Maximising the Value of Irrigation

The H2Grow Team are excited to introduce Carolyn Hedley as our guest contributor, it is with great pleasure that we can share with you her valuable expertise. Carolyn is a Soil Scientist with Manaaki Whenua, based in Palmerston North, and lives on a small Kairanga farm with husband, Mike. Carolyn has combined her interests in soil science, proximal soil sensing and precision agriculture with on-farm studies of precision irrigation and soil carbon mapping. She has led several nationally funded projects in irrigation and soil carbon, including current leadership of the MBIE funded programme “Maximising the Value of Irrigation”.

Maximising the Value of Irrigation  -  Carolyn Hedley

Early in the new millennium I found out about EM mapping and in 2004 published a method in the Australian Journal of Soil Research to rapidly EM map soil variability on a basis of soil texture. I realised that EM mapping was a really useful new technology to rapidly survey soil variability. The EM map had picked the difference between a Kairanga silt loam and a Kairanga clay loam, and this had management implications for the farmer because the heavier textured soil would compact sooner when grazed in wet conditions.

I could see great potential in this new technology and so embarked on a PhD in proximal soil sensing and this is when I started to relate the EM map to soil available water holding capacity and realised how useful this could be for irrigation scheduling. But critics commented that irrigation systems cannot irrigate to such a complex pattern (example shown in Figure 1 below). Enter Stu Bradbury and George Ricketts, who had worked with me on some EM mapping projects when they were students at Massey University. There was an engineering solution to this problem – control the sprinkler system on a pivot to irrigate to any pattern – which led to the development of the Precision VRI system. Precision VRI, the world’s first true variable rate irrigation system, turned the heads of the global irrigation giants and as a result Lindsay Corporation acquired the technology development company founded by Stu and George.

Figure 1: Available Water-holding Capacity map derived from an EM map for a 100-ha area irrigated by a VRI linear move irrigation system

There was still work to be done though and a proposal put to the Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment received six years funding in 2013 to further research methods to improve management of irrigated land. Now in its final year, the “Maximising the Value of Irrigation” programme has been able to refine methods to use proximal sensor data to create prescription maps for precision irrigation. It has developed soil and crop sensing methods that can inform in near real time the prescription map, and a prototype scheduling tool has been tested with participating farmers as a smart phone app. The in-field sensor monitoring methods have been used to support Lindsay further refine the software control features for the Precision VRI system, which is remotely managed through the FieldNET platform.

Ekanayake, J. and Hedley, C. (2018) Advances in Information Provision from Wireless Sensor Networks for Irrigated Crops. Wireless Sensor Network, 10, 71-92. 

Research into different soil management methods has identified correct tillage and soil surface management methods to store more water in the soil and reduce irrigation requirement and water losses. A spatial framework to run the APSIM model has been created to test the effect of different irrigation scenarios on yield, drainage and water use efficiency. Spatial-APSIM simultaneously runs the model for up to 1,400 grid cells for one irrigation system to compare results of different irrigation scenarios at spatial resolution < 50 m, over several decades.

The MBIE Programme “Maximising the Value of Irrigation” is now working closely with its industry advisory group to ensure that its findings are communicated effectively and to find ways to integrate new tools and support improved management of irrigated land in New Zealand.

Celebrating 10 years of Irrigation Innovation

It’s a classic story of Kiwi innovation.

One summer’s evening in 2004, two Massey University engineering graduates, Stu Bradbury and George Ricketts were working a summer job assembling irrigators on the South Wairarapa farm of Brian and Jo Bosch. 

Over a cuppa, Stu, George and Brian discussed the challenges on the Bosch’s farm caused by the limitations of the existing pivot irrigation system.

“Where the pivot went over the races was wet and mucky,” says Brian.  “We were also getting a number of lame cows, who got wet feet and bruising on the muddy race.”

Brian Bosch on his Wairarapa dairy farm

Blanket irrigation was the problem. They needed a way of irrigating specific areas that needed it but keeping vulnerable parts such as the race dry.

Back then nothing on the market could manage the water flow in targeted and controlled quantities, to specific parts of the farm depending on topography and soil type.

“We saw wet areas where crops weren’t growing, and dry areas without much water. So there was an obvious need for a system to specify where you needed water and how much,” says Stu.

Before long George had the solution and in 2006 they began developing the prototype that would become Precision VRI. VRI stands for variable rate irrigation, ensuring precise amounts of water or nutrients are delivered over multiple crops, soil types and terrains.

To make best use of the technology on paddocks with variable soil types and terrain electromagnetic (EM) soil mapping is recommended. EM mapping measures soil conductivity which is an indicator of soil texture (along with other characteristics) and therefore soil water holding capacity. The Precision VRI system can be easily programmed using the FieldNET app to customise irrigation according to the EM map.

