Farm Progress

New integrated system takes irrigation telemetry to the next levelNew integrated system takes irrigation telemetry to the next level

Reducing external components and improving accuracy is the goal of new telemetry units from McCrometer.

Curt Arens, Senior Editor

March 28, 2017

2 Min Read
IRRIGATION TECH: The new FlowConnect system from McCrometer internalizes irrigation telemetry components into an integrated flowmeter system that eliminates external components and increases the accuracy of water data collection.

The new FlowConnect integrated flowmeter system from McCrometer takes irrigation and water management data collection to a new level. With its breakthrough ExactRead technology, the new all-in-one FlowConnect automates data collection for McPropeller and Water Specialties meters to provide accurate, reliable information to producers.

Featuring a streamlined design, FlowConnect includes built-in communications for transmitting accurate irrigation flow data. This internal design eliminates cables, pole mounting and other external components, removing unnecessary costs and improving data quality by reducing opportunities for noise interference or cable damage.

Components internalized
"The new units internalize all of those components inside the housing of the flowmeter," says Ken Quandt, market development manager for McCrometer Great Plains in Aurora. "The result is a more streamlined unit that is economical and removes some concerns producers may have had with more traditional telemetry units."

FlowConnect's intelligent ExactRead technology — available with the digital register option — ensures the flow reading on the meter's register in the field and the data remotely viewed on the web portal are the same. Flow data are generated and transmitted directly from the meter register, so there's no communication of raw pulse data that can lead to confusion or guesswork. Automatic meter reading with FlowConnect provides remote wireless access to flow data, including flow rates; totalizer readings; and daily, weekly or seasonal water use records. The units can help reduce water consumption, optimize irrigation applications, ensure water billing accuracy and the meeting of regulatory allocation requirements.

FlowConnect comes pre-installed when ordered with new McPropeller and Water Specialties flowmeters. Existing meters can be retrofitted with the new technology in less than 30 minutes.  The system is housed in a rugged enclosure for operation in extreme environments from -22 degrees F to 158 degrees F.

For more information, contact McCrometer regional sales manager Paul Tipling at 785-643-8215, or email him at [email protected].

 

 

 

About the Author

Curt Arens

Senior Editor, Nebraska Farmer

Curt Arens began writing about Nebraska’s farm families when he was in high school. Before joining Farm Progress first as a field editor in 2010, and then as editor of Nebraska Farmer in 2021, he had worked as a freelance farm writer for 27 years for newspapers and farm magazines, including Nebraska Farmer. His real full-time career during this period was farming his family’s fourth-generation land near Crofton, Neb. where his family raised corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, alfalfa, cattle, hogs and Christmas trees.

Curt and his wife Donna have four children, Lauren, Taylor, Zachary and Benjamin. They are active in their church and St. Rose School in Crofton, where Donna teaches. The family now rents out their crop ground to a neighbor, but still lives on the same farm first operated by Curt's great-grandparents, and they still run a few cows and other assorted 4-H and FFA critters.

Previously, the 1986 University of Nebraska animal science graduate wrote a weekly rural life column, developed a farm radio program and wrote books about farm life. He received media honors from the Nebraska Forest Service, Center for Rural Affairs, Nebraska Association of County Extension Boards and Nebraska Association of Natural Resources Districts.

He wrote about the spiritual side of farming in his 2008 book, “Down to Earth: Celebrating a Blessed Life on the Land,” garnering a Catholic Press Association award.

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