Can High-Tech Irrigation Work in Rural Africa?

Valley_® has been working in Africa for many years. Recently, we have committed to developing a model of shared pivots for smallholder farmers.

Those efforts took a giant step forward recently with the development of a partnership between International Water Management Institute, the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska, World Vision and Valmont_® Industries, Inc.,

Here, DWFI research director Christopher Neale explains the Circles project, the collaborative initiative to introduce a modern pivot irrigation equipment in rural Tanzania. 




What do think? Can a project like this work? Share your comments below!

Introducing Root Demand Irrigation™ | by Shannon Peterson

Valmont_® Irrigation has launched a new brand – Root Demand Irrigation™. RDI™ is a sister company to Valley_® Irrigation, so I want to introduce you to this innovative, subsurface irrigation solution.

RDI is based on the natural process of plant growth. Water is released by the plant roots via the proprietary RDI.

“How does that work,” you ask? Plant roots continuously secrete chemicals – called exudates – that serve various functions. When a plant needs water, it discharges exudates. The exudates change the surface tension on the RDI tube and that releases water to the plant’s roots. 

Essentially: the plant signals when it needs water and the RDI tube responds to that signal.

This plant-driven irrigation solution will allow growers to maximize production on all their acres, especially corners and hard-to-reach areas, making it the perfect complement to center pivot irrigation.

Intrigued? I invite you to visit rootdemandirrigation.com and its blog, “Get to the Root,” to learn more.

---

Shannon Peterson Marketing Content Editor Shannon joined Valley Irrigation in 2013. She writes and edits materials about irrigation equipment. Shannon enjoys traveling with her family, particularly to national parks, and she occasionally writes about her travels for tourism magazines. She also likes trying new restaurants, seeing movies, and watching Husker football and Creighton basketball.

Crop Insurance Approved for Pivot-Irrigated Rice | by Kelly Downing

It has taken a lot of time and work (mostly by other people), but last week we finally got some good news in the pivot rice world. The USDA’s Risk Management Agency board of directors approved the application to provide crop insurance coverage for producers who want to grow rice with pivots. This means that by as early as next spring producers will be able to insure their pivot-irrigated rice crop. This decision comes at an opportune time, as weakening corn and soybean prices and decent rice price trends are increasing the interest in rice among farmers.

The real winners, in my opinion, are growers who want the flexibility to incorporate rice into their other crop rotations. This will make it more feasible to grow rice in non-traditional locations like upland, sloping, and sandy soils. It is particularly significant now that the new Farm Bill places increased emphasis on crop insurance as the backbone of its programs. More and more lenders are insisting on crop insurance as a prerequisite for funding operating loans, and this helps make that happen.

John Taylor’s rice field in Arkansas.

The best news is that this gives farmers another tool to increase their efficiency, sustainability, and profitability. The reduction in water use, pumping requirements, and greenhouse gas emissions will not only make their operations more profitable, but also more ecologically sound and sustainable — “green,” in today’s parlance.

The initial rollout of this program will be in Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas, places where there has been interest and research, as well as areas where water is, or will become, a limiting factor in production. I am hopeful that, as the program grows and matures, other areas will be added.

Our participation in this effort has been very interesting. It was never about selling pivots; rather, the effort has always been to define and offer to farmers the tools to increase efficiency and profit, while maintaining their ability to keep farming in a sustainable manner. Adding rice to a corn/soybean/cotton rotation (or some variation) can also help manage the problem of herbicide-resistant weeds that is rapidly growing throughout the country.

I just looked at the blog post I wrote back in April. Wow, have things changed since then! At that time, our local soil conditions were exceptionally dry, after a long, cold, dry winter. I was worried that there would be real problems getting a crop out of the ground. Of course now, at the beginning of July, many people are begging for the rain (and associated violent storms) to stop. It has turned into a relatively cool, very wet spring; so much so that some growers in my area have had to replant twice—once due to frost and a second time due to flood.

For those who have escaped the disasters, however, growing conditions have been quite good, and many of the crops I see in my travels around the Midwest and upper Delta look excellent.

