IRRIGATIONADVANCES

VOLUME 19 ISSUE 2
FALL 2010
IRRIGATION ADVANCES
Conserving water, energy and labor
FEATURE STORY
INSIDE
Maximum efficiency
with MAXfield
More “UMP”
in your pump
Page 8
Page 2
A Zimmatic® system is more
than a pivot – it’s a customized
irrigation solution.
Designed for optimum efficiency, it grows
a bigger bottom line. Each system is
backed by trained irrigation professionals
who provide expertise and support beyond
products and technology.
Season after season, this system will prove
profitable no matter what the crop or terrain.
Which is why we’re experts in our field...
and yours. www.zimmatic.com
Your
Irrigation
Experts
© 2010 Lindsay. All rights reserved. Zimmatic is a registered trademark of the Lindsay Corporation.
IrrigationAdvances
Dealer View
Desert land produces
new growth in Egypt
Q: What do you see for the
future of irrigation in Egypt?
Bahgat Abdelrhman
Manager, Green Valley
Ismailia City, Egypt
Q: Where is Green Valley
focusing its operations
in Egypt?
A. Our largest areas of growth are
newly developed desert land. We
draw water from underground, as
well as from the Nile, for pivots and
fixed-spray irrigation.
Q: What are the main crops
grown?
A. Green Valley customers grow
potatoes, peanuts, corn, barley,
wheat, vegetables, alfalfa, sugar beets,
spices, and some medicinal plants
for pharmaceutical purposes. Crops
grown under Zimmatic irrigation
here in Egypt are used domestically
and are also exported to nearby Gulf
countries and Europe.
A. There is a great deal of growth
potential for new irrigation
development throughout the
country, especially for exporting
crops like potatoes and peanuts
to Europe. Plus, there are a lot of
foreign and domestic investors
interested in Egyptian agriculture.
As far as crops go, we’re researching
the advantages of using pivots
to irrigate citrus crops. I have a
customer who grows both potatoes
and oranges. His potato pivot was
positioned near his orange grove,
and part of the pivot ended up
watering the oranges. At the end
of the season, he had much larger
citrus yields in the areas near the
pivot compared to drip irrigation.
We will continue to explore
irrigating citrus crops with Zimmatic
center pivot irrigation.
Features
Pivotal Moments
Put more “UMP” in your
pump with VFD control
Page 2
Carrots
Turning orange
into greeen
Page 4
Sugar Beets
How sweet it is
Page 6
MAXfield
Canadian grower
maximizes efficiency
with MAXfield
custom corner
Page 8
FieldNET Mobile
Manage your pivots
from anywhere with
a smartphone
Page 12
Rice
rowing
G
high-yielding rice in
Australia with pivots
Page 14
Editor: Dirk Lenie
Writers: Catherine Kraemer, Bridget Rohan, Ken Wurdeman
Art Directors: Tom Ervin, Bill Ervin and Kathy Troia
Irrigation Advances is published at the corporate office of
Lindsay, Omaha, Nebraska, for the educational purposes
of growers, customers, dealers and employees. Editorial
correspondence should be directed to Dirk Lenie, Editor,
Irrigation Advances, Lindsay, 2222 N. 111th St, Omaha, NE
68164. Questions or comments are welcome.
Call Dirk Lenie at 402-829-6800.
© 2010 Lindsay. All rights reserved.
All brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective companies.
Lean, Clean and Green. Lindsay
Corporation is committed to developing
environmental awareness and
implementing sustainable practices to
reduce the use of and protect energy,
water, and all other resources.
12 I
Pivotal Moments
put more
"ump"
T h i s va r i a b l e f r e q u e n c y d r i v e
( VFD) c o n t r o l b ox o n B r i a n Wa l l’ s
N e b r a s k a c o r n fa r m i s lo c at e d
n e a r t h e p i vo t p o i n t a n d p u m p f o r
ma ximum energy efficiency
in your pump
with vfd
control
Like most farmers, third-generation
Nebraska corn grower Brian Wall
is constantly looking for ways to
make his farming operation more
efficient and profitable.
“The variable frequency
drive control technology
is something new we
are trying on our farm
to reduce our cost of
electricity.”
– B r i a n Wa l l
One of the ways he is doing that
is by using variable frequency
drive (VFD) control technology.
Wall recently installed a Lindsay
Watertronics VFD control panel
on his 100 horsepower irrigation
pump in Hamilton County, Neb.
