FIELDNET ADVISOR HELPS KANSAS GROWER IRRIGATE WITH CONFIDENCE

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1 FALL 2017 FIELDNET ADVISOR HELPS KANSAS GROWER IRRIGATE WITH CONFIDENCE Hatcher Land and Cattle Liberal, KS Like most growers, Nick Hatcher is a very busy man. In addition to owning and operating Hatcher Land and Cattle, a farming operation near Liberal, Kansas, he is actively involved in a fertilizer chemical business and an ethanol operation. He also has four children three boys and a girl who keep him on the go. I have a senior in high school, twins that are sophomores and a little girl who s a sixth grader. All my children are athletes. The boys are playing football, and I coach my little girl in basketball, he said. Between my family, the farm and the other businesses, I have a lot of demands on my time. I m always looking for tools that can help me utilize my time more efficiently. This year, he added FieldNET Advisor to his irrigation system a new tool that delivers the information he needs to make faster, better informed irrigation decisions. I ll be honest with you, I m skeptical sometimes of new technology until it s proven to me. But we decided to jump continued next page 1

2 I know there are other products out there that are similar to FieldNET Advisor, but there s a certain amount of comfort with having a known company like Lindsay standing behind this. It s just a good tool to have. in with both feet when we went with FieldNET Advisor, he said. It s one of the tools that I ve found truly works in helping me be more efficient. With FieldNET Advisor, Hatcher receives continuously updated, science-based irrigation recommendations that are customized for each of his fields. After entering the field s crop type, hybrids and planting dates, FieldNET Advisor: Dynamically tracks the amount of water available to the crop in the soil at every point throughout the field by combining a soil map of the field, proprietary dynamic crop canopy and root growth models, hyper-local weather data and the real-time as-applied irrigation amounts. Creates a high-resolution map displaying the amount of water available to the crop across the entire field. Forecasts the crops future water needs and predicts when and where, without additional irrigation, the yield will begin to decline due to water stress. It also calculates the amount of yield that is likely to be lost due to stress, which varies based on the crop s development stage and severity of the stress. Automatically generates variable rate irrigation (VRI) prescriptions, which are updated daily throughout the growing season to account for the actual and forecasted weather, changing crop water requirements and as-applied irrigation. Integrates into FieldNET s powerful remote monitoring and control platform, giving growers the ability to immediately put their irrigation decisions into action and monitor their progress. We found that FieldNET Advisor has been right on par with the comparison model we ran alongside it, he said. It s a tool that I can actually put my mind around as to what we re gaining or what we re losing by turning the water on or turning the water off. While Hatcher expects FieldNET Advisor will help him conserve water and reduce costs associated with natural gas and labor, he says the biggest benefit is peace of mind. I can tell you that with all the activities our family is involved with, it s reassuring to know that we have a tool that we can use to check the status of our pivots and know that we re continuing to do a good job of taking care of our crops, he said. I know there are other products out there that are similar to FieldNET Advisor, but there s a certain amount of comfort with having a known company like Lindsay standing behind this. It s just a good tool to have. IA For more information about FieldNET Advisor, talk to your local Zimmatic dealer or visit DEALER CONTACT: American irrigation 2718 West Oklahoma Ave Ulysses, KS Website: 2

