Crop Rotation
Founder Ellis Huntsinger and his team discovered that if they would grow horseradish on the same soil in the same field year after year, they began to lose some yield and the roots became susceptible to diseases, which affected the quality of the roots. Because of this, they switched to a rotation of 5 to 7 years between horseradish crops on each field. They began using rotation crops to fill the void between horseradish crops, specifically corn, soybeans, potatoes, small grains, and cover crops which helped to preserve soil health and stabilize the soil fertility.
Precision Agriculture
Since 2010, Huntsinger Farms has embraced the cutting-edge realm of precision agriculture, revolutionizing our farming techniques. With the integration of advanced technologies, such as GPS-guided tractors and drones, we have elevated our efficiency and productivity. These innovations allow us to optimize our resource allocation, ensuring that water, fertilizers, and pesticides are applied precisely where needed, reducing waste and environmental impact. As we continue to harness the power of precision agriculture, we look forward to not only improving crop yields but also contributing to sustainable farming practices for a brighter agricultural future.
Water Retention Pond
Built in 2018, our Water Retention Pond was first put to use in 2019. In our horseradish washing process, we reclaim the waste water from the washing cycle and reuse it for irrigation on approximately 150 acres of crop production land. Our water retention pond allows us to reclaim and reuse 8-10 million gallons of water annually that would otherwise be disposed of.
Solar Panels
Our company had the honor of being the 2021 Host Farm of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. With innovations and learnings from previous shows, we decided to move forward with plans to install solar panels. The panels were installed and commissioned in August of 2020 and were showcased at Farm Technology Days in hopes that they may inspire other farmers to consider renewable energy sources.
For the solar panel project, we partnered with Carlson Electric and Xcel Energy for the initial feasibility assessment, array design, and installation. Annual production from our solar array is approximately 135 megawatt hours, which covers about 20% of our annual electricity usage at the farm facility. Our return on investment with this project will be around 6-7 years with the expected usable lifespan of the array to be 30 years.
Grain Bin Site & Warehouse
Another way we are planning for a sustainable future is investing in new buildings and technology. Completed in July 2022, our new “Grain Bin Site” includes a new equipment repair shop, a cold storage building for housing equipment, and a new grain storage facility – all of which were designed with efficiency in mind by using energy efficient fixtures, LED lighting, VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives), better insulation, and upgraded technology. With a location that is centralized in our general area of operation, our “Grain Bin Site” also promotes efficiency by reducing overall hours on equipment, reducing fuel usage, and reducing labor hours. We also expanded our farm’s warehouse building, completed in spring 2023, to include the same upgraded, efficient technology.
Package Recycling
The latest investment in sustainability is upgrading packaging labels on our condiments. This process, which started in 2023, will make it easier for our customers to recycle the whole container without peeling off the label. Just open, enjoy and recycle!
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