The VFD control technology is
designed to save Wall energy, water
and maintenance costs.
“The variable
frequency drive control
technology is something
new we are trying on
our farm to reduce
our cost of electricity,”
Wall says. “Electrical
costs are a major expense for us in
running our irrigation pumps
and systems.”
In simplest terms, VFD control
technology adjusts the speed of the
electric motor on Wall’s irrigation
water pump to match the specific
demands of his irrigation system.
Unlike a fixed single-speed drive,
the Lindsay Watertronics VFD
control technology saves energy by
providing a “soft start,” gradually
increasing the motor speed until
it reaches peak operating speeds.
Further energy savings are realized
“With energy rebates from the power
companies, VFD technology can pay for
itself in less than five years. Plus, you have
less wear and tear on your pumps and
irrigation systems.”
v FD t e c h n o lo g y
p r e c i s e ly a n d
e v e n ly m at c h e s
pump output to
i r r i g at i o n s y s t e m
demand
I 2
– Erich Williams, The Pivot Man
the end of our corner arm is at
about 30 pounds per square inch
(2 Bars). Without VFD it can be as
high as 70 pounds per square inch
(4.8 Bars).”
VFD p r ov i d e s
simple, reliable and
economic al control
by the VFD’s ability to precisely
and evenly match pump output to
system demand.
Lindsay’s local Zimmatic dealer,
The Pivot Man in Grand Island,
worked closely with Wall in
designing and installing the VFD
control panel.
“There is lots of buzz and
curiosity in our area about VFD
technology,” says Erich Williams of
The Pivot Man. “We have installed
several VFD control panels on
farms in our area this year and are
working to educate growers about
the benefits of this energy-saving
technology.”
Wall is using the Watertronics
VFD control technology on a
pump that supplies 800 gallons of
water per minute (50.5 liters per
second) to a pivot that irrigates
approximately 150 acres (61 ha)
of corn. The pivot includes a
MAXfield corner system.
“The VFD control panel was
installed in June and we are still
documenting the potential energy
savings,” Wall says. “But the VFD
control technology seems to be
especially beneficial for a corner
irrigation system because of the
variability of water pressure at
the end of the pivot. With VFD
technology, the water pressure at
Williams is working with Wall and
other growers and local electric
utilities in central Nebraska to
fine-tune the VFD devices for
maximum energy and water
savings.
“I am really impressed with these
new VFD control panels,” Williams
says. “With energy rebates from the
power companies, VFD technology
can pay for itself in less than
five years. Plus, you have less
wear and tear on your pumps and
irrigation systems.”
The VFD control panels are
custom-designed and pretested at Lindsay’s Watertronics
manufacturing facility in Hartland,
Wisconsin.
As VFD control technology
continues to grow in popularity,
The Pivot Man and Williams
are helping to install the devices
on area grain bins and grain bin
towers, legs and drying systems.
“The Watertronics VFD control
technology works great for slowly
ramping up electric motors. It’s
less shock on the motor and
the system. With a fixed drive
irrigation motor, you’re basically
pumping against a brick wall and
there’s nothing you can do about it.
VFD technology is changing all of
that,” Williams says.
The Watertronics VFD control
technology can be installed
on both new and existing
electric motors.
Contact Info:
The Pivot Man
3719 Westgate Road
Grand Island, NE 68803
308-382-5345
VFD Energy Rebates
Cory Fuehrer, Energy Efficiency Program
Manager with the Nebraska Public Power
District (NPPD), says interest in variable
frequency drive (VFD) technology has
increased in recent years as farmers
become more aware of the benefits of the
technology and potential energy savings.
“The VFD technology can save a great
deal of energy and works especially well if
you have varying flows of water, such as on
a corner system, end guns and hilly terrain,”
Fuehrer says. “Irrigators are much more cost
conscious and see VFD technology as a way
to optimize revenue and reduce
energy costs.”
NPPD, in partnership with participating
local electric utilities, now offers energy
rebates to qualifying customers who install
the VFD technology. The rebates amount to
20 cents per kilowatt hour saved.
“A lot of growers don’t know about the
VFD incentives but it’s starting to catch
on as they see the benefits of this new
technology,” Fuehrer says.
For more information, contact your local
Zimmatic dealer or visit http://www.nppd.com/
EnergyWise/incentives.asp.