3 ADVANCED GPS GUIDANCE OPTION TAKES ZIMMATIC BY LINDSAY 9500L TO THE NEXT LEVEL A simple retrofit, it can easily be installed onto any existing Zimmatic 9500L system. The system installed at the Valent research site also is equipped with Growsmart Precision Variable Rate Irrigation and FieldNET by Lindsay for remote monitoring and control. Every plot is geo-tagged, so with GPS guidance and variable rate irrigation, we re able to irrigate with pinpoint accuracy, Refsell said. Lindsay Corporation has introduced a new, advanced GPS Guidance option for the Zimmatic 9500L a cost-effective solution that gives growers precise and maintenance free lateral tracking. This exciting new product gives growers the ability to navigate their Zimmatic lateral systems with sub-inch accuracy and make real time adjustments to the run path and end points, said Christopher Higgins, Zimmatic product manager at Lindsay Corporation. No other GPS lateral solution in the marketplace has the features and ease of use benefits that come with the Zimmatic 9500L GPS Guidance option. The team at TN&W Irrigation, a Zimmatic dealer in Manito, Illinois, recently installed a 9500L with GPS Guidance at the new Valent Midwest Agricultural Research Center. Opened earlier this summer, the 77-acre site near Champaign, Illinois, is dedicated to large scale testing of pesticides and biologicals for agriculture, see protection and professional use. We chose the lateral system because, like most research plots, ours is square. The lateral provides the consistency we need, said Dawn Refsell of Valent U.S.A. We also like the ease of use. The system is very straightforward so one person can manage it. That s important, because we don t have a large crew here. Available for Zimmatic 9500L systems, the GPS Guidance option is ideal for installations where furrow or wire guidance are not suited or are difficult to maintain. Easy path management allows users to set virtual hose stops and/or service stops quickly and easily and real time RTK correction ensures that the machine will always be where it should be. Other benefits of the 9500L system include: Dual Channel RTK delivers the fastest start-up times and most precise position accuracy. It eliminates the need for costly repair or replacement of above ground guidance wires damaged by equipment or wildlife. A single GPS base station can be shared by multiple 9500L systems within operational distance limits. With approximately 80 trials going on at one time, it s very important for us to be able to control where we re watering and how much we re watering. The diverse research conducted at the facility includes pest management, such as how too little or too much water can affect herbicide performance. Researchers also will be looking at how the company s products can help prevent moisture and nutrient stresses. It s important that we know how our products perform in the field, Refsell said. This new facility and the technology we re using will help us respond to the challenges faced by the farmers of today and in the future. IA For more information about the 9500L with GPS Guidance, talk to your local Zimmatic dealer or visit DEALER CONTACT: TN&W Irrigation, Inc. 603 North Hwy Blvd Manito, IL (309) Website: 3

4 AWARD-WINNING TEXAS GROWER MAKES WATER MANAGEMENT A PRIORITY In West Texas, it s always about water. I have watched the water decrease over the 20 years I ve been farming and before that with my dad and granddad, said grower Brent Hendon. It s incredibly important to make sure we have water available now and in the future. Located near Welch, Texas, Hendon s farmland has been in his family since He and his father, Ronnie, share equipment but have separate operations that total nearly 8,000 acres. He currently runs 30 center pivots over 2,700 acres of cotton. Water efficiency is a priority, Hendon said. In order to maximize efficiency, we have reduced our irrigated acres to match the water available on both my farm and my dad s operation. We also have the majority of our acres in minimum till wheat, so that we can control both soil erosion and slow runoff when it rains. This has actually increased the average yields across the whole field. continued next page 4

5 FieldNET has changed the way I farm, and I don t know how anyone can operate without it. I want to do everything possible to ensure there is still water available for my son and future generations. Hendon also uses low energy sprinkler application (LESA) placing highly efficient sprinklers with the correct nozzle package on each pivot so that he does not overuse his available water. I prefer LESA for its ease of use and water efficiency, he said. Even with that, I don t always have enough water available to water a full circle efficiently. If the wells to a single pivot system have less than 3.5 gallons of water per acre available, I will only water a half circle in order to double the water available from that pivot system. For added efficiency, Hendon integrated FieldNET by Lindsay to his irrigation system. My time is spread pretty thin, Hendon said. I decided to invest in FieldNET, because I found that I was spending more of my time checking water than driving the tractor. With FieldNET, Hendon is able to remotely monitor and control his pivots from virtually anywhere via smartphone, tablet or computer. He also receives immediate, customizable text alerts if there s a problem. FieldNET has really changed the way I use my time, he said. It saves me about 3-4 hours a day during watering season. I also know immediately when there is a problem, which keeps the pivots from sitting in one place watering for an extended period of time. Hendon added that FieldNET also helps him keep track of where and when he s irrigating increasing his water efficiency. His smart irrigation practices and overall commitment to efficient cotton production practices earned him the 2017 High Cotton Award for the Southwest Region annual awards which recognize top cotton producers in each major growing region. FieldNET has changed the way I farm, and I don t know how anyone can operate without it, he said. I want to do everything possible to ensure there is still water available for my son and future generations. IA For more information about FieldNET, talk to your local Zimmatic dealer or visit DEALER CONTACT: Mesa Irrigation 1609 N Hwy 87 Lamesa, TX Website: 5

6 NOW AVAILABLE A NEW PRODUCT PACKAGE TO HELP GROWERS OPTIMIZE IRRIGATION EFFICIENCIES We are excited to announce that we re now offering a new, integrated package of products and services that delivers the industry s most efficient irrigation solution. The Zimmatic Efficiency Plus package is designed to help growers increase profitability while saving time, water and other input costs. This is a leap forward in efficient irrigation management for the industry. Zimmatic Efficiency Plus is the first and only integrated solution that optimizes all three critical efficiency metrics related to crop irrigation water application efficiency, water use efficiency and energy use efficiency, said Brian Magnusson, vice president of irrigation technology at Lindsay Corporation. Available for new Zimmatic and existing electric pivots of any brand, it s a turnkey solution to help growers increase profitability while remaining good stewards of their land and water resources. The new pivot package includes: New high efficiency sprinkler package, designed by a trained, local Zimmatic dealer and optimized for unique field and crop conditions Zimmatic BOSS control panel Growsmart weather station Growsmart IM3000 in-riser flow meter FieldNET by Lindsay remote monitoring and control FieldNET Advisor irrigation management decision support tool Growsmart Precision VRI (Optional) Watertronics pump VFD (Optional) Pivot point pressure transducer continued next page 6

