With precise irrigation technology, such as remote control and management, center pivot and microirrigation systems can save California growers up to 75 percent on labor costs and increase yields by up to 50 percent — putting more money back into growers’ pockets.2


Research shows that when it comes to pursuing new forms of irrigation, the time to act is now. According to a study conducted by the University of California, Davis, direct losses in agriculture revenue in 2015 topped $1.8 billion, with the total economic impact on agriculture and related industries reaching nearly $3 billion.5


According to University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Jeff Mitchell, California growers simply can’t afford to ignore automated systems any longer.


“New technology advances make them more advantageous for California,” Mitchell said.6


Center pivot and microirrigation systems also offer environmental benefits for the state, as they have the ability to utilize reclaimed water for irrigation and produce


less water/chemical waste due to their precise applications, thereby decreasing the chances of contaminating nearby water sources. In addition, they use less energy, reducing more than one-third (36 percent) of all energy costs.2


Of course, with any irrigation system, proper management is the key to achieving optimum efficiency. New technologies are now available to monitor soil moisture and other conditions to ensure that the applied water closely matches crop water requirements in order to maximize yields and improve water-use efficiency.


Notes


1. USDA-NASS. (2013). Census of Agriculture 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey. Washington, DC: USDA-NASS. Retrieved fromwww.agcensus. usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/ Farm_and_Ranch_Irrigation_Survey/


2. Lindsay Corporation. (2015). Converting From Gravity Flow. Omaha, NE: Lindsay Corporation. Retrieved fromwww. zimmatic.com/stuff/contentmgr/ files/0/7f8418f718afb597fd6417e400cebafa/pdf/ lindsay_flood_bro_0215_web.pdf


3. Tagar, A., Chandio, F., Mari, I., and Wagan, B. (2012). Comparative study of drip and furrow irrigation methods at farmer’s field in Umarkot. World Academy of Sci., Eng. and Technol. Int. J. of Biol., Biomolecular, Agric., Food and Biotechnological Eng. 6(9): 788-792.


4. Weiser, M. (2014). Flood irrigation still common, but drip method is gaining ground. The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved fromwww.sacbee. com/news/politics-government/article2591279. html


Dirk Lenie is the recently retired vice president of global marketing for


Lindsay Corporation. He has served the IA as the


vice chair of the Awards and Honors Committee, chair


of the Expo Advisory Committee, a member of the Directors Nominating Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors.


5. Howitt, R., MacEwan, D., Medellín-Azuara, J., Lund, J., and Sumner, D. (2015). Economic Analysis of the 2015 Drought for California Agriculture. Davis, CA: Center for Watershed Sciences, Univ. of CA, Davis. Retrieved fromhttps://watershed.ucdavis.edu/ files/biblio/Final_Drought%20Report_08182015_ Full_Report_WithAppendices.pdf


6. Harvey, C. (2013). Growers experiment with Midwest-style pivot irrigation. The Business Journal, Fresno. Retrieved fromwww.thebusinessjournal. com/news/agriculture/9193-growers-experiment- with-midwest-style-pivot-irrigation


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