3 I
Turning Orange
Into Green
Australian carrot operation utilizes high-speed pivots
Imagine 25,000 acres (10,117 ha)
of carrots, onions and potatoes
wilting in scorching 113-degree
(45 C ) heat. Mark Pye, managing
director, doesn’t take that risk at
his operation in Mallee, Australia.
Steve Hall (left) of Hall Irrigation and Anthony Plum (right ), carrot farm manager,
Parilla Premium Potatoes.
I 4
He’s found that Zimmatic’s
high-speed motor is the best way
to irrigate his carrot crop because
the first six weeks of germination
is critical. A seven-tower pivot
with a 43 RPM motor can
complete a circle in under 13
hours, compared to more than 16
hours for a competitive system
with a 34 RPM motor, which
equals a 27 percent savings.
Pye is using an 86 RPM motor
running at 50 hertz which gives
the motor a 71 RPM speed for
even greater savings.
Bumper crop
Established in 1990, Parilla Premium
Potatoes Pty Ltd. is a successful South
Australian horticultural farm producing
60,627 tons (55,000 MT) of fresh
produce a year.
Managing Director Mark Pye moved
from New Zealand in 1990 to grow
potatoes for processing, and currently
grows 3,000 acres (1,214 ha) annually,
along with 1,000 acres (404 ha) of
onions, 1,000 acres (404 ha) of Nance
and Red Hot carrots and some cereal
crops. Barley is used as a cover crop.
While in New Zealand, he worked on
his “market gardening technique”
during holidays from school, and at
age 18 he leased 30 acres (12 ha) of
land from his family to grow Japanese
pumpkins for export to Japan. This
gave him the capital to buy into dairy
cattle, which he sold to fund Parilla
Premium Potatoes.
• 20-25 people employed in the onion
packing shed
• Cool storage facility holds 3,306 tons
(3,000 MT) of produce
• Supplies the fresh potato market 365
days a year
• Ships to large food retailers and other
supermarket chains
The high rate of speed helps
resist the effects of sizzling
temperatures and wind drift.
“Center pivot irrigation offers a
better distribution reliability, a
clear harvesting path and is not
affected by wind. Quality and yield
are excellent compared to other
irrigation methods,” Pye said.
It typically takes four hours per
half pivot with a VFD (variable
frequency drive) pump over 65
acres (26 ha). One hundred and
twenty acres (49 ha) are covered in
16 hours on a 95-degree (35 C) day.
VFDs are important in the extreme
weather conditions in midsummer,
and take the wear and tear out of
the driveline by ramping up and
down and allowing higher hertz to
be used.
The soil type in this area is sand
over clay and limestone, with
an average annual rainfall of 12
inches (30.5 cm). Temperatures
can reach up to 113 degrees (45 C)
in summer with low humidity.
Evapotranspiration rates can get as
high as .55-.62 inches (14-16 mm)
per day.
Pye utilizes Online Control,
easy-to-use computer software from
“I haven’t lost any crops
due to pivot downtime, and
I’d tell other growers thinking
about irrigating carrots with
pivots to give it a go.”
– Mark Pye
Zimmatic, to manage 62 pivots
that reduce labor costs and vehicle
breakdowns, and help identify
system failures to lessen the risk of
crop damage in extreme weather
conditions. “It only takes one
person to look after 400 acres
(162 ha).”
“I haven’t lost any crops due to
pivot downtime, and I’d tell other
growers thinking about irrigating
carrots with pivots to give it a go.”
Contact Info:
Hall Irrigation
1 Enterprise Road
Lameroo, South Australia 5302
08-8576-3666
www.hallirrigation.com.au
5 I
How sweet it is
“Our Zimmatic pivots work
great in helping the sugar
beets to germinate properly
and break up any crust
that may be preventing
emergence. You can’t do that
with furrow irrigation.”
I 6
– Kevin Hall
Pivot irrigation is key to strong sugar beet germination
Proper pivot irrigation management
is critical to profitably growing
sugar beets. Just ask Bridgeport,
Nebraska, sugar beet grower Kevin
Hall, who grows approximately
3,000 acres (1,214 ha) of sugar
beets with pivots.
Zimmatic pivots
help Kevin Hall
save water on his
Nebraska sugar
beet farm.
Hall is also president of the
Western Sugar Cooperative, which
processes 135,000 acres (54,632
ha) of sugar beets in Colorado,
Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming
into pure granulated sugar that is
sold throughout the United States
(see "Fast Facts" to the right).
