INNOVATION
This project, funded by Tri-State G&T through the Electric Power Research Institute, was a partnership-driven spinoff project made possible through the connections and expertise leveraged through the IIC network.
“You can have a perfectly functioning pivot system but lose money if your pumps are inefficient,” says Joel Schneekloth, Water Resources Specialist at Colorado State University, lead developer of the free, spreadsheet-based calculator tool, along with Kansas- based consultant Lee Wheeler, who performed center pivot system audits as part of this project. “The opposite is also true: Your pumps could be fine, but if your center pivot delivery system isn’t optimized, with regard to system pressure or irrigation application uniformity, this inefficiency will add to your costs. The point of the calculator tool is to help irrigators tie these two elements together so they can see which areas may need improvements or upgrades and take the necessary steps to save money,” he says.
This irrigation and energy efficiency calculator tool was released in early 2020. The inaugural Colorado Master Irrigator class of 22 producers farming in northeastern Colorado’s Republican River Basin were provided a training session on using the calculator as part of a day-long session focused on evaluating and improving overall center pivot system performance.
This free, spreadsheet-based calculator is available for download at
https://irrigationinnovation.org/ along with other resources for how to use the tool.
Two industry-led pitches were among new projects selected for 2020.
Project – Economic Impact Study of the Irrigation Industry
Goal – To update and expand understanding of the irrigation equipment and services industry’s economic impact
Partners – Irrigation Association, Headwaters Corporation and IIC’s five partner universities (CSU, KSU, Fresno State, Texas A&M, UNL)
Project – Connecting Field-Scale Performance to Watershed Health
Goal – To assist the Twin Platte Natural Resource District by providing detailed electrical and water use data to support the TPNRD Data Collection/Water Saving program
Partners – Nebraska Water Balance Alliance, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Grower’s Information Services Cooperative, Olsson Engineering and Twin Platte Natural Resources District
Amy Kremen is the operations manager for the Irrigation Innovation Consortium. For a full list of IIC projects, go to
www.irrigationinnovation.org.
irrigationtoday.org Summer 2020 | Irrigation TODAY 31
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