The Next Big Crop? Studying Hemp in the Imperial Valley
I ndustrial hemp is becoming a big business in the United States. Projections show that it has the potential to earn billions of dollars and create thousands of jobs in the next several years. Industrial hemp is a form of cannabis sativa with less than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, making it entirely distinct from […]
A Revolution in 6 Months
The Tribine is a revolutionary new machine that aims to fundamentally improve farmers’ harvesting efficiency. The machine is a huge combine–grain cart combination with articulated steering and full-time all-wheel drive. Its 1,000-bushel capacity reduces the need for frequent unloading. The company, which has been in business for 3½ years, designed the Tribine in only 6 […]
Reinventing the Wheel
Irrigators around the United States spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours every year dealing with problems with the tires on their pivot systems. Traditional tire systems are prone to flats, create large ruts in the ground, and can be costly to maintain. Irrigation Revolution has created an effective solution to the problems of […]
A Conversation With Sam Hull of Ahtanum Irrigation District
Ahtanum Irrigation District encompasses approximately 10,300 acres in the Ahtanum Valley of Washington State and has a history dating back to 1852. Sam Hull is a member of Ahtanum Irrigation District’s board of directors. In this conversation with Joshua Dill, the managing editor of Irrigation Leader, Mr. Hull discusses his district’s history and unique features […]
Valley Irrigation
Valley Irrigation is a global leader in mechanized irrigation equipment and the industry’s authority on advancing irrigation technologies. Worldwide, Valley irrigates approximately 25 million acres. In addition to conserving water, saving time, reducing input costs and increasing yields, Valley equipment can be remotely controlled from any location in the world. Innovation is a bedrock principle […]
The Benefits of Chemigation
Chemigation—sometimes also known as fertigation—is the use of irrigation systems for the controlled and efficient application of fertilizer, herbicides, and other chemicals to crop fields or pasture. By using chemigation methods, farmers can both save money and avoid applying excess chemicals, which can leach into the soil. In this interview, Bob Gills, the director of […]
Providing a Forum for Farmers Since 1859
Nebraska Farmer magazine has provided a forum for farmers to ask questions and share insight into their experiences since 1859—before Nebraska was even a state. In the 1980s, Nebraska Farmer was one of the founders of the Husker Harvest Days show in Grand Island, Nebraska, now the nation’s biggest outdoor irrigation show. Since 2015, Tyler […]
The Preemergence Perspective
One of an irrigation district manager’s main challenges is costeffectively ridding his or her systems of aquatic weeds in order to ensure a smooth flow of water. Traditionally, irrigation districts have injected chemicals directly into the irrigation water to control weeds. Alligare, a renowned vegetation management solutions company, has been working successfully with preemergent weed […]
Streamlining Sargent Irrigation District’s Canals and Pipelines
Debris can get into an irrigation system in any number of ways—through intakes that are open to the rivers they draw from or through open canals—but it always causes a headache for irrigation districts and the farmers they serve. After being plagued with debris in its system for many years, Sargent Irrigation District in central […]
Changing the Status Quo
MHV Water is a large-scale irrigation district—a “scheme,” in New Zealand parlance—in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, which delivers water and manages environmental compliance for approximately 140,000 acres of highly productive farmland. MHV operates in the Hinds Plains region of Mid Canterbury, a fertile area that is well suited to open-pasture dairy farming. MHV, […]