7 The aftermarket package, which is available to retrofit on any brand of existing electric pivot includes: New high efficiency sprinkler package, designed by a trained, local Zimmatic dealer and optimized for the unique field and crop conditions FieldNET Pivot Control to equip the existing pivot with remote monitoring and control Pivot point or end-of-pivot mounted pressure transducer Growsmart rain bucket Growsmart IM3000 flow meter FieldNET remote monitoring and control FieldNET Advisor irrigation management decision support solution Growsmart Precision VRI (Optional) Watertronics pump VFD (Optional) Lindsay and our Zimmatic dealers are the only pivot suppliers that can deliver this kind of fully integrated solution particularly as it pertains to water and energy use efficiency, Magnusson said. To achieve maximum water and energy use efficiency, irrigation management must account for the crop s dynamically changing water needs, yield response factor, rooting depth and various other factors across the field throughout the growing season. FieldNET Advisor is the only solution on the market that can deliver that information. When coupled with the other powerful components in this package, it helps growers achieve an unmatched level of water and energy use efficiency to maximize the profitability across every acre. Magnusson added that growers should immediately realize the benefits that come with the Zimmatic Efficiency Plus solution. In addition to increased profitability, they will save time and be able to irrigate with confidence monitoring and controlling their irrigation equipment anytime from virtually anywhere, he said. IA Talk to your local Zimmatic dealer to learn more information about the Zimmatic Efficiency Plus package and how it can help you save time, money and resources. Lindsay and our Zimmatic dealers are the only pivot suppliers that can deliver this kind of fully integrated solution particularly as it pertains to water and energy use efficiency. Brian Magnussen, Lindsay Corporation FieldNET Advisor TM 7

8 DEALER VIEW WITH A FOCUS ON EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE, TWO RIVERS IRRIGATION JOINS THE ZIMMATIC FAMILY OF DEALERSHIPS Cody Frank Owner, Two Rivers Irrigation The team at Two Rivers Irrigation takes great pride in the fact that it responds to most service calls within hours, not days. Customer service is the most important part of any business especially in our area where there are a lot of sandy soils that don t allow for much downtime in the summer, owner Cody Frank said. When a grower breaks down, he needs the parts and service department to respond in hours, not days, to ensure the crop gets the water when it needs it. To meet his customers needs, Frank stocks an extensive inventory of irrigation and electrical parts. He also runs a fleet of fully stocked service trucks with experienced technicians to ensure quick, reliable service. The Two Rivers team works out of a new, state-of-the-art facility located in Neligh, Nebraska moving from its previous location in Ewing, Nebraska, earlier this year. The move also came with a new partnership with Lindsay Corporation. We re proud to now be a Zimmatic dealer, Frank said. Lindsay is a great company to work with. They have the best and most technologically advanced products in the marketplace. They are committed to being the leader in the irrigation industry, just as we are committed to providing our local customers with the best products, most advanced technology and quickest service. Like other dealers, Frank is challenged with helping growers become more efficient. He believes new technology will play an important role as they work to produce more with less. New technology is now extremely important in a grower s day-to-day operation, Frank said. FieldNET technology gives growers the ability to monitor and control their pivots to make sure they are running when they need to be. This allows growers to cover more acres with fewer employees and fewer work hours in the day. The freed-up time gives them more time to work on other aspects of their operations, such as marketing and crop health. IA DEALER CONTACT: Two Rivers Irrigation, LLC 1170 E Hwy 275 Neligh, NE Website: tworiversirrigation.com Irrigation Advances is published at the corporate office of Lindsay, Omaha, Nebraska, for the educational purposes of growers, customers, dealers and employees. Editorial correspondence should be directed to Brian Magnusson, Editor, Irrigation Advances, Lindsay, 2222 N. 111th St, Omaha, NE Questions or comments are welcome. Call Brian Magnusson at Lindsay. All rights reserved. All brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Lean, Clean and Green. Lindsay Corporation is committed to developing environmental awareness and implementing sustainable practices to reduce the use of and protect energy, water, and all other resources. 8