CENTER PIVOT AND DRIP SYSTEMS COMPARISON

INCREASING ROI THROUGH EFFICIENT CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION SOLUTIONS

HIGHER YIELDS...LOWER COSTS... PRECISION APPLICATION Why center pivot irrigation is a better investment

Center pivot irrigation systems A great number of irrigation easily to the greatest number of are the leading method of crop conversions are being made to conditions, such as soil type irrigation in many agricultural offset farm labor shortages but, and topography.1 zones across the world. as an added benefit, center pivots Field-proven center pivot are also highly efficient with up Mechanical move irrigation has systems are steadily replacing, to 95% efficiency in terms of been at the leading edge of farming traditional flood irrigation and application uniformity. technology. This makes it a better other types of sprinklers, and management tool for increasing also subsurface drip irrigation California State University’s Center efficiency, so growers can (SDI) in some instances. for Irrigation Technology maintains stay competitive. that center pivots adapt most 1 http://www1.eere.energy.gov/inventions/pdfs/nwpreag.pdf

THE COST-SAVING, EFFICIENT AND LONG-LASTING SOLUTION

• Fully automated • Efficient • Reliable

o State-of-the-art controls o 90-95% efficiency in varied o 20+ year operation with for precise irrigation climates and all soils regular maintenance management and o Even water distribution o High-quality components scheduling o Reduced deep percolation o Accurate water, and runoff of chemicals • Eco-friendly chemical and fertilizer usage reports o Uniformity little o 95% recyclable affected by wind when components o Remote control and using drops – 89-91% o Simple removal from fields monitoring capability via efficiency with 18.6 mph internet and cell phone (30 km/hr) winds 2 o Resale capability • Versatile o Irrigates slopes up to 30% o Salt buildups are easier to o Multiple crops under prevent and leach if they one circle do occur 2 Hart, W.E., and Heerman, D.F., “Evaluating o Crop rotation – no need to o Low per acre/hectare water distribution of sprinkler irrigation systems,” change emitter spacing for State Univ. Exp. Sta, Tech. Bul. 128, investment cost Ft. Collins, CO, 80523, 1976 different crops

THE FIRST LINDSAY PIVOT IN OPERATION SINCE 1969 Why pivots/laterals?

CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS INCREASE MOST CROP YIELDS BY AT LEAST 20%

Zimmatic on sugar cane

Applying the correct amount of efficiency is similar with use of to be fixed. The potential of salt water at the right time is crucial to drops and Low Energy Precision buildup at the perimeter of wetted achieving a good yield, but it’s also Application (LEPA) nozzles (95% area is another SDI concern. important to apply it uniformly v. 97%).4 Pivot systems also retain When the crops use water or it’s and at precisely the right amount. a high resale value, whereas SDI lost due to evaporation, that can systems cannot be resold. leave salt around the roots which Higher return on investment can interfere with the ability to The long life of a pivot or lateral Fewer maintenance hassles absorb water. system will save you money year and labor costs More benefits for the grower after year. You’ll use less water, Compared to an SDI system, reducing your energy costs. A maintenance is extremely simple and the environment Zimmatic® by Lindsay pivot for pivot and lateral systems. There A pivot/lateral system can or lateral system also applies is no emitter clogging by small be monitored and controlled chemicals and fertilizers evenly, contaminants or lime/calcium remotely. A grower can quickly accurately and inexpensively. deposits, and no filter maintenance apply water after seeding and as All this adds up to consistently – it requires only a screened intake. often as needed after that. It’s higher yields. Rodents, roots and cultivation also easier on the field. If the equipment won’t damage a equipment needs to be repaired, Pivots/laterals vs. drip center pivot system. Even algae removed or replaced, it won’t and chemicals aren’t issues. SDI damage the field. Not to mention Greater return on investment systems need to be monitored the fact that pivot systems are A pivot or lateral system costs less regularly because problems may nearly 95% recyclable. per acre (hectare) to install. For be hard to pinpoint, arise quickly, References example, a drip system costs over and prove difficult to fix. It’s not 3 Freddie Lamm, Daniel O’Brien, Danny Rodgers, 200% more than a pivot system to necessary to apply irrigation water Troy Dumler, Sensitivity of Center Pivot Sprinkler install on 125 acres (50 hectares).3 to the field each year before the and SDI Economic Comparisons American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) Meeting Paper On larger fields, the cost difference crop is planted and drive the entire #MC02-201, 4/2002. is even greater. The irrigation field looking for leaks that need 4 “Economics of Irrigation Systems” – B-6113, Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University, 12/2001.