“Pivot irrigation is absolutely
critical during germination and
emergence of the sugar beets,” Hall
says. “Our Zimmatic pivots work
great in helping the sugar beets to
germinate properly and break up
any crust that may be preventing
emergence. You can’t do that with
furrow irrigation.”
Bill Pierce, co-owner of Midwest
Farm Service, Hall’s local
Zimmatic dealer, says sugar beet
growers in western Nebraska and
eastern Wyoming have come
to rely on pivot irrigation to
successfully manage their sugar
beet crops.
Hall also uses his Zimmatic
pivots to apply fertilizer and some
fungicides to his sugar beets.
Because his land is spread over
several miles in several counties
in western Nebraska, Hall makes
maximum use of his FieldNET
web-based irrigation management
and control system.
“We have some pivots that are
under electric load management
and FieldNET works great when
we have to stop and re-start the
pivots. It saves a lot on labor costs,”
Hall says. “We are in a water
control area and the Zimmatic
pivots help us conserve water.”
With the recent introduction
of Genuity™ Roundup Ready®
sugar beets and new traits in sugar
beet seeds, yields have increased
substantially, according to Hall.
Hall says sugar beet prices
have been good to firm in
recent years, making sugar beet
production profitable.
Fast Facts
Western Sugar Cooperative
• Represents 135,000 base acres (54,632
ha) of sugar beets in Colorado, Montana,
Nebraska and Wyoming.
• Corporate office is in Denver, Colorado,
with storage and processing in four states.
• 400 full-time employees.
• $300 million to $400
million economic
impact on the region.
For more information, visit:
http://www.westernsugar.com
• The sugar beet crop is planted in the early
spring and reaches its peak sugar content
in the fall.
• Also known as sucrose, sugar is an
important source of carbohydrates
for humans.
In addition to sugar beets, Hall
raises corn, wheat, alfalfa and
dry beans.
Contact Info:
Midwest Farm Service
2520 N. 10th Street
Gering, NE 69341
308-632-6137
“One big advantage of center
pivot irrigation over furrow
irrigation is the ability to
germinate the sugar beet crop
in a dry spring,” Pierce says.
7 I
making the
MAXfield Custom Corner helps a Canadian
grower get more out of his LAND
when land prices are high
The Kolk Family – Leighton Kolk with wife Elinor,
daughter Megan, and sons Jordan and Devan.
As the third-generation owner of
Kolk Farms, Ltd. in Iron Springs,
South Alberta, Canada, Leighton
Kolk has seen a lot of things
improve over time. He witnessed
his family farm’s progression from
flood irrigation to hand-move and
wheel irrigation before transitioning
to pivot irrigation 25 years ago.
In 2007, Kolk bought his first
MAXfield Custom corner system –
and he hasn’t looked back since.
“MAXfield provides more uniform
water distribution. I like that it
I 8
cycles on and off, replicating a nice
rain shower rather than a fierce
thunderstorm,” says Kolk.
The MAXfield Custom uses a
pulsing sprinkler system to provide
a more uniform application
rate, often resulting in improved
production. Other features include
a hose-free joint that eliminates
leaking, and a steerable arm that
allows growers to bring additional
acres under irrigation, increasing
production without having to
purchase more land.
most of it
“Every acre we leave
idle is revenue lost.
With MAXfield, we gain
maximum efficiency.”
– Leighton Kolk
Continued >
9 I
“I’m always looking for
the next area to increase
productivity and quality in
a sustainable manner.”
Because Kolk raises beef cattle on
his farm, two-thirds of his land is
dedicated to crops for his feedlot.
The remaining third is made up of
cash crops – canola, alfalfa, hybrid
canola seed and wheat. Farmland
is at a premium in Kolk's area,
and MAXfield Custom’s steerable
corner arm helps him make the
most of available space by irrigating
the land near his feedlot.
“I’m able to dig further into
the corners with MAXfield.
Land is expensive here, so every
acre we can put under irrigation
production will pay off,” he says.
“Every acre we leave idle is revenue
lost. With MAXfield, we gain
maximum efficiency.”
Devan, Leighton and Jordan Kolk observe their MAXfield Custom corner in action.
Kolk now has three MAXfield
Custom corner systems and about
1,500 total acres (607 ha) under
irrigation. Land in his area is
trading at $5,000 USD per acre,
especially land close to intensive
livestock operations.
Megan Kolk and friends riding in the feedlot.
