Field day to showcase benefits of irrigation system
HOLTVILLE – For several years, Ronald Leimgruber, a third-generation farmer in Imperial Valley, has been watering part of his farm with an automated system that improves the efficiency of flood irrigation.
The system, FarmConnect developed by Rubicon Water, has resulted in significant water savings, more uniform water application, increased crop production, a reduction in labor costs and a lower carbon footprint for his farming operation, Leimgruber noted in an article in the September 2021 issue of Irrigation Leader magazine
Now 10 years later, he’s sharing his experience with his neighbors and other farmers from around the region during a field day at his farm located 1/4 mile north of Highway 98 on Bonesteele Road, on the east side of Holtville. The event, sponsored by Peter Moller, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, and include lunch and refreshments served by a taco food truck. To attend, RSVP to Moller by email to peter.moller@rubiconwater.com. Include the number planning to attend and any dietary requirements.
Moller noted that a number of companies have been working on various irrigation systems over the years but not many were looking at gravity-flow flood irrigation. A commonly used system worldwide, flood irrigation is historically an inefficient manually operated system with only 50 percent to 60 percent efficiency compared to some 80 percent to 90 percent efficiency for more modern systems such as sprinklers.
Rubicon saw an opportunity there, Moller said, and developed a system that combines automated gates, water flow monitors, soil moisture sensors and other modern technology to provide a more efficient way to irrigate fields. Initially, the technology was applied to irrigation districts and other providers of farm water. The technology was first released in Australia and now is used throughout the world, Moller said.
“Our technology current-
ly automates the operation and management of irrigation districts and service areas spanning more than 6.1 million acres worldwide,” stated the company’s website. “Our solutions are generating water use efficiencies of up to 90 percent for customer irrigation districts, which support an annual economic output of more than $12 billion.”
That includes a research study of the system begun in 2012 for flood irrigation of alfalfa crops at the University of California Desert Research and Extension Center in Holtville in collaboration with Khaled Bali, UCCE irrigation water management specialist. In addition, a three-year Extension trial of furrow irrigation for the sugar beet industry was recently completed.
“We’ve been able to improve efficiency by 85 to 90 percent … as efficient as sprinklers,” said Moller.
This is significant, he noted, given the increased value of water over the last couple of years with the lingering drought in California and the entire west and the reduced flow of the Colorado River that led to an unprecedented shortage declared for the river effective Jan. 1 of this year.
“We realize the importance of saving water,” he said.
Moller added that with changes to California’s labor regulations there’s also a need to save on the cost of agriculture labor, now subject to the state’s minimum wage and overtime rules. Flood irrigation typically is labor-intensive, requiring irrigators to be onsite to manually operate the system.
One obstacle for individual farmers has been the cost of installing the new system, Moller said. This has been somewhat eased with a SWEEP (State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program) pilot being extended to Southern California farmers to provide financial assistance to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save water on their agricultural operations.
Leimgruber said he became aware of Rubicon’s new irrigation system while attending a field day at Cooperative Extension. Realizing that water would become an increasingly valuable commodity and that farmers don’t have a lot of clout in the state and national capitols, he decided to try the system. He had it installed on 70 acres of alfalfa 10 years ago. He estimates that he’s saving 15 percent to 20 percent of water usage while seeing increased productivity of 5 percent to 10 percent – 1/2 to 1 ton more per acre – for those 70 acres. He also figures he’s saving on labor. And it’s energy efficient.
“It’s a great tool to save on labor and water with no added energy cost and production is up,” he said. Eventually, he would like to install the system for his entire 2,500-acre farming operation.
In preparation for the field Aug. day, 1, 1955 Rubicon – Feb. 19, replaced 2022 both his hardware and software with the next generation of technology. However, he noted, the old system’s components were in perfect condition despite 10 years of use.
It’s a story he wants to share with other farmers. “I would like to invite all Imperial Valley and regional farmers to the field day,” he said.
For Fernando more Z. information Esperanza, about 66, of FarmConnect, E l Centro w visit as farmconnect.com.