Pivot/lateral irrigation – uniform application Drip irrigation – uneven and interrupted throughout the field and on any terrain application due to clogging and rodent damage Pivot vs. drip comparison

PIVOT/LATERAL MOVE DRIP

Best for fields larger than 65 acres (26 ha) Best for vineyards, orchards, small vegetable fields o Special models for smaller fields High investment cost per acre/hectare, especially for Low investment cost per acre/hectare sandy soils and closely spaced crops

No filtration required Requires filtration of 120 to 200 mesh

Efficient water use (90-95%) Efficient water use (90-95%)

Little or no runoff Little or no runoff

20+ year life 1 to 10 year life span

High maintenance costs including labor for inspection Low maintenance costs o Filter maintenance needed to prevent clogging Easy to maintain o Possible root intrusion clogs emitters More complex to maintain, including weekly chlorination

Components not damaged by rodents Rodent damage to drip tubing/tape

Daily flushing, dirty water requires frequent flushing No flushing -1% wasted water

Salt buildup at irrigated/non-irrigated zone boundary o Difficult to correct No salt buildup at irrigation zone o Reduced soil structure/porosity o Soil amendments required o Large volumes of high quality water required

Complete automation o FieldNET allows full remote control monitoring via Local standalone controllers only Internet with text message alerts

IRRIGATION SYSTEM SELECTION

Pivot/lateral move Drip

Field crops • Vegetables Some field crops (high cost for closely Crops • Sugar cane • Trees • Other tall spaced crops) • Vegetables crops up to 16.4 ft. (5 m) • Sugar cane • Trees

Most effective on medium and small Large, medium and small Field size or oddly-shaped PC drippers limited to 5.8 - 43 psi 0-30% Slope (0.4-3 bar) – relatively flat across field

Labor Low Medium

Management required Low to medium skill Medium to high skill Drip irrigation creates salt buildup at irrigated/ Efficiency 90-95% 90-95% non-irrigated zone boundary. Other limitations Light & sandy soils • High labor requirements to find and fix leaks • Costlier on large fields • Clogged emitters are only detected by Photo courtesy of Dr. Michael McCarthy, South localized crop water stress Australian Research & Development Institute Increasing ROI through pivot irrigation

A study comparing pivot irrigation IRRIGATION SYSTEM COSTS with SDI indicated that for (125 ACRE/50 HA SYSTEM) 160 acre (65 ha) fields, SDI had a distinct disadvantage in net returns of $21.85 per acre ($54/ha). Costs (USD) Pivot Low Drops Subsurface Drip • SDI net returns were approximately equal to center System Cost $59,500 $153,500 pivot systems for 64 acre (26 ha) fields, and greater for 32 acre Repairs as Percentage of 4% 6% (13 ha) fields. System Cost • Results were dependent on Repair Costs $2,380 $9,210 SDI life – unprofitable for a lifespan of less than 10 years. Labor Requirement (Hours) 125 500 • Corn yield, price changes and drip line costs affected SDI profitability. Labor Costs at $10/hr $1,250 $5,000 Source: An Economic Comparison of Subsurface Drip and Center Pivot Irrigation Systems, D.M. Total $63,130 $167,710 O’Brien, D.H. Rogers, F.R. Lamm, G.A. Clark, Agricultural Experiment Station, Paper No. 98-123-J. ASAE Paper No. 97-2072. Source: Irrigation Capital Requirements and Energy Costs, Kansas State University. Irrigation Factsheet, British Columbia Ministry of and Goods. Irrigation Costs, The economics of pivot Division of Agricultural Sciences, University of California. irrigation vs. drip irrigation relative to field size • Lower investment cost per acre than SDI for a savings of 20-200% – 65% lower for 125 acres (50 ha)* • Longer system life – 20+ years for pivot irrigation compared to 10 years for SDI • Mortgageable and recoverable SDI systems apply water each year Pivot/laterals require much less asset with realizable resale value around planting time and then the pipe than SDI. A 160 acre (65 ha) farmer must drive the entire field SDI field with 5 ft (1.5 m) drip line • Easier to finance looking for leaks. The above field had spacing requires 528 drip lines, 261 • Removable just been flagged and now the farmer miles (420 km) of drip line, and • 95% recyclable materials will need to let the field dry and fix the 689,000 emitters with 24 inch (61 cm) leaks. Several other flags were visible spaced emitters. * Source: Freddie Lamm, Daniel O’Brien, Danny in this field. Leaks that develop after Rodgers, Troy Dumler, Sensitivity of Center Pivot the crop has canopied over are very Sprinkler and SDI Economic Comparisons American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) Meeting difficult to find until after harvest and Paper No. MC02-201, 4/2002. the field is tilled. Photo source-NRCS Technical Handbook

MORE VALUE OUT OF LESS WATER WITH LEPA SPRINKLERS Why Lindsay?

