Trimble offers farmers ‘right amount of water at right time’

Mar 11, 2016

Irrigate-IQ Solutions helps manage irrigation equipment

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

At times, farmers that use irrigation machinery as part of their operations are at the mercy of the equipment.

Common irrigation systems don’t provide consistent watering, resulting in too much or not enough water on the crops and impacting crop quality and yields.

“The Irrigate-IQ solution is doing what Trimble does best -- accuracy,” said Neil Douglas, Irrigate-IQ market manager for Trimble’s Agriculture Division. “It’s about applying the right amount of water at the right time based off of GPS technology and advanced controls.”

Trimble’s Irrigate-IQ Solution offers three ways to help farmers manage water use by customizing where and when the water is dispersed.

Irrigate-IQ Uniform Corner
Uniform corner uses advanced algorithms to allow for a consistent water application regardless of the corner arm’s position. Farmers can achieve a uniform water application, minimizing the risks of over- or under-watering while practicing water management. It’s compatible with the Connected Farm Irrigate App and Connected Farm.

Irrigate-IQ Optimal Flow
“Farmers with standard pump equipment -- without a variable frequency drive pump -- are typically unable to vary their application in areas without risking damage to their equipment due to significant pressure changes,” said Douglas.
“Irrigate-IQ optimal flow is an industry-leading technology that enables growers without a variable frequency drive pump to utilize no spray areas when irrigating.” It’s compatible with the Connected Farm Irrigate App and Connected Farm.

Irrigate-IQ Variable Rate Irrigation
Variable rate irrigation allows farmers to manage the topography of their land and put the proper amount of water in the right places by using individual nozzle control. The variable rate irrigation can help minimize the costs of water, energy and reduce run-off. Variable rate irrigation is compatible with Connected Farm and the Connected Farm Irrigate App.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.