Weather is one of the vagaries of farming that we try to manage, but cannot control. I hope that things go well for you this summer, and I look forward to checking in again with further updates.

Be safe, enjoy the summer, and stay in touch. Let us know how things are going where you are.

---

Kelly Downing International Ag Project Specialist Kelly, a Nebraska-based Irrigation Specialist, spent 10 years working on soil and water research projects for a major agricultural university, involving a variety of crops. His work focused on irrigation management, but also included other topics. Since joining Valley Irrigation, he has worked in the service, product management, product reliability, and sales. Kelly now focuses on developing projects in irrigation field management and providing recommendations for the Circles for Rice project. Kelly has traveled to several countries providing technical support, such as soil moisture monitoring and irrigation management training.

At the Mercy of the Weather | by Shannon Peterson

Farming and the weather. It’s a never-ending confrontation, and 2014 is offering up some epic battles.

Growers in Texas, California, and other western states face severe drought conditions that show no sign of letting up. Severe heat aggravates the situation and poses the additional threat of wildfires.

Twin tornadoes hit Pilger, NE, and the surrounding area June 16.

Meanwhile, the Midwest is being torn apart by damaging storms and tornadoes. Valley dealers in Nebraska are dealing with multiple overturned or damaged pivots.

Many growers are scrambling to get their pivots repaired in time for peak irrigation season. Others are evaluating their devastated fields and determining whether to replant.

At either extreme – drought or damage – words of comfort are of little value. Action and solutions are needed.

However; at times like these, it is reassuring to know that your Valley dealer is on hand to support you. Service teams are out in the fields repairing and replacing damaged pivots. They are doing everything possible to get farms back up and running. In fact, I recently called a Nebraska dealer with a question. He asked to email him the question because, “we have a lot of pivots down in the area and I’m having a hard time concentrating on anything else right now.” That’s commitment.

Meanwhile, those battling drought can mitigate the effects by turning to more efficient irrigation equipment, such as center pivots. And, growers can get financial support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and information and assistance from the USDA.

Let us help you – no matter what you need. We’re here for you.

---

Shannon Peterson Marketing Content Editor Shannon joined Valley Irrigation in 2013. She writes and edits materials about irrigation equipment. Shannon enjoys traveling with her family, particularly to national parks, and she occasionally writes about her travels for tourism magazines. She also likes trying new restaurants, seeing movies, and watching Husker football and Creighton basketball.

A Trip Down Under | by Cole Fredrick

So one of the “perks” of my job is I travel. A lot. There have been many times when that travel has been challenging. Just the other day I was stuck in an airport while it was shut down because of tornadoes and other weather. I can assure you that utter chaos followed for the next 5 hours, but that is a story for another time. That being said, a majority of my travel is quite enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I got the chance to travel down under to Australia and New Zealand. I consider this a great perk – not many people get the opportunity to take a trip down under. I also question whether it was a perk because anytime you take a 15-hour plane ride with your boss you question if your career is headed in the right direction! Despite the length, I was surprised at how comfortable I actually was on my flight there and back. Thank you Delta for making it a great flight! Airplane food is not all that bad.

We first flew into Christchurch, New Zealand, and it took about 24 hours of total travel time to get there. Needless to say, I was exhausted. After recovering, I spent the next few days with a couple of our dealers in New Zealand. What a wonderful bunch of people. I must say, I learned quickly that a Flat White (coffee) is amazing and you don’t mess around with a man’s afternoon tea or coffee!
While in New Zealand, the first thing I wanted to do was look for Frodo from the “Lord of the Rings.” Obviously, the boss said that wasn’t in the cards.

New Zealand really is a beautiful country. Coming from central Nebraska, I am used to corn, soybeans, and pastures. In New Zealand, there are dairies. And tons of them! They are somewhere near the top, if not the top, dairy producing country in the world. Pretty good for an island country of its size.

I was simply amazed at the innovation they use to water pastures, keeping them in tiptop shape for the cattle, and at the environments the dairy cattle live in. Let’s just say that they have it pretty good over there.

One of the main reasons I was down there was to see how they use of Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI). They actually use VRI to split a pasture into paddocks that are rotated for the cattle. I thought this was pure genius because it is so efficient. It allows them to turn water off over cattle walking path,s as well as keep any runoff to a minimum. Just some of the great things that New Zealand is doing.

Here is an image showing the paddocks:

One thing I learned quickly in these two countries is that there are a ton of roundabouts and not as many stop signs as we have here in the United States. They also have a lot of “yield of ways,” which means approach the intersection cautiously and stop if necessary, otherwise go on through. I can tell you, I got used to this and even tried to incorporate it here in the States. Unfortunately, a local sheriff warned me of the consequences of that particular practice…

After a few days in New Zealand, we caught a flight to Brisbane, Australia. I always thought these two islands were just a hop, skip, and a jump apart. I was wrong. It was a 3-hour plus flight. After the flight, we drove a few hours to meet with some more dealers.

I was impressed with the names: Toowoomba, Goondiwindi. I am not quite sure if we were in the Outback, but I tell everyone I was! I was also amazed at the contrast between New Zealand and Australia. Australia was more like a desert than New Zealand, although they seem so close together. And to my surprise, I was able to see numerous kangaroos! This was truly a great place.

I was even more surprised by the incredible innovations of the people in these two island countries. I was there looking at irrigation machines and how the growers make them work for their different situations. The engineering and creativeness they came up with was spectacular.

Overall, I would say this was a job perk. An opportunity to visit our devoted Valley customers and dealers, and seeing the differences in the irrigation business and the agriculture problems they encounter. I am still amazed at how awesome all of the people that I met were. I look forward to the day I get to return and spend some more time. I suppose if I have to go with my boss again, I will let him tag along…

---

Cole Fredrick Product Manager - Variable Rate Irrigation Cole has been with Valley Irrigation since 2011, where he manages the Valley Variable Rate Irrigation products. He was born and raised on a farm near Grand Island, NE (AKA "paradise"), and he tries to return back home as often as possible. Cole is a HUGE Husker fanatic! He stays young by enjoying all outdoor activities and almost any sport.

A Little Preventive Care Will Keep Your Pivots Running | by Shannon Peterson

An in-season center pivot breakdown is costly - not just in repair fees, but in lost irrigation days and possible yield loss. To help keep your irrigation equipment up and running, we've gathered some in-season maintenance tips because investing a little time in preventive action is always better than correcting a major failure.

• Check the end pressure on your center pivot periodically. Water pressure is vital to ensuring your center pivot operates properly. Install a gauge and check your machine’s pressure occasionally throughout the growing season. If your pressure drops below the suggested PSI, your crops may not be getting the proper amount of water - and that can lead to yield loss. 
• Check the pressure at your end tower because 50 percent of your crops are irrigated by the sprinklers on the last 30 percent of your center pivot. If the correct pressure is being delivered to the end of your machine, then the rest of your machine and all your sprinklers are getting the right amount of pressure too. Ensuring your outer sprinklers are watering correctly is crucial because it directly affects your yields.
• Water application is at the heart of what you do, in order to do this as best possible; sprinkler packages need to be maintained to a high degree of accuracy. Regularly check for broken or worn sprinkler components and replace them as necessary. Generally, sprinkler packages should be replaced at least every 10,000 hours of operation.
• Maintaining the correct tire pressure also is essential to the operation of irrigation equipment; the correct tire pressure ensures that floatation for a particular tire is maximized and the rolling circumference is consistent to what Valley_® uses on timer chart calculations. Be sure to periodically check tire pressure and adjust it to specification. 
• Don’t forget to tighten wheel lug nuts and evaluate the overall tire condition. All tires lose pressure over time and lose or gain about 1 PSI per 10 degrees F of temperature change.
• To maximize the life of your drive train and keep it operating trouble-free, periodically drain any water that accumulates in the gearbox and center drive, and make sure the gear lubricant is at the proper level.
• Consider regularly recording outlet pressure, flow rate, and energy use. This information can provide an excellent means of evaluating your pump and motor performance.

For more tips, follow us on Twitter (@ValleyPivots) and watch for our Friday #DYK (Did You Know) tips.