Kolk Farms
Iron Springs, South Alberta, Canada
•Intensive grazing beef cattle operation (600 head)
•Finishes 20,000 head of cattle annually
•Corn (generally for silage), canola, wheat, barley,
alfalfa and Timothy hay
•7 Zimmatic pivots and 3 MAXfield corners in operation
•1,500 total acres (607 ha) under irrigation
•Canal and pipeline water sources
I 10
Irrigated canola seed on the Kolk farm.
Unmatched Water Uniformity
Under Water
Kolk Farm staff use Zimmatic’s
MAXfield Application Planner
(MAP) software to monitor the
farm’s custom irrigation plan and
track water usage. Staff members
also utilize the FieldNET Wireless
Irrigation Network to remotely start,
stop, monitor and adjust pivots to
increase overall efficiencies.
“We manage all aspects of our
operation with detail, keeping
maximum potential in mind,” Kolk
says. “Whether beef, grain, silage,
equipment or trucking, we try to
focus on high quality, safety and
maximized potential. Top quality
equipment, good planning and
management, along with the latest
technology, allows us to take our
operation to the next level.”
And when it comes to
staying on top of the latest
advances in technology, he turns
to New-Way Irrigation, Ltd., his
local Zimmatic dealer.
“New-Way and Zimmatic seem
to be on the leading edge of
technology and equipment,
such as precision irrigation and
irrigation management and
control,” says Kolk.
Established in 1976, New-Way
became a Zimmatic dealer in 1981.
The South Alberta dealership
has locations in Lethridge, Taber,
Brooks, Strathmore and Bow
Island. New-Way has supplied Kolk
with seven Zimmatic pivots, as well
as his three MAXfields.
“Kolk is a good farmer. He’s very
progressive and likes to keep up-todate on the latest technology and
equipment. He takes the time to
analyze key areas of his operation
to make it more productive and
profitable,” says Bryan Smith, a
Over Water
The AccuFlow water application package offers uniform
water patterns. This patented technology allows for pulsing of
sprinklers over critical parts of the field, eliminating dry areas as
corner extends and overwatering when corner is tucking in.
spokesman for New-Way. “The
MAXfields help him pick up
additional acres right near his
operation for silage and for manure
applications.”
Kolk Farms began with Kolk’s late
grandfather, Jan, who emigrated
from the Netherlands after World
War II. The farm was then taken
over by Kolk’s father, Albert, who
still lives in Alberta. Kolk’s wife,
Elinor, and children, Jordan, Devan
and Megan, are actively involved
in the operation, and son Jordan is
studying agricultural business at the
University of Saskatchewan.
“I’m always looking for the next
area to increase productivity and
quality in a sustainable manner,”
Kolk says.
Going forward, Kolk is certain of
one thing – he will be installing
more MAXfields.
Contact Info:
New-Way Irrigation, Ltd.
6003 54th Ave
Taber, AB T1G 1X4
1-800-561-4608 • 403-223-3591
Email: Taber@newwayirr.com
For additional locations,
visit http://www.newwayirr.com/
For more information on MAXfield Custom corner and to find a dealer near you,
go to www.zimmatic.com.
MAXfield Custom Corner
Exclusive Features
SmartChip Technology
After completing an initial mapping rotation,
the MAXfield Custom “remembers” every unique
aspect of your field, adjusting its application
rates accordingly. This results in a more uniform
application pattern.
MAP Software
MAXfield Application Planner (MAP) software
allows your Zimmatic dealer to design an
irrigation system for virtually any field.
High-Flow Joint
MAXfield’s exclusive High-Flow joint
transmits water internally, without the need
for a leak-prone hose. In addition, the joint’s
simplicity results in longer life and reduced
water friction loss.
AccuFlow Sprinkler Packages
Utilizing a rapid-cycling concept, MAXfield’s
sprinkler banks turn on and off according to
the corner’s swing angle. This proprietary
feature improves application uniformity by
allowing a customized water program to be
selected for the user’s field.
More Acres Under Irrigation
The steerable corner arm has a maximum
extended reach of 280 feet (85.3 m). Depending
on field shape, this extra reach allows you to
bring between 23 and 51 more acres (9-21 ha)
under irrigation.
11 I
FieldNET Mobile
Takes Convenience,
Pivot Control to a New Level
Manage pivots from
anywhere with a smartphone
The rise in popularity of
smartphones, from BlackBerry®
and Droid® phones to the everevolving iPhone®, has changed
the way we live, work and play.
