The future of water management
A good question to consider is — Why are irrigation systems allowed to fall into disrepair? One possible reason is that, historically, water, labor and energy were inexpensive, and growers could focus on higher ticket farm management issues such as fertilizer, pesticides and seeds.
However, this is no longer the case. In fact, the cost of not managing water and fertilizer properly not only hurts yields but risks degradation to the environment and noncompliance with regulations.
Just as farm managers routinely hire experts to help them with soil health,
fertilizers, seed, pesticides, equipment, finances, legal advice and marketing, in the future they will also hire experts to help them with water management.
Although the obvious targets for improved irrigation are equipment repairs and upgrades, farm owners, managers, supervisors and irrigators can also take advantage of professional services, education and training provided in the irrigation community. Resources are available through area ag extension services; universities; the Irrigation Association; and irrigation manufacturers, system designers, consultants and dealers.
Despite significant progress toward modernizing ag irrigation systems, many existing systems are in disrepair,
Through troubleshooting and maintenance practices, growers can work to solve these problems and ensure their systems are performing at a peak level.
Top 5
How to be a better drip irrigator
1. Audit pressures and flows and remedy poor DUs.
2. Create a system maintenance program.
3. Schedule irrigations according to need.
4. Get education and training.
5. Find an expert and don’t go it alone!
26 Irrigation TODAY | January 2019
translating into lost profits and increased risk to the environment. Through troubleshooting and maintenance practices, growers can work to solve these problems and ensure their systems are performing at a peak level.
Additional studies related to the evaluation of uniformity on drip systems are available. For more information, contact Inge Bisconer at
info@surfnearth.com.
Inge Bisconer, CID, CLIA, is a managing member of Surf ‘N Earth Enterprises and a sales and marketing consultant who recently retired from Toro Ag where she worked in ag irrigation sales, marketing and technical roles for nearly half of her 40-year career.
Photo credit: Inge Bisconer
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