07/18/08 Time-temperature technology on center pivot

There's working going on in drought-stricken Texas that could benefit Idaho and other Western farmers with improved water management, decreased fertilizer runoff and cost savings. Steve Evett of the Agricultural Research Service explains the time-temperature-threshold technology. EVETT "They actually have these infrared thermometers mounted on the center pivot lateral and the infrared thermometers sit on the lateral and they look at the crop. They look at the leaves and they sense the temperature in the leaves." And that in turn regulates the amount of water applied to grain crops. EVETT "Eliminate any over irrigation, eliminate runoff and eliminate actually fertilizers that are lost if we over irrigate and lose water that percolates towards the water table." Evett says center pivots with this technology could soon show up on farms in arid and semi-arid regions. EVETT "We are talking with a pivot manufacturer about doing a cooperative research and development agreement. I won't name which manufacturer because that's still in the works but we have the system developed to the point where there is commercial interest in getting it on the actual center pivot that gets sold to the farmers." He says the time-temperature technology will become important in the future as producers try to get the maximum yield per unit of water used. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott