(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.
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.
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| 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. |
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| 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.
