Past Accomplishments
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Ralph Parshall’s venturi flume is in use world wide. |
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Variable Chemical Application
Cooperation with industry partners has resulted in a pivot attached spray system capable of variable chemical application. |
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Irrigation Management
Center pivot irrigation scheduling programs use weather data to recommend time and amount of irrigation. |
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Weed Models
Use of bioeconomic weed models reduced herbicide use by 6% and increased profit by $11.60 per acre. |
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Remote Sensing
Crop growth stage and need for nitrogen can be detected in near real time. |
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Water Quality
Water management studies addressed problems from animal waste control to agriculture salinity. |
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Surface Irrigation Automation
Automatic controls reduced the labor required to change irrigation sets. |
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Pivot Hydraulics
Equations for expressing the uniformity of center pivots are incorporated into international standards. |
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Crop Water Use
Early evaporation tank studies evolved into evapotranspiration equations and a state wide weather station network. |
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The Present and the Future
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Yield Mapping
Commercial yield monitors allow precise mapping of crop production. |
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Weed Mapping
Site specific weed management can reduce herbicide use by 30% to 60% or one million pounds per year in Colorado. |
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Remote Sensing
One study showed N fertilizer could be reduced by 35 lbs/acre without reducing yield precision application. |
- Precision Farming -
The right amount…
In the right place…
At the right time!! |
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Electrical Conductivity
New technologies such as EM38 allow rapid assessment of variable soil properties. |
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Variable Chemical Application
New equipment allows applying fertilizer and pesticides only when and where needed. |
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Improved Sprinkler Design
With proper design, center pivots can apply water very uniformly. |
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Models
Both research and customer models such as the sprinkler design, weed bioeconomics, and irrigation scheduling continue to be important products. |
