Netafim Brings Drip Irrigation Technology to Rice

Netafim Brings Drip Irrigation Technology to Rice

Tim Hammerich
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
With California Ag Today, I’m Tim Hammerich.

Water conservation is on everyone’s mind in California agriculture, especially this year. One staple crop that may have potential for future water savings is rice. Netafim, who invented drip irrigation, is now applying that technology to rice, which is typically grown through flooding. Here’s chief sustainability officer John Farner.

Farner… “The more tools farmers have to grow yield with as less water as possible, we have to take that into consideration. And when it comes to rice, there's still a lot of rice grown in California under flood irrigation. We can provide different alternatives that work for the farmer, given their water source, their needs, their topography, their soil type, we feel this is one of those sustainable solutions we have to bring to the table to look at these new and innovative ways to do business.”

Netafim’s drip irrigation system for rice has reduced water consumption in some areas by up to 70% and reduced methane emission to nearly zero.

Farner… “What we're finding is that Netafim's technologies through drip irrigation or control systems really applying water where it needs to be, we are not only saving water tremendously. We are increasing our yield and also significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Learn more at Netafim.com.

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