The system can be used to ensure that only the areas that need water, get water, and at the right levels.

Over the past decade Precision VRI has enabled New Zealand’s farmers, food producers and agricultural contractors to achieve better results, driving efficiencies and saving money – to the benefit of agribusiness, not only for dairying, but in sheep, beef, horticulture and arable farming.

In 2011 global agribusiness leader Lindsay Corporation acquired the NZ company WMC Technology Ltd under which the Precision VRI technology was developed. Through doing so the not only gained the rights to market the award-winning technology but also provided significant backing for George, Stu and the team to continue developing irrigation solutions.

From the archives: George and Stu at a farm mapping job in 2010 (above). Stu, George and Paul (below) receiving the Supreme Award at the Manawatu Business Awards 2010, WMC Technology Ltd also won the Innovation Award and the Workplace Health and Safety Award.

“We are working on new iterations of the software,” says Stu.

“Now, everything needs to be mobile-friendly so that is where our efforts are focused.”

Future plans to market the system internationally will give farmers world-wide the advantages experienced by New Zealand farmers using the system.

To find out more about the Growsmart Precision VRI system call 0800 438 627 or visit www.lindsaynz.com.

Irrigation Evaluations (aka Bucket Testing) - Including tips for testing VRI systems

Spring is here but we are seeing all four seasons rolled into one some weeks which is not an anomaly. The soil moisture levels in our region have had a healthy boost in the last few days but if the media reports are true we may be in for a dry summer - please don't shoot the messenger, I'm only relaying what I have heard.

Should this transpire then that is even more reason to ensure that our irrigation systems are applying water as efficiently as possible so that we are maximising the amount of water applied that is available for plants to grow. An irrigation evaluation is a way to assess the efficiency and distribution uniformity of your irrigation system to ensure it is performing as expected.

An irrigation evaluation will help identify causes of any poor performance and (sometimes with the assistance of a qualified professional) show how these can be resolved. Increasing irrigation effectiveness and efficiency will allow you to grow more for less.

An irrigation evaluation (often referred to as a bucket test) is simple enough to carry out yourself, there are several good guides freely available to walk you through this process. For more information check out:

IrrigationNZ - Bucket Testing Resources
DairyNZ - Irrigation Evaluation Guide

The guides recommended above will walk you through how to carry out a standard bucket test however before you begin you need to consider any additional technologies that enhance your irrigation system. For instance if your system has variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology then you will need to take this into account when planning your bucket test. Lindsay NZ, the developers of the Growsmart Precision VRI system, have created a step-by-step guide that explain these additional considerations in more detail.

Growsmart Precision VRI - Bucket Testing Tip Card

If you are not in favour of the DIY irrigation evaluation option then consider contacting an accredited evaluator, this would also be recommended if your own test identifies potential issues that warrant further investigation. If you have additional technology such as a VRI system then ensure that whoever is carrying out the test is aware of this and that they carry out the recommended additional steps. If you need further help then contact your irrigation dealer, many dealers also have accredited evaluators on hand.

Irrigation system checks and maintenance should be undertaken at scheduled times over the irrigation season (the more hours your irrigator runs for the more regularly these checks should be carried out). Recommended irrigation system maintenance will be covered in more detail in the next H2Grow blog post, this will include a checklist that you can download and print off to help you with this task.

Keep an eye out for the next post or subscribe by entering your email in the box to the top right of the screen to ensure that you don't miss it!

Today's blog was written by Sarah Elliot from Lindsay NZ - I hope you have found it useful!

EM Surveying - other uses for the data

Today it's our final blog for the 4-part series on EM Surveying that we've run you through over the last month. To date we've covered off:

• Part 1 - the process
• Part 2 - what the data is telling you
• Part 3 - the main uses

Today Chris is going to take you on a run-through of what some of the other uses are for your EM Survey data are & how they can be applied on farm...

...I touched on probe placement at the end of the last post, so will continue where I left off. The EM layers are very useful for making sure you have your moisture probe in the most indicative soil type if you only put one probe in under a pivot for example, or if you have several soil types it ensures you can put probes under the lightest, heaviest and average soils, to make more informed management decisions on irrigation application. The topography information collected at the time of survey can also be used for determining soil moisture probe locations. 

Figure 1: Shallow EM Map with 3 probe locations in the different soil types. 

Where the land is undulating we can bring the elevation data into the equation for probe placement to find a flat area in each of the different soil types. We can also use a moisture probe in a dry land situation for adjusting inputs to the season (such as fertiliser, re-grassing & de-stocking).

