Tag: water management

Toro's Inge Bisconer to Speak during 2016 Drought Summit at Irrigation Show

Attend the 2016 Drought Summit during the Irrigation Show

Posted on November 29, 2016December 1, 2016 by torodriptips

While 2016 brought some relief to the Western drought, many areas are still experiencing historic water shortages, with no reprieve in sight. From the Colorado River to Lake Mead, water supplies are shrinking while demand increases, thus driving water users to look elsewhere for their water, in many cases underground.

Last year, the Irrigation Association hosted the first drought summit in conjunction with the 2015 Irrigation Show and Education Conference in Long Beach, California. We are excited to not only hold our second summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, but also partner with the National Ground Water Association for the 2016 Drought Summit.

Toro and Western Growers Work Together as Leaders in Ag Tech

Toro and Western Growers Take Lead in Ag Tech

Posted on May 11, 2016 by torodriptips

In an interview with Western Grower & Shipper Magazine, Toro’s Paul McFadden discusses ag tech and innovation. Paul shared his insights into the world of agriculture and Toro’s view of how technology can help growers in our region.

Western Water Rights and Policy this Week on The Water Zone

Posted on May 2, 2016May 5, 2016 by torodriptips

This Thursday, May 5th, at 6p.m. PST on The Water Zone Radio Show, tune in for an extra special agriculture

Precise Water Usage Boosts Nutrient Uptake

Posted on October 26, 2015 by torodriptips

The relationship between nutrient management and soil moisture is a very close one. As fertilizer gets more and more expensive, proper management of this input is critical to help you maintain profitability.

George Hochmuth, professor at the Soil and Water Science Department at the University of Florida, describes the dynamics of the relationship between soil moisture and fertilizer management, and outlines ways to improve your crops’ nutrient uptake through more precise irrigation.

So why is the relationship between soil moisture and fertilizer so important?

How to Mix a Stock Fertilizer Solution for Injectors

Posted on September 29, 2015 by torodriptips

Many greenhouse and nursery operations use fertilizer injectors, also known as proportioners, to deliver precise concentrations of water-soluble nutrients to plants through irrigation systems. Injectors pull a concentrated fertilizer solution from a stock tank and add it to the irrigation water.

Arizona Grower Conserving Water with Subsurface Drip Irrigation System

One Arizona Farmer Conserving Water with Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Posted on August 4, 2015August 3, 2015 by torodriptips

Farmers in central Arizona are working together to protect a precious resource that flows through their land. The Verde River supplies every drop of water they use for irrigation, and everything else in their lives. As the drought swallows up lakes and rivers across the West, Verde Valley farmers are embracing new and old technology to ensure their water supply doesn’t dry up. Arizona Public Radio’s Aaron Granillo reports.

The Hausers are a farming family. They’ve been harvesting and selling pumpkins, alfalfa, and sweet corn for generations. The youngest member in this long line of farmers is 26-year-old Zach.

“My great, great, great grandparents started in Iowa, eventually moved to Phoenix,” says Hauser. “My dad and grandfather farmed this, and then I just kind of followed in their footsteps.”

Some Central Valley Farmers looking to Recycled Wastewater

Posted on July 22, 2015 by torodriptips

Many California farmers are in a tight spot this summer, because their normal water supplies have dried up with the state’s extreme drought. In the state’s Central Valley, that’s driving some farmers to get creative: They’re looking at buying water from cities — not freshwater, but water that’s already gone down the drain.

The parched conditions in the valley, the state’s farming hub, have been crazy. Actually, “crazy wouldn’t adequately describe what we’re going through here,” says Anthea Hansen, who runs the Del Puerto Water District in the Central Valley. “Having zero water available — we’ve been in survival and crisis mode for literally 24 months now,” she says.

What her district needs, she says, is a reliable supply — something that’s there, drought or no drought.

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?

Good Water Management: A Wise Business Decision

Posted on March 14, 2013April 3, 2013 by torodriptips

Increasing water costs and water scarcity are becoming critical issues that are affecting the bottom lines for growers’ businesses. Whether these issues are the result of droughts, environmental concerns, or water regulations, the fact is that growers need to improve their water management techniques.

In a recent online article in Growing Produce, Michael Cahn highlights how growers in California are utilizing drip irrigation to improve their water management and crop quality. In one paragraph, Cahn writes, “In the Central Valley where surface water allocations can be limited during drought years, drip has allowed growers to farm more acres with less water. Besides saving water, drip provides more management options for growers. Under drip, tractor operations are less likely to be hampered by saturated furrows and application uniformity under drip is not affected by wind, which is common in the afternoon along the coast. Additionally, drip can reduce foliar disease pressure in crops by keeping leaves dry.”