Amidst one of the worst droughts in California’s history water remains at the forefront of agricultural issues, and as the World Ag Expo in Tulare celebrates 50 years one can see how irrigation techniques have changed throughout the world and state.
“50 years ago we were flood irrigating you know, gravity siphon pipe irrigating,” said Inge Bisconer, Toro Micro Irrigation.
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Today is United Nations World Water Day 2016, promoting awareness of serious regional water shortages around the world and the search for solutions to the critical threats these scarce water supplies pose to humanity. The Toro Company is a worldwide leader in the development of innovative water-preservation technologies for turf and agricultural irrigation applications. In recognition of the company’s commitment to driving water sustainability, Toro was invited to the nation’s capital today to participate in the White House Water Summit.
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We’ve been waiting all year for this, and the time is finally here! The 2016 World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA is happening THIS WEEK, and we hope you’ll join us there!
From February 9 – 11, Toro will be exhibiting at the World Ag Expo. If you are attending the show, be sure to stop by BOOTH K44 for an interactive experience with some of our most revolutionary products.
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Two Kansas State University faculty members recently joined experts from around the world in China for an information exchange about micro-irrigation technologies.
Freddie Lamm, research irrigation engineer at K-State’s Northwest Research-Extension Center in Colby, and Gary Clark, senior associate dean for the College of Engineering and professor of biological and agricultural engineering, were invited presenters at the Irrigation in Action Symposium at China Agricultural University in Beijing, in October.
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The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has announced that another $16 million in State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) funding has been released for projects within California. The CDFA will be accepting applications immediately, and will continue receiving applications until Friday, January 8, 2016 at 5:00p.m. PST.
The funding will provide financial assistance to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save water at California agricultural operations. The funding is made available through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, from proceeds of California’s Cap‐and‐Trade program.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
Date: Friday, June 26, 2015
Time: 1:00PM Pacific / 4:00PM Eastern (60 Minute Session)
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At Toro, we recently launched our new pressure-compensating sprinkler, Micro Sprinkler PC. Specifically designed for orchards, vineyards, and nursery applications where undulating terrain and long lateral lengths are challenging, Micro Sprinkler PC’s unique pressure-compensating design provides uniform flows and diameters over a wide range of operating pressures. Plus, the Micro Sprinkler PC has a wider diameter of throw than our previous models. Other capabilities of the new Micro Sprinkler PC include:
California’s drought could prove devastating to the state’s farmers and ranchers. But the dry spell has brought a gusher of new business to companies that provide them with water.
That much was clear at this year’s World Ag Expo, which kicked off Tuesday in Tulare, a town of 60,000 about 45 miles south of Fresno. At one booth was a well repair company that had to add extra shifts to meet all the agricultural demand for groundwater. Nearby, a firm that provides turbine pumps for wells said orders were coming in so furiously it was running out of parts. And several feet away, a drip irrigation maker said it was taking orders from farmers months ahead of schedule as the prospect of enough rain over the winter appeared remote.
The World Ag Expo is the largest farm equipment show in the world — a three-day extravaganza of high-tech tractors, automated dairy milkers and mechanized tree harvesters on 2.6 million square feet of fertile Central California soil.
But this year, the annual event is also a window into the frantic struggle taking place to keep the world supplied with fruit, nuts and vegetables from the Golden State. Amid what could be one of the worst droughts in California’s recorded history, growers are relying on a host of companies to help them deliver what water remains to their fields.
Continue readingAs we look to the future, water availability and increasing demand for food are driving awareness for the importance of more efficient forms of irrigation. To meet increasing demand, The Toro Company has announced that it has closed its acquisition of the Xiamen Xiangfeng Water Saving Equipment Company (Located in Xiamen City, China), manufacturer of water-efficient drip irrigation products, sprinklers, emitters and filters for agriculture, landscaping and green house production. Toro’s goal? Continuously improve and meet increasing demand by delivering high quality solutions for growers.
With China being a critical growth market for micro irrigation, this acquisition also provides a means to grow the company’s presence in this important market. Toro is expanding their micro irrigation business, as evidenced by this acquisition and the recently completed micro irrigation manufacturing facility in Romania to support the growing Asian Eastern European regions.
Toro entered the agricultural micro irrigation business in 1996 with the acquisition of James Hardie Irrigation, and has since grown its position through the development of industry-leading drip technologies and investments to expand globally.
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