When conduiting the EM survey we are using RTK GPS to log the EM data, this topography data and its derivatives are very powerful information layers. We can create water flow maps so you can see potential areas there may be issues for your Farm Environment plans, contour maps, and water flow animated videos as shown below. The Water Shed model mimics a large rainfall event, then over time shows where the water moves from quickly and where it hangs around longer. 

These Water Shed models highlight potential avoidance areas for planting, especially for nurseries and high value crops, in areas prone to heavy rainfall.

As you can see there are many ways people are using their EM survey data, and there are many other uses tailored to the individual client’s requirements. It is generally best to discuss with you your issues then we can work together on using the data to achieve the best solutions for you.

For any more information or to discuss your requirements give me a call.

Chris Smith

Operations Manager @ Agri Optics NZ Ltd 

Technology Transforming New Zealand Irrigation

The latest issue of the IrrigationNZ News (Spring 2017) features an excellent and in-depth article on how technology is transforming irrigation in New Zealand. Featuring six case studies from throughout the country describing the different technologies applied on each farm - from soil moisture sensors to weather forecasting options to automated irrigation systems "designed to deliver the right amount of water at the right time".

Many of the technologies discussed have been previously showcased on our H2Grow blog so if you are interested to find out more follow this link and turn to page 28 => IrrigationNZ News: Spring 2017

Overlooking the North Otago dairy farm run by Nick Webster part of the "Peter Mitchell and Nick Webster" case study discussing how they use Growsmart Precision VRI technology to improve their operation.

Shared by the H2Grow team.

In the words of Rachel Hunter - it won't happen overnight, but it will happen...

Wasn’t the whole election one big roller coaster?  If we have learnt one this from this whole affair, it is that we are all very passionate about our water resources – not necessarily for the same reasons, but passionate none the less.

Regardless of who ends up running the country (at the time of penning this blog, Winnie was still  courting both the National and Labour parties), I think it is clear that public opinion will ensure that water management and associated policies will be addressed is some way, shape or form by the incoming government.  Given this, I think it is important (and timely) to look back and acknowledge where we have got too in relation to this, but also to look forward at where we can still go.  

The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM) and Regional Plans

Most regional councils now either have notified or operative plans which outline their methods for addressing water quantity and water quality.  While no two plans are alike, the NPSFM requires limits are set, therefore, all plans do just that – they set allocation limits for surface and groundwater resources, as well as water quality limits.  It is the latter which takes various forms including property limits and/or catchment limits using Overseer, in stream water quality limits, and the development of the Good Management Practice (GMP) framework.    Many councils have also adopted the use of audited Farm Environment Plans to be able to monitor, measure, report and ensure that farms are meeting their environmental obligations. 

As with anything in life, good things take time.  Councils are in the process of rolling out and implementing these plans now.  The effects will not be immediate, but they need to be given a chance to actually work. 

It must also be remembered that for many areas, it is as much about maintaining the already good water quality that exists – this is not allowed to deteriorate.  For those few areas where improvement is needed, the plans bite much harder, and that it totally appropriate.

The fact that all of this has occurred seems to have been completely overlooked by many, and it’s not just politicians I’m referring too. 

How are we meeting our environmental obligations already?

Figures provided by Irrigation New Zealand show that since 2011:

·       

• $10 million invested in audited Farm Environment Plans;   
• $600 million invested by existing irrigators upgrading to modern, efficient irrigation systems;
• $18 million invested in precision irrigation technologies;
• $15 million invested in installing irrigation decision-making technologies;
• More than 24,000 kilometres of our waterways have already been fenced off to exclude stock at a cost of $220 million. 

As we continue to meet our environmental obligations, you can only expect these numbers to increase.  It is noted that this expenditure is all on farm, reinforcing the point that water quality will be addressed at the farm level. 

Looking Forward

Regional Councils need to continue to implement their plans. This may seem like an obvious thing to state, but it’s true nonetheless.  Consistent messages and enforcement from the regulatory bodies will be a must.

I believe that many farmers are on board with GMP (the on-farm practices) despite still being largely ignorant or merely confused by the new environmental regulations.  Education is still key to the success of this stuff, and that has to come from all involved – banks, valuers, real estate agents, farm advisors, customers… anybody involved with the farm.  And, many farmers are being innovative and taking up technology where it is available.  You only have to look at the statistics above regarding the investment to date in irrigation upgrades and precision irrigation technologies.  

And last, but not least, time, time, time.  To quote Rachel Hunter from her Pantene ad, “it doesn’t happen overnight, but it will happen”, and it is happening.  Get on board, and keep it up.