Smartphone users can e-mail, visit
social networking sites and make
purchases from anywhere with just
the touch of a button. And now,
they can control their pivots too –
with FieldNET Mobile.
I 12
By adding FieldNET Mobile,
growers benefit from a rich
graphical interface and detailed
control over virtually all aspects of
irrigation. Features include:
The Vision Zone
This screen provides a quick view of
each pivot’s position and detailed status
information.
Designed exclusively for
smartphones, Lindsay’s new
FieldNET Mobile platform
provides full remote monitoring
and control for pivots. The mobile
web resource combines all of the
award-winning features of the
FieldNET Wireless Irrigation
Network in one easy interface.
“FieldNET Mobile provides a
labor-saving innovation with
the convenience of web-enabled
phones,” says Reece Andrews,
GrowSmart product manager at
Lindsay. “With full control and
monitoring from anywhere, growers
are more efficient with their time
and always know the status of their
irrigation systems.”
Smarter Features
Control Screen
FieldNET Mobile combines
the features of FieldNET in one
easy interface.
The control screen features large,
easy-to-use buttons, providing simple
control of irrigation rates, or full
control with a Premier subscription
upgrade.
Water Usage Reports
The water use report screen provides
detailed information on water usage
and irrigation measurements by depth,
volume and coverage.
Real-Time Alerts
Real-time text alerts allow users to fix
a problem immediately, reducing the
risk of downtime.
Features
The benefits, which put FieldNET
Mobile head and shoulders above
competing platforms, include
savings on time and labor;
enhanced navigation; the ability to
view the status of all pivots at once;
and no daily call limit, allowing
for unlimited use without overage
charges.
“FieldNET Mobile is very easy to
set up and features intuitive colorcoded graphics that show growers
in-depth pivot information,”
Andrews says. “With simple touch
navigation, users can quickly
control pivot operations from their
phone, saving them labor and
making irrigation management
convenient and easy from virtually
anywhere.”
To find out more about FieldNET
Mobile and its compatibility
with your smartphone, talk to
your Zimmatic dealer or visit
www.lindsayfieldnet.com.
Competitor
Services
Innovative design compatible with iPhone®
and Android technology
FieldNET
Mobile
EQIP Conservation
Incentives
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) is a voluntary
conservation program that provides
payments up to 75 percent for certain
conservation practices and activities.
Through EQIP, the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) develops
contracts with agricultural producers
to implement conservation practices
to address environmental natural
resource issues. Payments are made to
producers once conservation practices
are completed according to NRCS
requirements.
The EQIP objective to optimize
environmental benefits is achieved
through a process that begins with
national priorities that address:
• Impaired water quality
4
• Conservation of ground and surface
water resources
4
• Improvement of air quality
Unlimited use without extra charges
4
• Reduction of soil erosion and
sedimentation
Water usage reports
4
• Improvement or creation of wildlife
habitat for at-risk species
Controls exclusive to FieldNET, providing full
control for Premier subscriptions
4
Quick shortcut navigation between pivots
4
Quick link to problem pivots
4
Manage text messages and e-mail alerts
4
Supports BlackBerry® and Windows®
mobile phones
4
To learn more about how EQIP
may fit into your farming operation,
contact a Lindsay EQIP specialist
toll-free at 866-404-5049 or your local
Zimmatic dealer.
For more information on EQIP, visit
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip.
13 I
Growing High-Yielding
Rice in Australia
Under a Zimmatic pivot irrigation system
Fast Facts – BRIAN PROTHEROE,
C.H. PROTHEROE PTY LTD
• Fourth-generation Australian farmer
• Farms with his father, Colin Protheroe
• In addition to rice, raises
approximately 14,000 acres (approximately 5,600 ha) of wheat,
canola, corn and grain sorghum
• Rice marketed through SunRice growers cooperative
• Local Zimmatic dealer: Flow Smart Pty Ltd, Griffith, NSW, Australia
Saving Water with
Pivot Irrigated Rice
Brian Protheroe is a fourthgeneration Australian farmer who
has been growing flood irrigated
rice since 1995. But because of
water shortages caused by recent
dry years and the bullish price of
rice, Protheroe decided to grow
rice with efficient Zimmatic
center pivot irrigation.
CHALLENGE
Protheroe had lots of experience
raising traditional flood irrigated
rice but little knowledge of
growing rice under pivot
irrigation. He did his research on
pivot irrigated rice, including a
trip to the United States to visit
the Michael McCarty rice farm
near Osceola, Arkansas.
