EDITORIAL MESSAGE
Tool time F
or most people, summer is the time for relaxing and taking life at a slower pace. With school out, it’s a great time to take a break and escape for a vacation.
But for those in our industry, there is nothing slow about summer, let alone spring or fall. As harvest winds down and winter begins to blow in, we hope you can find time to stop and catch your breath before everything thaws out next spring.
For many of you, this is the time of year when you tackle all the projects that there wasn’t time for earlier in the year. Working on equipment, including repairs and maintenance, tends to be popular on the to-do list.
We had this in mind when we planned this Fall issue of Irrigation Today. When it comes to irrigation systems, now is the best time to give your equipment a good checkup. We want to make sure you have all the tools you need to keep your equipment running smoothly, diagnose any issues, make repairs and winterize as necessary. Read on to learn about how a flow meter can be a valuable tool to diagnose system problems (pg. 10). If you’re a drip irrigator, you won’t want to miss Jim Klauzer’s advice (pg. 16) about what tools you need — both in your tool bag and in knowledge — to keep your system running smoothly.
“When it comes to irrigation systems, now is the best
time to give your equipment a good checkup.”
If you have comments, suggestions or an idea for what you would like to see covered in a future issue, please feel free to contact me at
anneblankenbiller@irrigation.org.
The irrigation resource for today’s growers
Published by: Irrigation Association 8280 Willow Oaks Corporate Dr. Suite 400 Fairfax, VA 22031-4511 USA Tel 703.536.7080 Fax 703.536.7019
info@irrigationtoday.org www.irrigationtoday.org
Publisher Deborah M. Hamlin, CAE, FASAE
Associate Publisher Trisha Klaus
Editor-in-Chief Anne Blankenbiller anneblankenbiller@
irrigation.org
Technical Advisor Brent Q. Mecham, CID, CLWM, CIC, CLIA, CAIS
Creative Sean Burris
Account Managers Eric Anderson
eric.anderson@bock-assoc.com
Tom Schoen
tom.schoen@
bock-assoc.com
Alan Scott
alanscott@irrigation.org
For specific information about account manager sales territories, please see pg. 42.
Editorial Committee Chair Bill S. Thornton Watertronics
Editorial Committee Brian P. Frerich, CID Eco-Drip Irrigation Supply Inc.
Charles Hillyer, PhD Irrigation for the Future
Diann Ilkenhons Vice Chair Senninger Irrigation Inc.
Jacob Knipp Reinke Manufacturing Co. Inc.
4 Irrigation TODAY | Fall 2019
irrigationtoday.org
Michael A. Noftle, CAIS, CID Ideal Design Solutions LLC
Jim Phene Epiphene Inc.
Jackie (Jay) W.D. Robbins II, PE, TSP, CAIS, CID Irrigation-Mart Inc.
Stephen W. Smith, PhD, FASIC, CAIS, CLIA Past Chair Principal, Wade Water LLC
Contributors John Farner Kyle Feist, MS, PE, CID, CAIS
Jim Klauzer Mary Love Tagert, PhD George Oamek, PhD Ken Quandt Gene Ross, PE, CID Stuart Styles, DE, PE, CAIS, CGIA, CID, D.WRE
This is also a good time of the year to think about the future and make plans for next year’s irrigating season. This issue’s features focused on upgrading your system will help you consider your options related to sprinkler nozzle packages (pg. 20) and whether or not a variable frequency drive (pg. 24) is a good choice for you.
As autumn begins to usher in your slower season, we hope you can stop and take breath after a busy and challenging year. And don’t forget, what you do today to take care of your equipment will help you avoid lost productivity, potential lost profits and frustrating downtime during the busy season next year.
Anne Blankenbier
Irrigation Today Editor-in-Chief
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46
