INDUSTRY INSIGHTS


Dominic Rossini


Wine grapes & walnut grower California


Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your operation and what changes have you made as a result of it?


COVID-19 has been challenging in several different ways to our operation. First is the safety of our employees and their families. Being an industry that is exempt from the stay-at-home order, we have had to take extra precautions to ensure that safety. We must talk to everyone about staying at least 6 feet apart and working from a distance in the field as well as while they are on their breaks. We are also supplying everyone with the equipment they need to be safe. Finding that safety equipment has been difficult like other industries. Furthermore, it has been difficult dealing with the psychological trauma of possibly catching the virus, spreading it around the farm and then to the community. Through all this and the normal daily challenges, the agriculture community stepped up and really delivered. People stayed on the front line working hard to produce food for everyone. Throughout this pandemic, like regular life, we delivered so people can eat.


The news has really talked about the heroes of this pandemic. I agree with everyone they pointed out; however, I think they missed one important group. That is the farming community. Our days never stopped. We never stayed at home. We had to stay working to ensure food was on everyone’s table. For that I thank everyone that came to work on my farm and all the farms across this country.


Richard Arias


Vice President RDO Water


How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your company and what changes have you made as a result of it?


We have made several changes to ensure the safety and health of our employees. We have not only enabled more people to work from home but have created split shifts in stores to guarantee social distancing. Overall, we have adapted quickly to the needs of customers and employees through greater use of technology.


How have you seen COVID-19 affecting your customers?


The change in service demand for fresh produce has no doubt created financial strain on many producers. Similar to RDO, many customers have reduced the human interaction for safety purposes and have in some cases reduced staff. However, I see most customers resilient and responding to market conditions very well.


What do you foresee for the ag irrigation industry in the next six months?


As the demand continues to increase, I see growers cautiously ramping the business up. I firmly believe technology will be used more often to maintain social distancing and improve efficiency for most organizations.


Chuck Bates


Market Segment Leader, Specialty Crops Netafim USA


How have you seen COVID-19 affecting your customers?


Different geographies and customer types have seen varied responses to COVID-19, with some being affected in a major way while others not at all, but overall the ag irrigation market has been strong. Agriculture has been affected by the heavy reduction of demand from restaurants, hotels, airlines, etc. but the irrigation industry is typically more forward-looking. We have remained incredibly busy assisting our agricultural customers with technologies to feed the world, which is a job that can’t be ignored, and it is fundamental during good times and essential during challenging times.


What do you foresee for the ag irrigation industry in the next six months?


I predict that as things start to wind down and restrictions are relaxed, a strong resurgence in delayed projects will occur. There will certainly be a new normal, but Netafim’s investment in digital transformation will definitely put us ahead of the game. We are prepared to adapt as necessary to continue to serve our customer, the American farmer.


Read more about what these industry professionals had to say online at www.irrigationtoday.org in early fall.


irrigationtoday.org Summer 2020 | Irrigation TODAY 9


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