 By Keri Johnston, Irricon Resource Solutions

Phone 0272202425 or email keri@irricon.co.nz

The Ultimate Add-On for Cost Efficient Irrigation

Growsmart Precision VRI with FieldNET is the ultimate add-on for easy and cost efficient irrigation, Maniototo sheep and beef farmer Hamish Mackenzie says.

“It’s simple, easy to use and gives you heaps of flexibility. I can sort and upload a watering plan and set it going at the push of a button,” Hamish says.

Hamish Mackenzie uses Growsmart Precision VRI to apply the right amount of water, in the right place at the right time at Kyeburn Station

At Kyeburn Station, an extensive 3300ha sheep and beef property, 260ha of flats are irrigated. Half the area is watered by a 570 meter Zimmatic centre-pivot. It was installed with Growsmart Precision VRI in 2015 and in November 2016 was upgraded with FieldNET, a remote communication tool making it possible to control Growsmart Precision VRI from any internet-capable device. The limited cell phone coverage means Hamish is not set up for complete remote control but FieldNET has given him greater flexibility over irrigation. And he says the new updated system is far superior to its predecessor.

“I do all of my irrigation plans on the home computer. If we had reliable cell phone coverage I’d be able to send them remotely to the pivot but because we don’t I put them on a memory stick which I then plug into the pivot panel of the irrigator. It’s really simple and straightforward.”

The touchscreen panel allows farmers to easily make changes to irrigation plans out in the field.

This season the pivot watered 37ha of Relish red clover-based pasture; 28ha of lucerne; 12ha of barley; 17ha of swedes; and 7ha fodder beet. The patchwork of different crops, each with different watering requirements throughout the season could have made irrigation planning and management a headache. But the combination of Growsmart VRI and FieldNET made it surprisingly straightforward.

“You can add in as many different fields as needed, and alter the watering rates on each or keep them out of the rotation as required. That’s the beauty of VRI and FieldNET, it’s so easy to alter things.”
Installation of FieldNET was about $1,000 on top of the Growsmart VRI but he reckons he’s easily recouped the cost – and saved water. Efficient use of water is a number one priority given the region’s 500mm annual rainfall and extended summer dry periods.  Water is taken from the Kyeburn River, from a main race which Hamish shares with four farms. He has a 52l/s allocation but over the last year the combination of Growsmart Precision VRI and FieldNET has reduced pivot water use to about 43l/s.


“I’ve been able to cut back the percentage flow through the pivot in summer and we’ve been able to use the extra if needed for k-line irrigation. Also we’ve saved money because we’re not having to pump as much water and we don’t need as much pressure.”

Irrigation development at Kyeburn Station started after completion of tenure review in 2009.
“We surrendered 4700ha of hill country to the Crown in 2009 so we had to intensify what we were doing.”

The goal was to maintain the same number of stock units by ramping up production on flat country. They purchased some neighbouring land that was irrigated, and added another 100ha pivot. There is now 260ha under irrigation, of that 180ha is covered by two Zimmatic pivots, one of which has Growsmart Precision VRI and FieldNET.

“I will sometime in the future retro fit the older Zimmatic pivot with Growsmart Precision VRI as well. I think it’s really important given the push by regional councils to encourage farmers to use less water and become smarter with how they irrigate.”

Lindsay NZ

'Tips, Tools & Technology for Efficient Farming' - Workshop Series

Do you want to improve the nutrient and irrigation management on your farm but are not sure where to start? Come along to a free 'Tips, Tools & Technology for Efficient Farming' workshop jointly hosted by Lindsay NZ, Agri Optics New Zealand Ltd and Irricon Resource Solutions.

Over the course of the workshop we'll cover off a range of topics from nutrient management, irrigation management and hardware, precision agriculture and how these all tie in with farm environment plans for efficient farming.

Please use this link to register - Register me for a workshop please!

We look forward to seeing you there

Reduce the Cost of Nutrient Loss with Precision Ag (Part 1 of 3)

Precision Ag can help you in many ways with your Farm Environment Plan (FEP). Precision nutrient management, EM maps, topography data,variable rate irrigation (VRI) and moisture probes are all tools available to help you manage your FEP and mitigate any potential issues you may face - Reducing costs to your farming operation and the environment.

I will be looking at how each of these can help you over the next few blog posts (to make sure you don't miss out pop your email address in the "Follow By Email" box, to the right). In this first blog of three I am looking into precision nutrient management.

Improving Nutrient Management with Precision Ag

The objective here is to maximise nutrient use efficiency while minimising nutrient losses into water. This can be accomplished by looking at the nutrient levels in the soils themselves as well as monitoring the moisture in the soil profile to ensure you don’t leach nutrients out with over watering. Precision Ag can help you in several ways to achieve this, this week I will look at the nutrient levels themselves.

