The tech that dreams are made of - our top picks for easier farming

Agricultural technology is advancing at a rapid pace. With a host of applications on the market, farmers are spoilt for choice in reducing their workload and optimising systems. Lindi Botha looks at the latest technologies worthy of consideration.

- Lindi Botha

GET THE LIE OF THE LAND WITH IRRIGATION

The complexities involved in installing an irrigation system mean that farmers often don’t know how much they are in for until the last pipe is laid and the invoice is presented. With Rivulis’s hydraulic tool, farmers can design and plan their irrigation systems on a cell phone app. Because the app includes prices on an extensive database of products, farmers are able to get a tailored quote before work has started.

The app allows for lateral design, including factoring in the impact of sloping ground and lateral length required. The hydraulic tool automatically calculates the drop in water level as it flows through the system (referred to as head loss), the pressure required at the start of the system, and other parameters to create a design that delivers optimum performance.

Farmers are also able to do sub-main and mainline calculations to determine the optimum diameter and length configurations to meet the required flow rate. Variables such as sloping ground and whether the sub-main is in the middle or at the end of the field, can be accounted for. The irrigation design component provides a quick overview of the overall system. By entering the necessary information (water emission product, irrigation area, application rate, flow rate of water source and maximum available irrigation time), the hydraulic tool determines if the water source is sufficient for irrigation and shows necessary adjustments for desired applications.

The tool takes the guesswork out of irrigation system costs and means farmers won’t be left with nasty surprises when developing their farms.

FAST FACTS