Have a great growing season!

---

Shannon Peterson Marketing Content Editor Shannon joined Valley Irrigation in 2013. She enjoys traveling with her family, particularly to national parks, and she occasionally writes about her travels for tourism magazines. Shannon also likes reading, trying new restaurants, seeing movies, and watching Husker football and Creighton basketball. However, she and her husband spend most of their free time chauffeuring their teenage son to activities and chasing their baby daughter.

Looking for Funding Assistance for Irrigation Equipment?

After water efficiency, the most common question about new irrigation technology is related to cost and financing. Marcos Perez, an engineer with the Natural Resources ConservationService (NRCS), recently discussed finances opportunities for center pivot irrigation equipment through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

“To qualify for financing, an applicant must be engaged in agricultural production, forestry management, or have an interest in the associated operation,” Perez said. “In addition toapplicant eligibility, the land represented in the application must be agricultural, non-industrial private forestland, or other land on which agricultural products, livestock, or forest-related products are produced.”

Available EQIP financing varies by year. In 2013, a center pivot longer than 600 feet could have been financed at $35.31 per linear foot, while a span less than 600 feet would have been financed at $29.47 per linear foot.

Local NRCS offices  are now accepting applications for 2014 EQIP funding. 

While funding is not guaranteed, applications are prioritized by the value and environmental benefit expected from the improvement, Perez says. For example, applicants looking to improve or even install center pivot irrigation equipment might want to highlight how the purchase would improve irrigation water management, such as reducing water use by transitioning from a flood to center pivot irrigation operation.

To learn more about EQUIP, check out these resources:

• NRCS offers Five Steps to Assistance, which includes a video offering step-by-step guidance.
• The national EQIP site provides an outline of information and state application information.
• And, of course, you can always contact Valley Irrigation or your local Valley dealer for more information and assistance.

A portion of this content was published in PivotPoint - The California Grower, 2013

Taking Irrigation Management to the Next Level with BaseStation3

The latest product that can improve growers' daily lives is coming soon. Valley_®  BaseStation3™ will  provide growers with a simple, customizable irrigation management solution.

“This product is designed to be very graphical and intuitive,” explains Vice President of Engineering and Strategic Technology Development Craig Malsam, who was in on the ground floor of the development of BaseStation3. “It should be intuitively easy to use; like an ATM – no user’s manual needed. It’s basically plug and play, right off the shelf.”

Product Manager John Campbell says people are really excited about this product.

BaseStation3 will allow growers to use a dedicated radio or cellular network to monitor and manage their irrigation machines remotely, through a tablet, smartphone, laptop, personal desktop computer, or just about any device that has a Web browser. Growers will be able to view more information in one place, from in-field moisture conditions to weather, and download native apps for iOS or Android devices.

This irrigation management solution will accommodate any type of installation and management practice, and not just for pivots. Growers will be able to control any brand of linears, solid set systems, and other irrigation machines. 

“We designed it to grow with the farming operation,” explains Campbell. “We’re very excited to provide growers with such a user-friendly, time-saving product.”





Text published in PivotPoint Fall 2013

Striving to Help Africa’s Small Farmers | by Shannon Peterson

It’s hard to deny that the effects of center pivot irrigation have been revolutionary. Nowhere is that more visible than in the United States where widespread conversion to center pivot irrigation has transformed agriculture and the landscape.  By using mechanized irrigation equipment, U.S. growers increased their revenue and their crop yields. Farmers grow more food with less water while being released from the drudgery of conventional irrigation methods and putting their labor to better use.

On a global scale, aggressive investments in irrigation, hybrid seeds, and fertilizer during the past 50 years have brought famine and poverty under control in Latin America, China, and South Asia. Yet most of Sub-Saharan Africa has made little progress during this same time period.  Limited investment in technology and infrastructure resulted in limited commercial farming in the region. 

Throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 90 percent of the farmers are subsistence farmers. They spend half their annual incomes on food, leaving little money for education, health, and housing needs. (In contrast, only 6 percent of U.S. annual household income is spent on food). 