This is done through either grid or zonal soil sampling. Instead of taking one soil sample per field or block, you sample in a grid at a resolution of one site per hectare or take samples within each known soil zone from your EM survey. Whichever way the samples are collected the sites are geo-referenced that means you can go back to the same point every time you sample so you can see how you are managing your nutrient levels over a number of years. At each site 12-15 cores are taken and placed in a bag, labelled and sent off to the laboratory for that sampling point.

Picture 1: Geo referenced sampling points in a field.

When you receive the laboratory results, they look similar to those you normally get however the critical difference is they are all geo-referenced and are at a higher resolution i.e. one per hectare. The data received can then be processed to create a nutrient zone map; with nutrient levels grouped in ranges for the given area and given nutrient.  From that layer of data application maps are made to match the soil and crop requirements.  The main nutrients commonly applied using this variable rate method are potash, phosphate and magnesium as well as lime for pH.

Picture 2: A map showing the varying Olsen P values across a field.

By only applying what is needed where it is needed means you minimise any over-application of product with financial and environmental implications, and you also maximise the crops potential on a nutrient level. By using this method you can mine nutrient-rich zones reducing nutrient levels in those areas and apply only what is required elsewhere.

Chris Smith

Agri Optics NZ Ltd

Managing Environmental Compliance with Precision VRI and EM Mapping

Farm Fast facts:

Farm Name: Seadown Dairies

Cows Milked: 620

Length of VRI Pivot: 565m

Production: 1705/ha, 278000 KgMS

Pasture Grown/Harvested: 17,000 KgDM /14,500 KgDM

Key Benefits from VRI system: Reduced track maintenance, reduced pugging damage less water wasted.

Sustainable farm management was a major driver behind Brendan Caird’s decision to install Lindsay Growsmart Precision VRI with FieldNET on his 565m pivot. A major feature of the farm is a spring fed stream that flows through the middle of the irrigated area of the property. Totalling an area of approximately 5 ha, the streams and springs add to the visual appearance of the property and have been fenced and planted into a riparian zone. However without VRI effective irrigation management would have been considerably more difficult. By installing the VRI system Brendan is now able to work around mother nature and reduce his farms overall impact on the environment.

Riparian Zone in the middle of the VRI Pivot

The costs of irrigating his races and tracks were also a big part of the equation.

“Stock flows better, track maintenance is reduced and water is not wasted on unproductive areas” says Brendan who uses VRI to improve the conditions on the farm races. Nearly 5Ha of the 93Ha irrigated area is able to be avoided which includes races and waterways which allows Brendan to utilise that saved water elsewhere.

With an allocation of only 3.2mm/ha/Day irrigation practices need to be as efficient as possible at Seadown Dairies to maximise water use for grass production. Brendan also finds benefit in the VRI system to help remove paddocks from the irrigation round that are set to be re-sown. In the case of the 2016 season Caird planted fodder beet and set an irrigation plan to avoid the paddock whilst it was being cultivated. You can see the effects of this below. The yellow is the paddock that was avoided. The pink is for zones that were a part of the avoid zones.

As Applied Irrigation for the season. Note the paddock in Yellow.

Agri Optics conducted an EM survey on the property and the major soil zones were able to be identified see (http://www.agrioptics.co.nz/portfolio/em-survey/ for more info). The next step that Brendan and his team are working on is to begin irrigating to the EM soil zone plan. With multiple soil management zones identified on the property the goal is to water according to the relative requirements of each soil zone. This is aided by soil moisture sensing equipment to give the exact time that irrigation is required. Further to this Brendan can also be sure that soils are not being overwatered and water is not being wasted which Brendan says helps make his farm environment plan more comprehensive.

Blog this week by Nick @ Agri Optics
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Variable Rate Irrigation and Soil Moisture Management - Introducing The Kowhais

Name: Tom Macfarlane

Farm: The Kowhais

Type: Intensive grazing

Location: Raincliff

Total Area: 800Ha

Total Effective Area: 655Ha

Area under VRI: 86Ha

AquaCheck soil moisture probes: 6

Annual Production: 1000 Lambs, 1500 deer and 1000 bulls

Average Pasture Production: 9500kgDM/Ha

Efficient meat production is the goal for Raincliff farmer Tom Macfarlane. After taking over the property 3 years ago Tom is striving to lift production whilst doing so in a sustainable manner. The Opuha River runs along the boundary of the property and this means that Tom is wary of the impact that his intensive farming operations may have on the environment.

Finishing 700-800 bulls before their 2^nd winter on farm requires a high level of feed intake and the bulls need to be growing every day. The techno system is intensive and requires daily management of multiple small mobs of animals. Juggling the stocking rate according to the feed supply and demand requires effective pasture management strategies to maintain quality throughout the spring and summer.

