Mayor Neil Brown: Navigating Irrigated Agriculture in New Zealand’s Ashburton District
With its rich soil and abundant water, New Zealand’s Ashburton District has a thriving economy based on dairy farming and crop production. The 67‑kilometer (42‑mile) Rangitata Diversion Race is an irrigation and power generation scheme that diverts water from the Rangitata River to irrigate the district’s farmlands. In this interview, dairy farmer and district Mayor […]
Norman Semanko: Practicing Water Law in the Pacific Northwest
Norman Semanko brings more than 30 years of experience with water resources and regulatory issues to his work as the water law practice group leader in the Pacific Northwest Region for Parsons Behle & Latimer. Irrigation Leader spoke with him about his work representing irrigation districts and canal companies in the complex practice of modern […]
Planning for the Future: Jason McShane of Kennewick Irrigation District on Improving Drought Resiliency in the Lower Columbia Basin
Kennewick Irrigation District (KID), a central Washington irrigation district with roots that stretch back to the late 19th century, is lining its canal system. Irrigation Leader speaks with Jason McShane, KID’s engineering and operations manager, about how this initiative will save water and increase the district’s storage capacity. He also tells us about how an […]
Governor Greg Gianforte: Investing in Irrigation and Supporting Montana Agriculture
Montana is renowned for the beauty of its land and the excellence of its agricultural production, from wheat and pulse crops to meat. That agricultural production, however, relies on water and the irrigation infrastructure that delivers it. From maintenance on century-old projects like the Milk River Project to proposed new ventures like the Fallon Flats […]
Oregon Spirit Distillers: Making Spirits Bright
Why did Shon Rae make a career change from an irrigation district to a whiskey maker? Because, as they say, “Whiskey is for drinking, and water is for fighting.” While the former assistant manager of the Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID) now works in operations at Oregon Spirit Distillers, water still plays a key role […]
Rubicon Water Expands Its Water Management Technology From Chile to Other Latin American Countries
[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Headline_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] “The technical level we have reached is formidable. The automated management of water resources is no longer optional—it is required—and thanks to our partnership with Rubicon Water, we are at the forefront of progress in this area.” These are the words of Fernando Rueda, the president of the Ñuble River Joint Board of […]
Investing in Farm Futures: John Berge of the Nebraska Farm Service Agency
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides price support, disaster support, conservation, and farm loan programs to agricultural producers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. To learn more about the agency’s current programs and its focus for the future, Irrigation Leader spoke with a leader who brings decades of policy […]
President Chris Roth of Reinke Irrigation on Tradition and Innovation
From the world’s first reversible electric-drive center pivot to the newest electronic swing arm used to improve precision irrigation on corners, Nebraska-based Reinke Manufacturing has been an irrigation innovator since 1954. In this interview, Reinke President Chris Roth tells Irrigation Leader about the company’s proud history and its innovative new irrigation solutions. [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Headline_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] Irrigation […]
John Scholten of LiveRoof: Designing Green Roofs for Water Retention and Rooftop Horticulture
They absorb storm water and transform heat traps into flourishing rooftop gardens. They create desirable green spaces in urban buildings where people live and work. What’s not to like about green roofs? Irrigation Leader spoke with John Scholten of LiveRoof about what it takes to design a green roof that thrives. [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Headline_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] Irrigation Leader: […]
Advancing Horticulture Careers at Northeast Community College
Sure, students in Northeast Community College’s Horticulture and Golf Course Management program learn about soil science in the classroom. But they also get out in the field and get their hands in the dirt. The result? A pipeline of young people who are prepared to take jobs in fields such as landscaping and golf course […]