McCarty’s successful experiences
raising rice under pivot irrigation
I 14
were documented in a study
showing substantial water, labor
and energy savings and yields on
par with flood irrigated rice.
He planted two varieties of rice:
Quest, a short-season, short-grain
variety, and Amaroo, a longseason, short-grain variety, on
74 acres (30 ha) of land known
locally as the Glen Ayre Farm.
“I wanted to grow two different
varieties with two different
maturities in order to establish
which variety was better suited for
pivot irrigation.”
Groundwater is the main source
for his four Zimmatic center pivot
irrigation systems, but Protheroe
plans to add more pivots and
pump stations to access water from
a nearby river.
Protheroe used a large 60-foot
(18.3 m) planter to plant the rice,
something he had previously not
been able to do because of the
dikes and berms that are used in
flood irrigated rice fields.
SOLUTION
The Zimmatic rice pivot on
Protheroe’s farm is 991 feet
(302 m) long and includes six
towers. The new pivot was
equipped with a Nelson S3000
Yellow Plated Spinner sprinkler
package, which applied fine
droplets of water “like a good
steady rain,” Protheroe said.
The rice pivot was outfitted
with Lindsay’s Z-TRAX tracking
system and three-wheel drive
tubes for improved traction and
flotation. “The Lindsay tracking
systems helped enormously,”
he said.
Lindsay’s Z-TRAX tracking system provides
improved flotation and reduced rutting on
Protheroe’s pivot irrigated rice.
Because pivot irrigated rice can
be planted on sloped fields of up
to 30 degrees and doesn’t require
costly field-leveling, dikes and
canals, Protheroe was able to
plant his rice on ground that had
been in wheat the year before.
“Not having to do dikes was key
and really convenient, especially
for my operation. We have large
equipment, and I was able to go
right into the field with our large
seeder. With dikes and berms, I
couldn’t do that,” Protheroe says.
Fertilizer was applied through the
Zimmatic pivot, a tractor spreader
and an airplane.
Protheroe was extremely pleased
with weed control in the pivot
irrigated rice.
“One of the many benefits of
rice production under a pivot is
the ability to apply herbicides
using existing equipment such
as sprayers,” says Bryce Yates,
managing director at Flow Smart,
Protheroe’s local Zimmatic dealer.
“With flood irrigation, this has
to be done by airplane, which is
much more expensive.”
RESULTS
Protheroe’s short-season rice
variety yielded 195 bushels dry
per acre (9.8 MT/ha), with some
sections yielding up to 297 bushels
dry per acre (15 MT/ha). The
long-season rice variety yielded
105 bushels dry per acre
(5.3 MT/ha).
“I planted the short-season rice
variety because the nights can get
cool in our area around the end of
December through mid-January,
which can damage yield when the
rice is heading. As it turned out,
yields on the short-season variety
were outstanding. I was very
pleased with the yield on the
short-season rice.”
Protheroe conservatively
estimates using 40 percent less
water growing pivot irrigated rice
compared to flood irrigated rice.
Benefits of Pivot Irrigated
Rice Vs Flood Irrigated Rice
• Lower operating costs
• Requires less water
• P
recision application of fertilizer
and chemicals
• No dikes or ground leveling
• A
ble to use larger equipment in rice fields
• Plant and harvest sooner
• O
ption to rotate rice with multiple crops
• A
bility to grow rice on land
previously not suitable for flood
irrigated rice
Brian Protheroe conservatively estimates using
40 percent less water growing pivot irrigated
rice compared to flood irrigated rice.
Protheroe plans to continue
growing pivot irrigated rice,
depending on how dry it is in his
area and the market price of rice.
More Info:
For more information,
visit www.ecorice.net.
More on pivot irrigated rice from Dr. Pivot . . . next page.
15 I
Irrigating rice with center pivot sprinkler systems
From Blake Onken, PhD, CPSS
Lindsay's "Dr. Pivot"
Water scarcity is an area of significant
concern and discussion. Breeding for
drought tolerance in rice, as well as
innovative production systems, will
be required to address water scarcity
as it relates to rice production.
One such water-saving irrigation
system is the center pivot. Research
is underway to evaluate and adapt
center pivots to rice production. The
basis for this research is threefold:
to reduce the water required
to produce rice, to expand the
geographic area suitable for rice
production, and finally, to reduce the
cost of production by automating
irrigation operations and fertilizer/
chemical applications.