Water use efficiency is also high on the agenda at Macfarlane’s as water for the properties irrigation system is supplied from the often restricted Opuha Water scheme. Roughly 180 Ha is under irrigation on the property and his pivot and lateral, both with Growsmart Precision VRI, water an area of 86 Ha. Irrigation is also applied through K-Line, hard hose gun and Roto-Rainer systems which cover 31.8, 32.5 and 56 Ha respectively.

The Kowhais EM Zone Map to be used with VRI

The Growsmart Precision VRI really proves its worth when water restrictions kick in as Macfarlane is able to use planned moisture deficit management to water different areas of ground cover at reduced rates. When water is short the fodder beet is watered less frequently to free up more water for the higher quality pastures. Macfarlane also is able to reduce applications on heavier soils to spread his water further. All of this is enabled by the combination of EM Soil Surveys, AquaCheck soil moisture sensors and Growsmart Precision VRI.

The installation of AquaCheck soil moisture sensors has added to Tom’s suite of decision support tools. Tom is now aiming to forecast potential pasture production from soil temperature and moisture data received from the AquaCheck probes. This will enable him to better decide how many head of stock he will be able to carry and will aid in planning for the upcoming season.

The combination of AquaCheck moisture probes and a Growsmart Precision VRI system enables Tom to better manage his irrigation scheduling. The ability to see what is happening to soil moisture and applying the correct amount of water at the correct time has benefits in terms of sustainability and pasture growth. Pasture growth is critical in Macfarlane’s techno beef system where pasture utilisation needs to be kept as high as possible. With potential harvest efficiencies of up to 85 to 90% the cost of overwatering is not just limited to run off and nutrient loss. Pasture damage caused by heavy 18 month old bulls has a significant impact on the level of wastage and future pasture production. The AquaCheck probes will allow Tom to see how soil moisture is tracking and can alert him to when soil moisture rises above the pasture damage threshold. 

With one eye always on efficiency at The Kowhais the use of variable rate irrigation, EM soil surveying and AquaCheck soil moisture probes has given Tom Macfarlane the tools to help improve efficiency and productivity. Watch this space to see how things evolve at The Kowhais.

Managing Pivot Wheel Track Problems

While centre pivot track management is fairly routine for most growers, those working in more challenging paddocks often need to take extra measures to avoid creating deep tracks or getting stuck.

“During the design phase of a centre pivot is the most cost-effective time to manage tracking issues,” said Steve Melvin, Irrigation Applications Specialist with Lindsay Corporation. “However, there are steps growers can take at any time to help reduce tracking problems.”

Following good maintenance practices is the first and most cost-effective step in reducing tracking problems. Melvin suggests:

• Check the owner’s manual and adjust the tyre pressure accordingly. When the pressure is too high, the tyres will make deeper tracks and if it’s too low, the tyre may come off the rim.

• During the first pass of the year, run the pivot around dry on a day when the soil is fairly moist but does not stick to the tyres or squeeze out. These conditions are optimum for packing the soil in the wheel track. During the second pass, apply 6 - 12mm of water. This will help compact the soil and reduce the depth of the pivot track during the season. 

• Over-watering and keeping the irrigated area too wet often leads to deep tracking problems, so it’s important to maintain a good irrigation schedule. Apply the largest practical irrigation depth, without runoff, and allow the paddock surface to dry more before the next pass. 

In areas where conditions create significant problems, Melvin said growers have additional options, including:

• Adding a three-foot extension in the pivot pipe at the pivot point every other year, which allows the wheels to move out of the old tracks for a year. This gives the soil an opportunity to firm up before moving back the following year.

• Adjusting the sprinkler configuration around each tower to direct water away from pivot tracks or applying water after the pivot has passed.

• Integrating Variable Rate Irrigation technology (VRI) for pinpoint control of irrigation systems. With VRI technology, problem areas can dry out, reducing the depth of the tracks throughout the growing season. For more information visit growsmartprecisionvri.co.nz.

• Increasing tyre footprint by switching to larger tyres, NFTrax or radials to minimise the kg's per square centimetre the wheel puts on the soil.

To access the complete article that Melvin wrote about track management options, visit www.ksre.k-state.edu/irrigate/oow/p16/Melvin16.pdf.

For information about tracking solutions, including NFTrax, talk with your local Zimmatic dealer or visit www.zimmatic.com/tracking-solutions. 

This helpful guide to managing wheel track rutting has been adapted from a recent Zimmatic by Lindsay blog article (Managing Wheel Track Problems) and posted today by Sarah Elliot from Lindsay NZ.

