Take a Visual Tour of Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI)

Posted by Carol Miller|June 13, 2017

2016 was a devasting year for this New Mexico operation. Instead of going into survival mode, it decided to aggressively pursue changes designed to make it stronger.

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Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) is located in Farmington, NM, on 155,000 acres. More than 70,000 acres are developed for growing, and between 40,000 and 60,000 acres are in production.

Photo: Rae Groat
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NAPI had a devastating 2016. It's sole source of water was shut off for a month. A 17-foot wide siphon pipe burst seven miles from the farm. Shown here: a canal and tunnel that is part of the system delivering water to NAPI from a reservoir 40 miles away.

Photo: Rae Groat
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When the pipe burst, NAPI had to get by on what was already in its irrigation canals -- a mere two weeks supply.

Photo: Rae Groat
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After to losing access to water, NAPI accelerated plans to diversify and strengthen to operation to ensure it could withstand a similar disaster in the future. Leading the charge are, from left, Michael Castro, Amanda Kerr, and Aaron Bellany.

Photo: Rae Groat
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In 2017, NAPI has aggressively pursued improvements, including trialing precision technology to maximize moisture content in the soil.

Photo: Rae Groat
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Prior to the rupture, NAPI grew only five crops. Starting this year, it is diversifying its crops, and trialing new crops to grow in 2018 and beyond.

Photo: Rae Groat
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In another big shift, NAPI is giving organic growing and plasticulture a try. Due to its huge size, NAPI's idea of a trial area equals 1,000 acres.

Photo: Rae Groat
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The labor and equipment required for trialing are significant, demonstrating NAPI's commitment to innovation.

Photo: Rae Groat
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Google Earth reveals the immense size of NAPI. Take note of the red marker: That indicates the entire city of Farmington, NM, which is drawfed by NAPI's huge pivot fields.

Photo: Rae Groat
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A closer view of one section of NAPI from Google Earth.

Photo: Rae Groat

Carol Miller is Editor of American Vegetable Grower. See all author stories here.

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Take a Visual Tour of Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI)

Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) is located in Farmington, NM, on 155,000 acres. More than 70,000 acres are developed for growing, and between 40,000 and 60,000 acres are in production.

NAPI had a devastating 2016. It's sole source of water was shut off for a month. A 17-foot wide siphon pipe burst seven miles from the farm. Shown here: a canal and tunnel that is part of the system delivering water to NAPI from a reservoir 40 miles away.

When the pipe burst, NAPI had to get by on what was already in its irrigation canals -- a mere two weeks supply.

After to losing access to water, NAPI accelerated plans to diversify and strengthen to operation to ensure it could withstand a similar disaster in the future. Leading the charge are, from left, Michael Castro, Amanda Kerr, and Aaron Bellany.

In 2017, NAPI has aggressively pursued improvements, including trialing precision technology to maximize moisture content in the soil.

Prior to the rupture, NAPI grew only five crops. Starting this year, it is diversifying its crops, and trialing new crops to grow in 2018 and beyond.

In another big shift, NAPI is giving organic growing and plasticulture a try. Due to its huge size, NAPI's idea of a trial area equals 1,000 acres.

The labor and equipment required for trialing are significant, demonstrating NAPI's commitment to innovation.

Google Earth reveals the immense size of NAPI. Take note of the red marker: That indicates the entire city of Farmington, NM, which is drawfed by NAPI's huge pivot fields.

A closer view of one section of NAPI from Google Earth.

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Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) is located in Farmington, NM, on 155,000 acres. More than 70,000 acres are developed for growing, and between 40,000 and 60,000 acres are in production.

NAPI had a devastating 2016. It's sole source of water was shut off for a month. A 17-foot wide siphon pipe burst seven miles from the farm. Shown here: a canal and tunnel that is part of the system delivering water to NAPI from a reservoir 40 miles away.

When the pipe burst, NAPI had to get by on what was already in its irrigation canals -- a mere two weeks supply.

After to losing access to water, NAPI accelerated plans to diversify and strengthen to operation to ensure it could withstand a similar disaster in the future. Leading the charge are, from left, Michael Castro, Amanda Kerr, and Aaron Bellany.

In 2017, NAPI has aggressively pursued improvements, including trialing precision technology to maximize moisture content in the soil.

Prior to the rupture, NAPI grew only five crops. Starting this year, it is diversifying its crops, and trialing new crops to grow in 2018 and beyond.

In another big shift, NAPI is giving organic growing and plasticulture a try. Due to its huge size, NAPI's idea of a trial area equals 1,000 acres.

The labor and equipment required for trialing are significant, demonstrating NAPI's commitment to innovation.

Google Earth reveals the immense size of NAPI. Take note of the red marker: That indicates the entire city of Farmington, NM, which is drawfed by NAPI's huge pivot fields.

A closer view of one section of NAPI from Google Earth.

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Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) is located in Farmington, NM, on 155,000 acres. More than 70,000 acres are developed for growing, and between 40,000 and 60,000 acres are in production.

NAPI had a devastating 2016. It's sole source of water was shut off for a month. A 17-foot wide siphon pipe burst seven miles from the farm. Shown here: a canal and tunnel that is part of the system delivering water to NAPI from a reservoir 40 miles away.

When the pipe burst, NAPI had to get by on what was already in its irrigation canals -- a mere two weeks supply.

After to losing access to water, NAPI accelerated plans to diversify and strengthen to operation to ensure it could withstand a similar disaster in the future. Leading the charge are, from left, Michael Castro, Amanda Kerr, and Aaron Bellany.

In 2017, NAPI has aggressively pursued improvements, including trialing precision technology to maximize moisture content in the soil.

Prior to the rupture, NAPI grew only five crops. Starting this year, it is diversifying its crops, and trialing new crops to grow in 2018 and beyond.

In another big shift, NAPI is giving organic growing and plasticulture a try. Due to its huge size, NAPI's idea of a trial area equals 1,000 acres.

The labor and equipment required for trialing are significant, demonstrating NAPI's commitment to innovation.

Google Earth reveals the immense size of NAPI. Take note of the red marker: That indicates the entire city of Farmington, NM, which is drawfed by NAPI's huge pivot fields.

A closer view of one section of NAPI from Google Earth.

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