A handful of new or retooled irrigation technologies were on display recently at the 2024 Irrigation Show in Long Beach, Calif. These products were designed to help farmers fine-tune, automate and use water more efficiently to increase sustainability and save money:

HotSpot Ag. About a decade ago, James Nichols returned from college to his family’s fourth-generation farm in Hanford, Calif., and uncovered an inefficiency. Nichols Farm, a 4,000-acre organic almond and pistachio operation, spanned three counties. Because of that, it had trouble following an irrigation schedule to meet each field’s unique watering needs.

“We knew what the crop needed, but we had a hard time executing,” he said. Armed with a degree in agronomy from University of California, Davis, he went to work revamping the farm’s irrigation system by integrating technological solutions. His automation-driven overhaul was so successful that his family encouraged him to start an irrigation business. So, he did.

These days, Nichols doesn’t just oversee operations at Nichols Farm; he also manages HotSpot Ag, an automated solutions-based company that retrofits legacy irrigation equipment, bringing farms into the 21st century. He talked about his brand at the Irrigation Show’s Pitch Competition. 

“All growers irrigate a little differently, and each has a preference about how they want to irrigate,” he said. “We can build a water budget for them to see where savings are to be had.”

The Hot Spot Ag business model utilizes a pump station that can be operated remotely, an automation-ready valve, an engine station and numerous sensors.

M8 Systems’ Farm Link Controller. Eric Goodchild, chief technology officer at M8 Systems, discussed the technology behind his brand’s wireless Farm Link Controller.

Beyond controlling valves and pumps via a cellular connection, it integrates with M8 Systems cloud-based app, letting producers create automated schedules or actions based on third-party sensor thresholds. For example, the controller can automatically open a valve based on soil moisture. 

Starting at $400, Goodchild said its low cost sets the Farm Link Controller apart. “It’s a complete system. You can purchase the box with solar power and attach it to your valve. There’s nothing additional that’s needed,” he said. 

Since the controller’s first iteration in 2019, M8 Systems has been collecting irrigation-related data and is using it to train an ag-focused artificial intelligence. Eventually, Goodchild said the AI will be able to suggest how to improve irrigation efficiency, optimize systems, automate processes and accurately project productive crops for different environments.

M8 Systems’ controller was one of few featured at the show. Other new controllers included WiseConn’s $650 RF V1, which controls latching solenoid valves and monitors flow, pressure, and other field conditions. It must be used in conjunction with a WiseConn gateway, so it’s a solution for farmers already invested in the ecosystem who are looking for an inexpensive way to expand their valve control.

Nelson Irrigation Twig. While the technology inside Nelson Irrigation’s latest $700 Twig Wireless Control System isn’t new, but its container is. The updated controller can fit in a palm. It’s powered by a small, built-in solar panel.

“We’ve taken the Twig and made it into a condensed package,” said Wade Shane, a customer service and support specialist at Nelson Irrigation. “Before, we had a separate Twig that was wired to the valve. Now, it’s all in a neat package.”

Hydro-Rain Gateway Controller. B-hyve Ag integrates automation, a remote pump control, real-time monitoring and system protection into one package. Growers can set parameters to automatically shut down pumps based on telematics such as flow rate and pressure. 

“When a pivot calls for water, we can turn on our pumps. When the last pivot turns off, we shut down,” said Greg Stewart, an electrical engineer with Hydro-Rain.