If you weren’t already aware, the state of the nation’s water supply rests largely in the hands of farmers. Agricultural businesses place a massive demand on fresh water, both in the US and around the world. Seen as this is the most important natural resource in the world, it’s extremely important that farmers use it responsibly! If you think your business could be doing more for water conservation, here’s a few tools that will make it so much easier.
First of all, more efficient irrigation apparatus. Upgrading your irrigation system can be very costly. When you look at the big picture though, there’s no question that it will be worth the investment. A constantly shrinking water supply means that the cost of water is expected to rise in the near future. When this really starts to hit agricultural industries, efficiency will be extremely important. There are now many companies that tout how efficient their systems are. Take a look at these Hunter irrigation parts for an example. Remember though, the most efficient solution will depend on the type of crop you’re growing, the area’s climate, the type of soil, and so on. Depending on the agricultural sector you’re operating in, you may want to look into things like gravity-flow systems.
Weather apps are another handy tool which more and more farmers are adopting. Every little corner of business is being impacted by the feverish progress of technology, and agriculture is no exception. A lot of farmers who have access to the latest tech may be tempted to set up some automated irrigation, and let it run regardless of what the weather is doing. However, when you adjust these systems to operate in harmony with natural rainfall, it can save massive amounts of water over time. There are countless weather apps out there which provide precipitation forecasts down to the minute. With meteorology being developed all the time, they’re only going to become more useful in saving water.
Smart soil management is another key step to conserving water. The soil on your land absorbs, holds and transmits the water to your crops. You may not be aware of them, but there are many things you can do to manipulate the soil available to you. This can be exceptionally helpful when the quality of the soil is compromised. Some of the popular methods you can use include composting, conservation tillage, and taking advantage of cover for crops. Manipulating your soil in the right way can take some trial and error. The best techniques or combination of techniques all depend on the type of soil and geographical area you’re in. However, once you’ve figured it out, the difference in water conservation is huge. You’ll be able to use a fraction of the water for irrigation that you’re currently using, and still enjoy the same yields.
There you have just a few of the ways you can improve water conservation within your agricultural business. Overhauling your irrigation is a hassle, but well worth it in the long run!