Center pivot sprinkler systems have
many advantages over other forms of
irrigation. Center pivots apply water
more uniformly to fields than do
flood or furrow irrigation. Since water
outflows are lessened, pumping
requirements are reduced, allowing
farmers to save on both water
and energy. Moreover, accurately
metered fertilizers and chemicals can
be applied through the center pivot
with the same high efficiency as the
irrigation water. This can significantly
reduce labor and application
costs. The loss of fertilizers and
chemicals to leaching and runoff
is minimized, thereby increasing
input efficiencies and reducing
potential environmental impacts.
In-season nutrient application
through fertigation enables better
plant utilization of nutrients because
applications can be timed to match
the plant’s nutritional requirements.
Center pivot systems perform well
on sloped fields, eliminating the
cost of expensive land leveling
operations. Additional cost savings
I 16
Irrigating rice with center pivots reduces water
applications from 28 percent to 50 percent
compared to conventional flood methods.
can be realized from reductions in
labor and expenses for heavy tillage,
puddling, canal construction, surface
smoothing, and check construction/
maintenance.
conventional flood methods, while
maintaining or improving rice yields.
Reported yields from these studies
have been between 160-200 bushels
per acre (8-10 MT/ha).
Expansion of rice ground without
expensive land development can
occur by using center pivot systems.
Areas previously unsuitable for rice
production due to topographic or
soil texture constraints may now be
considered for rice production. In
addition, established paddies are
suitable for rice production, but
rotation to other crops is difficult
because puddling operations destroy
soil structure to maintain flood water.
Use of center pivots will improve
crop rotation options for healthier
crops and soils while providing
farmers more flexibility to respond
to changes in markets, weather, and
other conditions.
A number of factors have to be
taken into account when considering
the use of center pivot systems
for rice irrigation. The use of blast
resistant rice varieties is essential,
as overhead sprinkler systems
will regularly wet the rice canopy.
Increased dependence on herbicides
will also occur without flood water
to keep weeds in check. Herbicide
and fungicide programs will have to
be carefully monitored. The cost of
these programs should be offset by
reduced production and pumping
costs, however.
Research performed in the United
States and Australia has shown that
irrigating rice with center pivots
reduces water applications from 28
percent to 50 percent compared to
Center pivot sprinkler systems may
not be applicable to every field and
every situation, but the expectation
is that the advantages of center
pivot sprinkler irrigation can be
successfully adapted to widespread
rice production.
New Advances
The all new AT Gearbox
Designed for the future
of center pivot irrigation.
Coming soon from Zimmatic. Look for more details in the next issue
of Irrigation Advances or contact your local Zimmatic dealer.
Upcoming Shows
Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition
October 19-21, 2010
Moultrie, Georgia
3rd International Rice Congress
November 8-12, 2010
Hanoi, Vietnam
Potato Expo 2011
January 5-7, 2011
Las Vegas, Nevada
www.sunbeltexpo.com
www.ricecongress.com
www.potato-expo.com
World Ag Expo
Commodity Classic
www.worldagexpo.com
www.commodityclassic.com
February 8-10, 2011
Tulare, California
March 3-5, 2011
Tampa, Florida
Lindsay Online
Looking for Lindsay online? Visit our new YouTube page at
www.youtube.com/lindsayirrigation for short, informative videos on
the latest Lindsay irrigation products and control technology.
You can also check out the Irrigation Advances blog at
www.irrigationadvances.com for the online version of Irrigation
Advances magazine.
And, as always, www.zimmatic.com is the place to go to find detailed
information on Zimmatic products and features, and to locate a
Zimmatic dealer near you.
Lindsay
2222 N 111th St. • Omaha, NE 68164
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STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
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PERMIT # 365
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But it’s a slightly better fit.
FieldNET™ Mobile from
Lindsay provides full remote control and monitoring
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The easy-to-use interface features real-time text
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resulting in less labor and added efficiency.
See FieldNET
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The control screen features large,
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control of irrigation rates, or full control
with a Premier subscription upgrade.
Visit us at the
Lindsay booth
(#702) at Husker
Harvest Days,
September 14 -16
in Grand Island,
Nebraska.
For more information on FieldNET
Mobile, contact your local Zimmatic®
dealer or visit www.lindsayfieldnet.com.
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registered trademarks of the Lindsay Corporation.