Tough, dependable Lindsay Application: precision irrigation systems have been the choice of the world’s irrigators Zimmatic by Lindsay dealers for more than 55 years. Lindsay analyze each grower’s operation irrigation systems pay for to customize a sprinkler package themselves many times over during based on crop and climate their lifespan, and alleviate risk conditions. when weather conditions are Downtime: minimized not ideal for planting and Lindsay irrigation systems are Factory tested, each pump station growing conditions. designed and engineered for life is engineered based on your needs Yields: maximized on the farm. They’re constructed and field conditions to ensure peak using only the highest quality performance. A Lindsay irrigation system can components for superior provide proper application to • All components are integrated performance season after season. every part of a field throughout the and housed in one complete unit growing season, even in those areas Support: certified that are currently underutilized. • Precision energy efficiency – Our network of certified dealers Variable Frequency Drive provides Energy, water, labor is trained to customize, install immediate energy savings and time: saved and service our entire range of irrigation systems. • Simple monitoring and control When compared to other irrigation methods, a Lindsay system will Watertronics – Customized • Continuous surge-free pressure help maximize crop yields while pump stations for maximum regulation for enhanced efficiencies using less energy, water, labor and efficiency time. Flexible, intuitive Lindsay • Horizontal and vertical pump ® irrigation control products make Watertronics, a Lindsay company, stations available scheduling and operation simple, offers a complete, integrated pump station that helps maintain Also available as an economical pump while Web-based remote control control upgrade for existing pumps. options offer comprehensive consistent water delivery from river monitoring and management. stations, irrigation reservoirs, canals and lagoons.

Machines to fit your field Durability Control panels Zimmatic offers irrigation options Heavy-duty spans, trusses and Depending on your needs, like center pivots, lateral moves or advanced drivelines (Center Drive each user-friendly Zimmatic 9500CC Custom Corner systems and AT Gearbox) assure long life, control panel offers a different that can handle anything from durable operation and deliver even level of control, convenience irregular fields to rugged terrain to water distribution. There are varying and maintenance options. multiple crops. tower heights to provide the proper irrigation for different types of crops – proven to withstand the elements in nearly any environment. The right pivot option for any field or terrain Height options for every field Lindsay has the pivot options to increase water efficiency and maximize yield. Lindsay offers durable parts, quality components and a range of tower heights for crop clearance and stable operation on varying terrain.

Ultra high clearance towers for citrus, bananas and other tree crops. High clearance for sugar cane. a. b. c.

DURABLE HEIGHT OPTIONS PROVIDE a. Standard Height NEEDED CROP CLEARANCE AND b. High Clearance STABLE OPERATION IN VARYING TERRAINS AND FIELD CONDITIONS c. Ultra High Clearance

Zimmatic on tomatoes

Customized sprinkler SmartDesign FieldNET® Growsmart® packages This program allows the dealer Remotely monitor and control Adding Growsmart by Lindsay Rotating-spray, fixed-spray to design and review with you entire irrigation systems – from sensors to your irrigation and LEPA sprinklers provide a an irrigation system that fits pivots and laterals to pumps system can result in input variety of coverage and pressure your specific field to optimize and sensors – from a laptop, savings and better overall solutions to fit your specific field/ acreage utilized for increased . All of tablet or smartphone. Next- crop conditions and needs. ROI. Determine field boundaries, them are designed for simple generation technology provides obstacles, system length, and installation and use. integrated water, fertilizer and total irrigated acres/hectares chemigation management. to increase application accuracy and efficiency. Zimmatic on potatoes

The Lindsay Advantage Zimmatic® by Lindsay offers proven systems and products that are built to be strong, long-lasting, durable and easy to use for growers who need highly efficient irrigation solutions. These systems can be enhanced with a family of integrated plug-and-play add-ons. Growers around the world rely on Zimmatic’s innovative technology support by a network of knowledgeable dealers to add value, reduce risk and take full advantage of every growing season.

For more information, visit www.lindsay.com To learn more about pivot irrigation systems, or talk to your local Zimmatic by Lindsay dealer. scan this QR Code.

THE LINDSAY ADVANTAGE DURABLE • RUGGED • EASY TO USE • INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES • BROADEST LINE OF SOLUTIONS

2222 N. 111th St., Omaha, NE 68164 • 1-800-829-5300 • 1-402-829-6800 • www.lindsay.com

Lean, Clean and Green. Lindsay Corporation is committed to developing © 2013 Lindsay. All rights reserved. Zimmatic, FieldNET, Growsmart, environmental awareness and implementing sustainable practices to reduce Greenfield and Watertronics are trademarks or registered trademarks of the use of and protect energy, water, and all other resources. the Lindsay Corporation. All brand names are trademarks or registered LI PIVOT/DRIP BRO trademarks of their respective companies. 2500 0813