Nicky Hyslop: The Importance of Irrigation and Water Storage for New Zealand Agriculture
Nicky Hyslop brings more than 20 years of experience to her work as a New Zealand farmer and a member of the boards of several industry groups and agricultural co-ops. In this interview, she shares her views about agriculture’s role in New Zealand’s water future and talks about her experience with joining a then-new irrigation […]
New Tools to Boost Efficiency at the Middle Republic Natural Resources District
The Middle Republican Natural Resource District (MRNRD) is one of Nebraska’s 23 natural resources districts (NRDs)—local, watershed-based agencies that handle a wide variety of environmental issues across the state, including groundwater quantity and quality, soil erosion, and flood prevention. In a district in which the largest source of water is groundwater—with an estimated 77 million […]
Volume 13 Issue 8 September
The Equipment Issue By Kris Polly To build and maintain large networks of canals, laterals, and pipelines spanning many miles of territory, irrigation districts rely on fleets of vehicles and heavy equipment, which they must successfully and cost-effectively acquire, maintain, keep track of, and retire. This month, we focus on those assets. First, we speak […]
Vicky Bloomer of DROP Consulting: Supporting Irrigated Agriculture in Hawke’s Bay
Vicky Bloomer, the owner and director of DROP Consulting, has long experience with irrigated agriculture. Her time at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, an irrigation company, and Irrigation New Zealand (IrrigationNZ) gave her a thorough understanding of the pressures affecting irrigated farmers, water suppliers, and regulators, which she brings to her consulting work. In this […]
Volume 13 Issue 7 July/August
Bringing Experience to Water Conservation By Kris Polly In our cover feature this month, we interview Vicky Bloomer, the owner and director of DROP Consulting. Ms. Bloomer’s long experience with irrigated agriculture at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, an irrigation company, and Irrigation New Zealand, has given her a multifaceted view of the climatic, economic, […]
Volume 13 Issue 6 June NZ
In this month’s cover story, we speak with Mike LaPlant, the president of the Washington State Water Resources Association and a director of the Quincy–Columbia Basin…
Chris Frost: New Reservoirs for New Zealand’s Northland Region
The Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust was created in 2020 to build new water storage and distribution infrastructure in New Zealand’s Northland Region. The trust’s goal is to create economic opportunities in horticulture for two areas in Northland by providing a reliable water source and eventually developing full irrigation schemes. In this interview, Chris Frost […]
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 […]
Volume 13 Issue 5 May
Planning for the Future of Ashburton By Kris Polly Ashburton District’s rich soil and abundant water make it an agricultural powerhouse, but those resources must be carefully husbanded to ensure economic success and environmental protection. In this month’s cover story, district Mayor Neil Brown discusses Ashburton’s farming prowess as well as the challenges posed by […]
Volume 13 Issue 4 April
Introducing the Managers Issue By Kris Polly The success and flourishing of an irrigation district depend on many things—weather, funding, upkeep, modernization, and planning, for instance—but perhaps no factor counts as much as does a good manager. A manager must know their district’s distinctive characteristics and challenges, their employees, and their board. And they must […]