Volume 9 Issue 8
New Zealand Tours
September 2018
Nebraska
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CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2018 Volume 9, Issue 8
Irrigation Leader is published 10 times a year with combined issues for July/August and November/December by
STAFF: Kris Polly, Editor-in-Chief Joshua Dill, Managing Editor Tyler Young, Writer Parker Kenyon, Writer Julia Terbrock, Graphic Designer SUBMISSIONS: Irrigation Leader welcomes manuscript, photography, and art submissions. However, the right to edit or deny publishing submissions is reserved. Submissions are returned only upon request. For more information, please contact our office at (202) 698-0690 or Irrigation.Leader@waterstrategies.com.
John Maddux speaks to the New Zealanders at his historic 2S Ranch, located on the old Texas Cattle Trail near Imperial, Nebraska.
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Nebraska Tour Generates New Ideas Among Kiwi Farmers and Irrigation Experts
5 New Zealand Tours Nebraska By Kris Polly 6 Nebraska Tour Generates New Ideas Among Kiwi Farmers and Irrigation Experts By Andrew Curtis 10 From Yuma to Lincoln: A Map of the Tour
DISTRICT PROFILE
16 Changing the Status Quo: A Conversation With MHV Water Chief Executive Mel Brooks
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THE INNOVATORS
28 The Preemergence Perspective: How Andrew Skibo Is Changing the Mindset on Weed Control
BUSINESS PROFILE
34 AgWest: Supporting U.S. Farmers Through Commodity Analysis
CIRCULATION: Irrigation Leader is distributed to irrigation district managers and boards of directors in the 17 western states, Bureau of Reclamation officials, members of Congress and committee staff, and advertising sponsors. For address corrections or additions, please contact our office at Irrigation.Leader@waterstrategies.com. Copyright Š 2018 Water Strategies LLC. Irrigation Leader relies on the excellent contributions of a variety of natural resources professionals who provide content for the magazine. However, the views and opinions expressed by these contributors are solely those of the original contributor and do not necessarily represent or reflect the policies or positions of Irrigation Leader magazine, its editors, or Water Strategies LLC. The acceptance and use of advertisements in Irrigation Leader do not constitute a representation or warranty by Water Strategies LLC or Irrigation Leader magazine regarding the products, services, claims, or companies advertised. /IrrigationLeader
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COVER PHOTO: The New Zealand tour group visits an N-CORPE property in Lincoln County, Nebraska. Photo courtesy of Kris Polly.
IRRIGATION LEADER
PHOTO COURTESY OF KRIS POLLY.
11 Reflections on the Tour Experience
24 Streamlining Sargent Irrigation District's Canals and Pipelines: Matt Lukasiewicz of Sargent Irrigation District
ADVERTISING: Irrigation Leader accepts one-quarter, half-page, and full-page ads. For more information on rates and placement, please contact Kris Polly at (703) 517-3962 or Irrigation.Leader@waterstrategies.com.
New Zealand Tours Nebraska By Kris Polly
T
his issue of Irrigation Leader magazine follows a group of New Zealanders as they tour Nebraska to learn more about American irrigation methods, groundwater management, and regulatory enforcement. The tour group was composed of 25 irrigating farmers, consultants, and irrigation managers, all highly successful in their respective fields. Organized by Andrew Curtis of IrrigationNZ, the tour began with the group’s arrival in Denver on Saturday, September 8, and concluded with the attendance of a Nebraska Husker game in Lincoln, Nebraska, on the following Saturday. In between, the New Zealanders learned about chemigation in Yuma, Colorado; had dinner at the historic 2S Ranch owned by John and Julia Maddux outside of Imperial, Nebraska; visited the local natural resources districts and the Valley Irrigation factory in McCook; and attended Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island.
Readers may recognize Andrew Curtis as our former host and tour guide during our Irrigation Education Tour to New Zealand in 2017. All who encountered the New Zealanders found them to be exceptionally polite and direct in their views and questions. They are wonderful people who get down to business quickly. We hope you enjoy reading about the New Zealanders’ experiences and views about what they learned and observed. IL
Kris Polly is editor-in-chief of Irrigation Leader magazine and president of Water Strategies LLC, a government relations firm he began in February 2009 for the purpose of representing and guiding water, power, and agricultural entities in their dealings with Congress, the Bureau of Reclamation, and other federal government agencies. He may be contacted at Kris. Polly@waterstrategies.com.
