DripTips by Toro Ag

Water Stressed Farmer turns to Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Farmer Solves Water Woes with Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Posted on June 10, 2015 by torodriptips

When Jim Bahrenburg looks across the land he’s worked in the Monument and Kimberly areas, he sees buried treasure.

That treasure isn’t gold, but water.

Drawn from the North Fork John Day River, this water flows through small underground tubes to gradually irrigate blocks of land for crops. Starting on the North Fork Ranch in the Kimberly area, Bahrenburg said he first planted rye to choke out the thistles on what was just a neglected pasture, and then continued the transformation by planting row crops.

Today the land produces corn, onions, beets, peppers, squash and dill.

Apply for $10 Million in California Agriculture Grants

An estimated $10 Million in Grants Available for California Agriculture

Posted on May 27, 2015May 27, 2015 by torodriptips

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting applications for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP), authorized by emergency drought legislation (Assembly Bill 91).

An estimated $10 million will be available for competitive grant funding to provide financial assistance to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save water on California agricultural operations.

The funding is made available through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the proceeds of California’s greenhouse gas Cap and Trade program.

Staples 2015 Irrigation Efficiency Program

Posted on May 19, 2015 by torodriptips

The Staples Irrigation Efficiency program will provide incentives to any irrigation design which can demonstrate energy/water savings. The program will offer almost unlimited possibilities for submitting savings for rebates instead of only two “deemed” projects with set values for incentives.

WATER EFFICIENCY EQUATION: Reducing Use Per Unit Gaining Traction

Posted on May 15, 2015April 13, 2017 by torodriptips

With California now firmly entrenched in its fourth drought year in a row, the irrigation industry is rightly focused on water efficiency.

Paul McFadden, who is senior sales manager for Toro Micro-Irrigation, El Cajon, CA, said while the focus is clear, that doesn’t always mean using less water. “It’s an equation: units of input vs. units of output.”

The Toro Company’s Commitment to Water Use Efficiency in Agriculture

Posted on May 12, 2015November 22, 2017 by torodriptips

While the drought in the Western U.S. has made water and resource use efficiency top-of-mind, Toro is proud of the various ways we practice and advocate for responsible crop irrigation. Here are some of the ways we’ve worked to improve water and resource-use efficiency in agriculture.

U.S. Company Helps Smallholder Farmers Fight Hunger Abroad

Posted on May 7, 2015 by torodriptips

Follow Source: FeedtheFuture.gov Written by: Eduardo Mendías, Senior Market and Product Development Manager, Toro Micro-Irrigation Business Posted: May 1, 2015

Strawberry Fields … Forever

Posted on May 6, 2015June 3, 2016 by torodriptips

The video below is the latest segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown. “Strawberry Fields…Forever” profiles a strawberry grower and his commitment to water efficiency.

Colorado River Basin Irrigated Agriculture Webinar

Webinar on the Future of Irrigated Agriculture in the Colorado River Basin

Posted on May 1, 2015May 1, 2015 by torodriptips

Don’t miss out on the upcoming webinar, The Future of Irrigated Agriculture in the Colorado River Basin. The presentation will focus on the specific water challenges facing the basin, and will be available at no charge. This is a great opportunity to find out more about the water challenges facing the Colorado River Basin, and what the future of irrigated agriculture in the basin looks like in light of those issues. Will there be enough water for all the water users in the basin, particularly for agriculture?

California Drought Update: Governor Directs First Ever Statewide Mandatory Water Reductions

Posted on April 2, 2015May 27, 2015 by torodriptips

Following the lowest snowpack ever recorded and with no end to the California drought in sight, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced actions to save water, increase enforcement to prevent wasteful water use, streamline the state’s drought response and invest in new technologies that will make California more drought resilient.

“Today we are standing on dry grass where there should be five feet of snow. This historic drought demands unprecedented action,” said Governor Brown. “Therefore, I’m issuing an executive order mandating substantial water reductions across our state. As Californians, we must pull together and save water in every way possible.”

How to Maximize the Durability and Longevity of Drip Irrigation Tubing

Posted on March 26, 2015 by torodriptips

Mark_Jablonka On Friday, June 26, 2015 at 1:00PM (Pacific Time), the Grange Network will be hosting a 60-minute, FREE webinar to review the essential material components of micro-irrigation drip tubing and discuss key material attributes that contribute to high performance tubing. Included in the webinar will be a an overview of how polyethylene is produced, its key characteristics/attributes and considerations when selecting the appropriate grade for micro-irrigation applications. Mark Jablonka, Research Scientist in the Performance Plastics Technical Service and Development (TS&D) group at The Dow Chemical Company, will lead the discussion.

Click here to register for the FREE webinar, “Maximizing Durability and Longevity of Micro-Irrigation Tubing”.

Date: Friday, June 26, 2015

Time: 1:00PM Pacific / 4:00PM Eastern (60 Minute Session)

New Flat Emitter Dripline Wall Thicknesses Provide Cost Effective Solution for More Crops

Posted on March 18, 2015 by torodriptips

Neptune Toro has announced the release of Neptune Flat Emitter Dripline in 8-mil and 18-mil wall thicknesses for both 5/8” and 7/8” internal diameters. This augments the existing 10-, 13- and 15-mil wall thickness offering. Neptune 8-mil is also available in an 8-inch emitter spacing for superior wetting patterns. With this expansion, Toro’s Neptune can now economically serve a wider variety of crop applications that demand both thinner and thicker walled driplines, such as short-season vegetable crops and multi-season fruit crops.

How Drip Irrigation Best Practices and Management Improves Irrigation Efficiency for Florida Vegetable Growers

Posted on March 5, 2015 by torodriptips

plasticulture on strawberries Vegetable growers in Florida are using plasticulture and drip irrigation best practices to improve water and nutrient management on more than 5,000 acres of production. And the effort is paying off, according to one Extension official familiar with the practice.

Bob Hochmuth, Extension agent for the University of Florida (UF), made a presentation at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO in Grand Rapids, Michigan that focused on the management of drip Irrigation. He described a process of securing adequate moisture in the root zone without over-filling.

“The increased concern over the impact of agricultural practices on water quality in Florida has resulted in the grower’s need to adopt best management practices (BMPs),” Hochmuth said. “The successful adoption of BMPs in plasticulture production of vegetables in north Florida has been greatly facilitated by Extension programs in conjunction with industry and other agency involvement.

“Growers are more likely to adopt BMPs when they can evaluate them on their own farm,” he said. “Long-term educational program efforts – including hands-on teaching workshops at a research facility combined with on-farm demonstrations – proved to be a very effective strategy in helping vegetable growers using drip irrigation and plasticulture improve water and nutrient management practices.”

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