When and how much to irrigate crops are not new questions, but they are easier questions to answer because of proven technology.
FarmConnect is a scalable IoT solution for farmers and irrigation districts that automates surface water deliveries. The technology reduces labor, saves water, and can increase yields when done right.
The key to water use efficiency in these systems is a combination of measurement and flow control, according to Peter Moller, general manager of FarmConnect.
Holtville, California farmer Ronnie Leimgruber has used the system for over 10 years now to increase production, save labor costs and save water in his desert system. Leimgruber farms about 2,000 acres of diversified crops in the Imperial County desert near the International Border, where evapotranspiration rates in crops are high and farm water is a precious commodity.
The system allows him to automate irrigation of field crops like wheat and alfalfa. His row crops must still be irrigated with other forms of irrigation technology. Leimgruber said his goal is to use the FarmConnect technology for about five years in alfalfa to help him recover the cost of owning the system, before rotating those fields to row crops.
Demonstration held
Leimgruber's Holtville farm recently hosted a demonstration of the system to local farmers and interested water users, including representatives of an irrigation district from Mexico, and a representative of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission.
Sensors in the system reveal when crops need irrigating, and how much water the plants need, Moller says. The sensors also read the speed at which water flows through the system and can adjust gates at farm canals to ensure proper water deliveries. For instance, water moving more quickly through a system suggests that moisture needs are reduced. Knowing this allows the system to open and close gates to make automation more precise.
Improved technology within the system allows it to communicate more efficiently across open fields, he said.
Water deliveries are controlled through a cloud-based software system that can be accessed through anything with an internet connection. Farmers can automate irrigation deliveries in their canal systems, and through sensors, can be assured of proper water deliveries to their crops.
Rubicon Water developed the FarmConnect system to bring its large-scale water thrift technology to the farm level. Rubicon's website says the company's vision continues to look for means to "sustainably increase global food and fiber production through improved water use efficiency." Rubicon systems are being employed globally, including Imperial Irrigation District, where Leimgruber farms. Other California water agencies using the system include Turlock Irrigation District and Oakdale Irrigation District in central California.
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