued to grow, and a third generation of family members joined and formed Kitayama Brothers, Inc. Today, the business grows a variety of lisianthus, lily, Gerbera, snapdragon and others, additionally; land is leased to other growers for strawberries and a variety of other crops. Located ¼ mile from the Pacific Ocean (Monterey Bay) Kitayama Brothers, Inc., employs 100 - 300 people depending on the time of year. To water all the flowers, the business uses a combination of irrigation water sources that include ground water wells; sterile reclaimed and recharge water, rainwater harvesting, hydroponics and micro irrigation system. Over the past 15 years, the amount of water from PVWMA has been reduced by 2/3s, making onsite ground water wells ever more important, and a factor in groundwater deletion. Today, there is a high demand on well; this has been a factor in (seawater) salt intrusion in all of their wells, one having to be shutdown, because of the salty water harms plants. There must to be enough fresh water in aquifers to fill the underground basin to resist the inland migration of coastal seawater through the land in between.

About this time, during 2007-2008, KBI turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and talks began about a green house roof drainage system that harvests rainwater. Through a system of pipes, water collects in a plastic lined pond for immediate indoor micro irrigation. KBI were active members of the agricultural community and sought water supply development and filtration solutions to improve efficiency and lower operating costs years before the current drought conditions.

Financial incentive cost shares from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and technical support from an USDA NRCS engineer to help design and plan the pond lining and other system improvements and additions.

The system has been in operation for one and a half years and has captured 12 acre/feet of water in its first year. It not only captures the water from the greenhouse roofs, it also allows water to be blended with water from well systems and/or reclaimed water from the PVWMA. The pond also allows the business to save money by running electrical pumps during low demand periods of the power grid, when electricity costs are lower. As refinements are made, greater levels of efficiency and cost savings are expected.

An additional system captures water from their hydroponic nursery systems that uses filters and UV light to clean and sterilize the water for in-ground plants. Water used in those fields; percolate down through the soil, helping to recharge the subsurface water basin; help resist salt intrusion, and return as a water resource for their irrigation wells.

Through discussions with the local Community Water Dialogue (CWD,) and equipment loan from the Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), he learned about the use and potential benefits of wireless soil tensiometer and completed a trial use. As they learn to use the recorded data, they see a possible 10-15% reduction in water use by eliminating overwatering on the sandy soil in this area.

Kitayama Brothers, Inc. strives for quality and efficiency and report that the clean water sources they are harvesting and using provides better quality and yields. For more information, please see www.usda.gov and www.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

DuPont Surfaces