The Road to Complete Control from your Mobile Device

Here's an insight to the development pathway from the world's first true variable rate irrigation system through to the release this year of Growsmart® Precision VRI with FieldNET® - complete remote pivot management, with VRI control, monitoring and reporting. 

For more information visit precisionirrigation.co.nz/fieldnet.

This video clip has been shared with you by Sarah Elliot from LindsayNZ.

NEW Growsmart® Precision VRI with FieldNET® offers Complete Irrigation Remote Management

(Feilding, NZ) – April 4, 2016 – Lindsay New Zealand has announced that it now is offering Growsmart® Precision VRI with FieldNET® to provide complete remote pivot management, with VRI control, monitoring and reporting.

With Precision VRI, growers can precisely apply the correct amount of water over multiple crops, soil types and terrains.  When integrated with FieldNET remote management, growers have the ability to easily create or edit irrigation plans. The detailed irrigation reports assist with better decision-making. Multiple users can also be added with controlled access, which simplifies communication with staff and stakeholders.

Creating irrigation plans is easy with the new integrated tool. To set an irrigation depth you can simply click on a management zone/area and enter the desired depth or use the table to apply an irrigation depth according to a predefined characteristic such as crop type.

The irrigation application reports allow you to illustrate the irrigation that has been applied over a specific time period.

“The correct amount of water on every part of the field is essential for maximum yields. When coupled with FieldNET, Precision VRI gives growers the pinpoint accuracy they need along with the efficiencies that result from full remote capabilities,” said Richard Hall, Lindsay regional manager for Australia and New Zealand. “Configurable inputs allow for real-time system status data feeds, and the cloud stored backup reduces maintenance and repair system downtime.”

Ashburton farmer, Phill Everest uses Precision VRI to irrigate his farm in accordance with local council regulations, while demonstrating a passion for environmental efficiency that he hopes others will follow. Three years ago, he converted his beef and cropping farm to dairying. Flemington Dairies features deep silt loams braided by shallower stony soils, the result of historic riverbeds. Springs pop up in wet conditions, and one area of the farm has open drains running down its length.

With precision technology, he is able to turn off irrigation over and around pivot ruts, tracks, water troughs, gateways and drains. He also can avoid irrigating boggy areas, reducing rutting and allowing them to recover before changing his plan and irrigating again – effectively managing problems posed by heavy, seasonally waterlogged soils. He describes his decision to adopt precision technology as a means to “kill five birds with one stone.”

“The first time using the new FieldNET tool for Precision VRI, I found it very easy,” Everest said. “It was much simpler and quicker having just the one place to go to control my pivot and manage the Precision VRI plans.”

Using Growsmart Precision VRI to irrigate 132 hectares, Everest is able to reduce his water usage by 3,350,000 litres in comparison to a standard system applying a uniform rate application of 15 mm across the property. The additional water can irrigate an additional 23 hectares on his farm. Looking to the future, Everest said he’s interested in investing in Precision VRI on his remaining pivots.

“Some people call me a green farmer, but it’s something that spins my wheels,” he said.

Adding FieldNET to Precision VRI requires additional hardware that allows farmers to customise and remotely manage water applications. A strong, long lasting steel enclosure houses the new control panel in which you can view irrigation plans in colour at the pivot point. Irrigation depths can be changed on the fly, a handy feature for instance when the dairy herd are going into a paddock that the irrigator is about to cover, the irrigation on that paddock can be turned off then and there.

There will be a live demo on show at the ZImmatic site (site 17) at the IrrigationNZ Conference in Oamaru this week, so come along and check it out. For more information about Growsmart Precision VRI with FieldNET, visit your local Zimmatic dealer or growsmartprecisionvri.co.nz. 

This announcement has been bought by Lindsay NZ.

Irrigation – Grow with the Flow

Next week the historical Waitaki region will be host to the 2016 IrrigationNZ conference, IRRIGATION – GROW WITH THE FLOW. There is a variety of keynote speakers from all around the world and a jam-packed programme of interesting presentations and workshops. I have picked out a few presentations and workshops of mention that may be of interest to the H2Grow followers. For the full programme click here.

We all know information is key and many of the posts that you may have read on H2Grow share the many different sources of data that you can gather, monitor and measure in relation to irrigation. But with so many options for irrigation management you may be left wondering which are going to give you the greatest benefit. I’m hoping that this workshop may shed some light…

WHAT TO MEASURE MONITOR AND HOW TO MANAGE DATA FOR IMPROVED IRRIGATION PERFORMANCE – ENERGY, PRODUCTION & ENVIRONMENT presented by Ian McIndoe (Aqualinc) & Steve Breneger (INZ)

And…

REGEN WATER – USING SCIENCE, INFORMATION AND SOFTWARE TO MANAGE IRRIGATION presented by Bridgit Hawkins (Regen)

And furthermore…

REAL-TIME SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING IRRIGATION DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS presented by Pierre Roudier, Carolyn Hedley, Jagath Ekanayake, and Joseph Pollacco (Landcare Research)

Coincidentally the team presenting this later topic from Landcare Research have been involved in many variable rate irrigation and electromagnetic surveying studies.

