Potato Grower

14 POTATO GROWER | NOVEMBER 2019 Remote Management Tools This is a combination of hardware and software to remotely monitor and control center pivots and linears from a smart phone, tablet or computer. By having remote access to full control panel functionality in the palms of their hands, growers can avoid routine trips to their equipment, thus reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions. (Not to mention saving money for themselves and time to spend with their families.) Irrigation Scheduling Making informed, data-driven decisions to apply water in the proper amount at the right time of year can significantly reduce the potential for pollution. For example, the intuitive Valley Scheduling dashboard keeps data about soil, crop type, stage of development and automatically updated weather information at growers' fingertips. This proven technology helps them minimize the usage of valuable resources such as water and crop protection products like fertilizer and pesticides for overall crop health. VRI-iS (Individual Sprinkler Control) Managing irrigation rate down to the individual sprinkler provides the most precise sprinkler control available, affording the ability to establish "no- spray zones" near rivers and streams or in livestock areas. Buffer/Cover Crops Planting shrubs, trees and grass around fields can help absorb nutrients before they can reach freshwater sources. Certain grasses and other crops can recycle excess nitrogen and reduce soil erosion to keep nutrients from running off. TOP 5 Ag Tech and the Environment By David J. Roberts, Manager Technology Advancement & Adoption – International, Valley Irrigation I t seems ironic that the word "technology" is used so casually it has become somewhat ordinary. But, often, that is the case. Imagine the term in your head and you will probably think of everything from cell phones and digital watches to flying cars and self-driving tractors. In short, technology means something different to nearly everyone. The same goes for agricultural technology, which commonly refers to physical farm equipment, but in reality comprises a wide array of products and solutions, from seed improvements, animal health topics and aerial drones, to site survey techniques and pest control. But recent EPA news has provided an entirely new incentive to modern technical development on the farm. In a national water quality survey conducted by the EPA, agricultural activity was identified as a source of pollution for more than 40 percent of stream, river and lake water.* The term "agricultural operations" includes several industries, such as animal husbandry, forestry, crop cultivation and biomass production for carbon- neutral energy production. If they aren't careful, runoff from these operations can leach excess nutrients, such as ammonia, phosphorous and nitrogen into the water. These nutrients then find their way into freshwater sources, where they can trigger destructive plant growth known as algae bloom, which kills fish and creates dead spots in lakes and oceans. So it's important to understand the technology available to help reduce pollution in modern agricultural operations. These include the following:

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