Jan 5, 2017Wireless tool provides remote management of precision variable rate irrigation
Lindsay Corporation has announced that it now offers Growsmart by Lindsay Precision VRI integrated with FieldNET to provide complete remote pivot management, including VRI control, monitoring and reporting.
With Precision VRI, growers can precisely apply the correct amount of water or chemicals over multiple crops, soil types and terrains. When integrated with FieldNET remote management, growers have the ability to easily create or edit variable irrigation plans. Multiple users can be added with controlled access.
“Applying the correct amount of water on every part of the field is essential for maximum yields. When coupled with FieldNET, Precision VRI gives growers pinpoint accuracy along with the efficiencies that result from full remote capabilities,” said Reece Andrews, new technology product manager at Lindsay Corporation. “Configurable system alerts allow for real-time irrigation status updates, which reduce system downtime and wasted water, energy and/or chemical inputs.”
Researchers at the Washington State University Potato Group are using Precision VRI to help identify water-efficient and stress-tolerant potato varieties.
“Precision VRI has enabled us to efficiently grow different maturing varieties and trials with different harvest dates under the same pivot,” said associate professor and potato agronomist Mark Pavek, who conducts the research alongside students and fellow professor and potato physiologist Rick Knowles.
Pavek said that Precision VRI is the key to agricultural research. After experiencing the benefits first hand, he has become a vocal proponent for growers and other researchers
“Variable rate irrigation has changed what we do,” says Pavek. “As our world grows, water is going to be a limiting factor. I think at some point, water is going to be so valuable that everybody will have to have some kind of variable rate system. Growers are going to have to tussle it out and see where the savings are It’s probably a little expensive at first, but it makes sense over time. It’s going to be a huge deal. Common sense just says that.”
Adding FieldNET to Precision VRI requires additional hardware that allows growers to customize and remotely manage water applications. It also provides detailed irrigation reports that lead to better decision-making.
For more information about Growsmart Precision VRI, stop by the Lindsay booth (#654) at Potato Expo 2017, talk to your local Zimmatic dealer or visit www.growsmart.com.
