A Technology of the Future

By Kris Polly

While drone-based planting and chemical applications may sound futuristic, the technology is ready and will only become more common, says Kurt Bohrer, the owner of Ag Drone Service. In our cover interview, we learn more about the technology and Mr. Bohrer’s company, which carries out planting and chemical applications via drone and supports growers who fly their own drones.

Next, we interview Carl Janzen, who was born and raised on a farm in Madera County, California, and now contributes to the region as a member of the board of directors of the Madera Irrigation District (MID) and of numerous other regional organizations. Mr. Janzen shares insights and observations from his quarter-century on the board and reflects on MID’s mission.

Polymers are a well-established technology for improving soil structure and water infiltration, and SNF is a global leader in their manufacture and use. We interview Senior Sales Representative Marcos Amaro about SNF’s numerous product lines designed for agriculture and their benefits.

The J.R. Simplot Company is a global food and agriculture firm based in Idaho. In our conversation with Andy Erickson, the environmental manager for water treatment for Simplot’s Washington facilities, we hear more about the importance of irrigated agriculture for the company’s global operations.

By running a low-voltage electric frequency through irrigation and feed water, Agrimaxx is able to achieve results that seem almost magical—everything from improving infiltration and crop growth to descaling systems and improving animal health. We get the details in our interview with Commercial Sales Representative Matt Jantz.

Tucor is a family business with a storied past in irrigation—it was the first company to introduce 2-Wire technology, now widely used in commercial irrigation. It also has numerous products of interest to agricultural irrigators for applications such as greenhouses and nurseries. We learn more from Maggie and Alex Sarver, members of the family that founded and owns the company.

Fresno State University’s California Water Institute is home to three centers that bring together irrigation research, technology, and business development. We speak to representatives from each center about their mission to boost the agriculture and economy of the Central Valley.

Then, we interview Josh Sendejar, the manager of the Texas Water Foundation’s Texas Water Leaders Program, to learn more about how it is building up the next generation of Lone Star State water professionals.

Last, we interview Derek Friehe, a second-generation farmer in Moses Lake, Washington, about the importance of progress on Reclamation’s Columbia Basin Project for irrigated agriculture.

All our interviewees this month work to further the longterm viability of irrigated agriculture in our nation. That worthy mission underlies all the work that is done in this industry. I hope you enjoy reading their stories.

Kris Polly is the editor-in-chief of Irrigation Leader magazine and the president of Water Strategies LLC, a government relations firm he began in February 2009 for the purpose of representing and guiding water, power, and agricultural entities in their dealings with Congress, the Bureau of Reclamation, and other federal government agencies. He may be contacted at kris.polly@waterstrategies.com.