by Sean O'Neill, Product Manager
Happy New Year! Let us all hope 2021 brings a better outlook than its predecessor! Welcome to the first publication of Senninger’s ‘Insights from the Field’! We will share ideas and trends from around the world on a quarterly basis that may be a benefit to your operation.
It has been quite a year, and most were glad to see the end of the 2020 season. Disruptions from COVID-19, trade uncertainties, and other weather events made many farmers glad to get their crops harvested and enjoy some well-deserved down time.
The main producing regions in the USA are settling in for the rest of winter, but in South America they are finishing up their second crop for the season and preparing to harvest early soybeans. Drought issues from La Niña affected Central and South America at the end of 2020, so the need for consistent, reliable irrigation is necessary to maintain good crop yields.
Self-sufficiency in food supply has seen a resurgence in recent years, as we’ve seen with the large irrigation projects being built around the world. Researchers have noted that ‘global investment in land and water management remains below the levels necessary to address persistent food insecurity and deal with natural resource scarcity. Gross investment requirements between 2007 and 2050 for irrigation development and management are estimated at almost US$1 trillion.[1]
LEPA in Africa
With the expansive water scarcity in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, efficient irrigation systems are becoming more and more popular. Irrigated agriculture makes up 62% of South Africa’s available water, causing many to look at implementing precision irrigation applications. Fortunately, the need is being recognized by many. The World Bank is involved in a program in Malawi to increase agricultural productivity in Shire Valley. The program objectives include improving the sustainable management of the region’s natural resources by providing farmers with reliable irrigation methods that help protect the wetlands.
LEPA irrigation is just one example of ways to do that.
Irrigating these regions will require technology to get the most efficient return from the water applied. Senninger LEPA (Low Energy Precision Application) technology was first developed in the panhandle region of Texas as a response to the increasing need to conserve water. The work in this area proved it is possible to irrigate with a declining water supply in harsh conditions.
Bubbler technology was the innovation that allowed growers to continue producing in this region and helped save billions of gallons of water. Since LEPA technology allows growers to increase the water that reaches the soil by at least 20%, this technology is now expanding globally.
For more information on Senninger’s LEPA technology, go to www.senninger.com/LEPA-Close-Spacing.
The New Year brings new beginnings and the start of new crops. Prices for commodities should remain high and we are all optimistic that 2021 will bring a better year for everyone. The future will bring change and Senninger will continue to do our part and provide the industry with the latest technology to grow in a changing environment.
[1] Sahara Forest Project: https://www.saharaforestproject.com/the-global-challenges-2/#:~:text=Gross%20investment%20requirements%20between%202007,Organization%20of%20the%20United%20Nations.