An exception is South Africa where Valley_® introduced center pivots in the 1970s. In South Africa, pivots are used primarily by medium and large commercial farmers, who have experienced tremendous success. The same drivers of this success can serve as a model for small growers, and Valley Irrigation is working to develop a model of shared pivots for smallholder farmers.

Many African smallholder farmers remain poor because they depend on unreliable rainfall, making them vulnerable to drought and climate change. Although these disadvantages could be completely eliminated by irrigation, center pivots are often cited as too expensive for Africa’s farmers. 

However, if small farmers share a center pivot, the cost drops dramatically. Figures 1 and 2 demonstrate the dramatic reduction in cost of a center pivot once the radius of the field exceeds 300 meters.

Figure 1

Figure 2

An association of smallholder farmers, or a large commercial producer serving as an irrigation and crop marketing provider, can own and operate the center pivot in cooperation with the smallholder farmers. This approach puts precise, efficient irrigation technology into the hands of small farmers, and the impact on farm production is dramatic because water is available where and when the crop requires it.  

Widespread use of this model could turn subsistence farmers into profitable commercial farmers by increasing yield and empowering farm workers. That's Valley, leading the way and feeding the world! 

---

Shannon Peterson Marketing Content Editor Shannon joined Valley Irrigation in 2013. She enjoys traveling with her family, particularly to national parks, and she occasionally writes about her travels for Home & Away magazine. Shannon also likes reading, trying new restaurants, seeing movies, and watching Husker football and Creighton basketball. However, she and her husband spend most of their free time chauffeuring their teenage son to activities and chasing their baby daughter.

Checking Your End Tower Pressure | by Brooke Stover

There are simple things that we sometimes forget about as we run out the door for work: tying your shoes (ouch), brushing your hair (yikes), or making sure your socks match (embarrassing – maybe I’m the only one who sometimes misses that step), but from these we can gather that sometimes the simplest things can make a big difference. This lesson holds true, not only in a panicked rush to work in the morning, but when it comes to running your operation.

In my research, talking to our water application engineer, I have found one of those simple things and would like to share it with you: check your end tower pressure on your center pivot!

I say that with an exclamation point because it really is easy to do and can, apparently, have a big impact. What kind of impact, you might ask? Well, did you know your sprinklers with pressure regulators require a minimum pressure to operate correctly? If the wrong pressure is being used by your machine, then your crops aren’t getting the water they need. Also, 50% of the acres in your field are irrigated by sprinklers on the outer 30% of your center pivot. If your end pressure is below the minimum design pressure, then you will experience under watering, which can reduce yields. To help put a stop to yield loss, we have put together simple steps to check your end tower pressure.

STEP 1:
Install a pressure gauge at the end of your machine on the last drop between the pressure regulator and drop pipe or hose.

Tip: If your machine is on hilly terrain, you will want to install two pressure gauges: one at the end of your machine and the other at the intermediate span at the highest point in your field. 

No pressure gauge? No problem! Contact your local Valley dealer, he can provide you with several pressure gauge options that you can easily install!

STEP 2:
Turn on your machine. 
(You may want to put on a raincoat between step 1 and step 2!)


STEP 3:
Walk to where the pressure gauge is installed and read the PSI (pressure reading).

Tip: As a general rule of thumb, your pressure gauge should read at least 5 pounds higher than the PSI listed on your pressure regulator. So, if the PSI on your pressure regulator is 15 PSI, then your pressure gauge should read a minimum of 20 PSI. 

If you want to know EXACTLY what your pressure should be, then contact your local Valley dealer for a copy of your sprinkler design. The optimum pressure will be listed on the design.

So today (or tomorrow), tie your shoes, comb your hair, match your socks (or don’t - let’s start a trend!), and check your end tower pressure!

For more information on maintenance tips for your center pivot or linear, visit www.ValleyIrrigation.com! Have a question or comment? Please leave it in the Comments box below!

---

Brooke Stover Global Marketing Assistant Brooke has been with the Valley Irrigation Global Marketing department since 2011. She spends her free time taking pottery classes; though she thoroughly enjoys this, most of her stuff is a bit lopsided. Brooke also loves to read and listen to Frank Sinatra. She enjoys traveling and has been to 11 countries with the goal to make it to six more in the next six years!