Once you have monitored, measured and made an informed decision of when, where and how much to irrigate you may be after a tool that allows you to implement your irrigation schedule. This next workshop should enlighten you on the latest options to do so…

COMPLETE CONTROL FROM YOUR MOBILE DEVICE presented by Stu Bradbury (Lindsay NZ)

And lastly, one of the most topical irrigation related discussions at present (second to the tough economic conditions for many) is…

HOW REGULATORS AND FARMERS ARE DEALING WITH IRRIGATION AND NUTRIENT USE EFFICIENCY – THE CHALLENGES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES

Once we’ve been educated by the educators and experts I thought interesting food for thought would come in the form of…

OUR FUTURE – WHAT WILL IRRIGATION LOOK LIKE IN 2050? This will be presented by Christopher Neale (Director of Research, Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute, University of Nebraska). Currently development of remote irrigation management technologies and pinpoint irrigation control systems seems to be the focus but what will be next? And what will an irrigator look like when my son is the age that I am now?

I hope that provides a small taster of some of the information that will be on offer. As well as the presentations there is a exhibition with over 35 stands where you are able to talk to those in the irrigation industry including irrigation designers, engineers, suppliers and support companies.

Lindsay NZ are at site 17, we will be unveiling two exciting new product releases (which I will share more information on next week), but we look forward to seeing you all there.

If you are not able to make it to the entire conference there is a Farmer’s Trade Afternoon, on Tuesday 5th April from 3:30pm–5:30pm.

Today's post has been written by Sarah Elliot from Lindsay NZ.

Workshop: Technology to Reduce N Leaching

If you're under pressure to mitigate N leaching and improve efficiency and profitability on farm - then the PAANZ Technology to Reduce N Leaching is for you!

Note registrations now close on March 18th. 

Register: paanz-workshop.lilregie.com

EM Surveying and Water Holding Capacity

In recent weeks we’ve been through the calendar of EMSurveying, A day in the life of an EM Surveyor and The value in ground-truthing your EM Survey in amongst other informative posts from Lindsay NZ and HydroServices. This week we’re going to shed some light on how an EM Survey by Agri Optics can be used to evaluate water-holding capacity of the surveyed area.

Predominately our clients ask us to conduct an EM survey for them to determine the differences in their soils with a view to varying their irrigation depths on the different soil types; however we can adapt the EM Surveys for many different uses, one of these being to evaluate water-holding capacity variation.

The DualEM sensor works by emitting an electro-magnetic field into the soil and measuring the returning conductivity of the soil. The conductivity of the soil in New Zealand is affected mostly by soil texture and the amount of water the different soil textures can hold (the more water the soil can hold the more conductive it is). The readings can also be influenced by salinity, however other than a few isolated areas in NZ we don’t have an issue with salinity affecting the readings. 

Figure 1: DualEM sensor being trailed behind our light weight Polaris

To fully relate the EM readings to water holding capacity (WHC), ground-truthing is needed to quantify the actual WHC at different locations as the EM Survey only measures relative difference of one area compared to another. As we have mentioned in previous blogs we create a map of EM zones and within that locate sample sites for each zone to be ground-truthed. The ground-truthing is then carried out by typically HydroServices using their neutron probe and our agreed protocols. They then provide us with the water-holding capacities for each different depth. From this we then create a map of WHC variation across the surveyed and provide a report back to the client of these additional maps with description on correlations of WHC and EM and recommendations on how these maps would be used to implement more efficient irrigation.  

In addition to getting accurate WHC maps and the associated report back the client can also use the ground-truthing sites to help site soil moisture probes and if the probes are installed before the ground-truthing is completed, the ground-truthing reading can also be used as one of the field calibration readings for the soil moisture probes.  

Figure 2: Water-holding capacity map created from an EM map

All of this information helps the client get the most of their EM data and make efficient use of their water by matching the water to the different zones and then monitoring moisture levels with their moisture probes. If the 2015/16 season is going to be as dry as forecast then making every drop count will be crucial. We not only conduct the EM surveying we can now also provide our clients with AquaCheck soil moisture probes to help manage your irrigation as efficiently as possible. Visit our website or give Jemma or Chris a call to discuss any of the above.