Editorial message
A bright forecast for 2018 By Stephen W. Smith, PhD, FASIC, CAIS, CLIA, Irrigation Association Editorial Board Chair
Happy New Year from everyone at Irrigation Today. 2018 is upon us! I want to make a forecast about 2018. In my view, this year is going to be extraordinary in the world of irrigation — both agricultural and landscape irrigation. I’m generally a positive thinker, but I believe several important technical areas will see widespread acceptance and increased adoption. These technologies are already known to us.
Use of drones for remote data collection: Whether in agriculture or landscape irrigation, the basic concept is the same — namely, obtain frequent aerial imagery and data that can positively affect your day-to-day operations. (See the article written by Kevin Yemoto and Huihui Zhang, PhD, on p. 18 – 19 in this issue.)
Use of EQIP funding for on-farm irrigation improvements: I forecast increased understanding and use of state-by-state EQIP funds [Environmental Quality Incentives Program] administered for agriculture irrigation improvements. Irrigation improvements can be cost-shared with the Natural Resources Conservation Service EQIP program to positively affect your water and energy costs, as well as labor costs.
Big data and the internet of things [IoT]: I forecast new data platforms and lower cost communications to in-field devices. Which cellular provider is going to be first in your area? I’m not going to try to forecast that.
Increased understanding of equitable, multiparty water sharing: I forecast that farmers, environmentalists and municipalities will incrementally increase mutual understanding of one another’s objectives and come up with market-driven incentives that can be implemented cost effectively. (See the article written by economist George Oamek, PhD, on p. 27 of this issue.)
Some readers may know that I am an avid hobbyist photographer and drone pilot. In 2018, I’ll be expanding my knowledge in at least one of the aforementioned technical areas. Here’s to 2018! Wishing you and your irrigation endeavors well.
Editorial Committee Chair Stephen Smith has been using a drone to fly his Colorado wholesale nursery operation for tree inventory and to simply get drone flights into a suitable routine.
Photo credit: Stephen Smith via shutter release on the drone.
4 Irrigation TODAY | January 2018
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