Brazil Farmers Remain Optimistic, Embrapa Trials | by Kelly Downing

I was in Brazil a couple weeks ago, meeting with rice growers and researchers. The market for rice was relatively weak in Brazil this season, similar to that in the USA in 2011. As a result, most of the commercial growers we have worked with in the past reduced rice acreage in favor of soybean and corn production. However, as I visited with them, they are still optimistic about growing rice under center pivots, and intend to return to the crop next season, as part of their regular rotation.

On March 6, I attended the Expodireto agricultural show, in Rio Grande do Sul state, which was very impressive. Lots of ag equipment manufacturers, including center pivot companies. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, and the streets are paved, which is a big change from most farm shows here in the USA, and it cuts down greatly on the dust. Although it was extremely hot (>90 F), there was a large crowd. It seemed to me to reflect great optimism among the Brazilian farmers—prices are good, profits are up and they are investing in the future.

I also met with researchers who are working on several projects and attended a field day. Embrapa is a Brazilian federal ag research corporation, and they have a temperate climate research center near Pelotas. Their rice field day on March 9 was very well attended. They devoted one of the four main tour stops to the work they are doing under a linear. These studies include variety trials, fertility studies, irrigation scheduling strategy, greenhouse gas production and their efforts to transfer nitrogen-fixing bacteria into rice roots.

At another of their research stations, near Bage´, they are working on variety trials and rotation studies, to help farmers optimize crop rotations that include rice, soybeans, and forage crops. This is a region with a historically strong cattle industry, but rice and soybeans are beginning to expand acreage in the area, so this research is very important to the future of the ag economy there.

The rice harvest was just beginning, and will probably last at least through March and into our spring. The plots at Pelotas will be harvested by the end of this month or so, and we will have some data to improve our knowledge of how things went. Although their plots looked great and appeared very productive, it is always good to have the real data to confirm your expectations.

So, here we are at the cusp of spring in the USA. A new growing season is almost upon us and everyone is again optimistic. We anticipate several new cooperators who will plant rice under center pivots this year in the USA. I look forward, like you do, to seeing how things play out, and I am excited about working our way through the season together.

Circles for Rice | Brazil Update by Kelly Downing

Sáo Borja

Sáo Paolo

I was able to visit several fields in Brazil during a visit November 8 - 15. We really covered a lot of country. Once again, I was struck by the wonderful people, as well as by the great beauty and agricultural potential of Brazil. It was a great pleasure to be hosted by Embrapa Professor Jose Parfitt during part of the trip.


Pelotas and Bage areas:
Embrapa: Unusually cool, wet spring, so delayed emergence (planted September, just now emerging). Jose Parfitt (Pelotas) and Naylor Perez (Bage) leading the research, focused on variety, irrigation scheduling, and fertility issues, as well as rotation into forage system.

São Borja area:
Farrouphilha: Professor Marcelino Knob is researching rice in rotation under a pivot. The rice is just emerging, due to cool weather. There may be some interaction with antecedent crop/herbicides.
Renam Toniazzo: São Borja area, rice looks very good. No disease or weed problems. Good crop last year, expects another successful year.
A first-year Circles for Rice grower farms 2,000 ha of rice at this location with his brother and father. Rice planted in September and looks wonderful - thick and lush. A few spots of clomazone damage, but will recover. Some areas of the field should be monitored for wheel track issues.

São Paolo state:

Lagoa Bonita: volunteer wheat from previous crop dominates the field. They planned to use Aura (profoxydim). I hope it works.
Lagoa Farm: in this field, volunteer edible beans from antecedent crop has taken over most of the field. It is tough to treat, since bordering fields contain both edible beans and soybeans. Volunteer beans are infested with anthracnose, so their agronomic consultant has advised them to wait for the volunteers to die.
First-year Circles for Rice grower: very nice crop, planted in late September. We saw some spots with stunted plants, may be iron chlorosis, zinc, or sulfur shortage.