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Nebraska Tour Generates New Ideas Among Kiwi Farmers and Irrigation Experts By Andrew Curtis
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farming families had to leave the land. After the Depression, they started to adopt better land management practices to keep their topsoil. They also invested in irrigation systems, and the state is now very productive,” says Paul Jarman, a farmer from Darfield, New Zealand, who joined the tour. By 1932, 750,000 acres of farmland had been abandoned in Nebraska due to soil erosion and dust storms. One of the worst dust storms occurred on April 14, 1935—Black Sunday— when strong winds blew an estimated 300 million tons of topsoil from the prairie states as far as the East Coast and Washington, DC, turning the sky black in its path. More recently, Nebraska has experienced some of the problems New Zealand is currently focused on. Nitrates in groundwater are a significant concern. However, the state has managed to turn around the trend of increasing nitrate levels in many areas.
ABOVE: The tour group visits a property in Lincoln County that was purchased by a consortium of natural resources districts, replanted with native grasses, and had its water use retired to boost local river flows.
"While New Zealand generally requires that individual farmers cut back activities, Nebraska takes a more holistic approach." —KERI JOHNSTON IRRIGATION LEADER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDREW CURTIS.
party of 25 New Zealand irrigators, farm and environmental consultants, and irrigation scheme and service industry representatives has returned from a trip to Nebraska with some fresh ideas about how to improve environmental management in New Zealand. The 5-day trip was organized by IrrigationNZ, a member-funded industry group that supports excellence in irrigation. The group, which included 15 farmers, visited the Husker Harvest Days, the world’s largest irrigated farm show; the University of Nebraska’s Water for Food Global Institute; research farms and research trials; irrigation districts; natural resources districts, which manage water resources; and irrigation manufacturers. “It was really interesting to hear the history of Nebraska from different experts. Nebraska was one of the states which was devastated by the Dust Bowl storms in the Depression, and
The changes have largely been achieved by taking a nonregulatory approach. Water quality and quantity management plans are developed to identify any problems. An implementation plan to address the issues is also developed. Groundwater is managed by local natural resources districts, which have elected boards made up mainly of rural representatives. The farmer representatives are proactive in encouraging other farmers to adopt more sustainable practices. The districts have focused on data collation, investment in good science, farmer-to-farmer education, and best-practice standards coupled with incentives. They are investing in a range of farm- and catchment-based solutions, such as river augmentation and managed aquifer recharge projects. The widespread move from surface-flood to center-pivot irrigation has also been key for reducing nitrate losses to groundwater. Timaru-based Irricon Resource Solutions Director Keri Johnston, who is also a farmer and a board member of IrrigationNZ, was a member of the tour group. “Nebraska is a state where everyone acknowledges that agriculture underpins their economy. While New Zealand generally requires that individual farmers cut back activities, Nebraska takes a more holistic approach. One example of this was that a stream flow needed boosting to protect an endangered species. The solution was to purchase a large groundwater-irrigated farm, retire all irrigation, and use the farm’s groundwater to augment the stream. This achieved the environmental outcome everyone wanted while protecting the economy,” she says. “It was very interesting to note that in Nebraska, the economic drivers were seen to be better incentives for environmental change than regulatory approaches,” says Jon Williamson, managing director of Auckland-based Williamson Water Advisory. “There was a lot of focus in Nebraska on communicating to the farmers that on-farm efficiency gains through reduced water consumption, reduced nutrient use, and increased yield could go hand-inhand with improved environmental outcomes.” “I was extremely impressed at the use of fertigation equipment and the Americans’ ability to analyze and better increase their yields. When nutrients are applied when and where they are needed, losses are low but production is maintained. It seemed clear this needs to be adopted as soon as possible in New Zealand. The use of a pivot as an applicator of nutrients or chemicals would hugely reduce costs,” says Irrigation Designer Jon O’Sullivan of Grafton Irrigation in Timaru. Fertigation can deliver small amounts of liquid nutrients to a crop through center-pivot and linear-move irrigation systems. It is commonly used in Colorado and Nebraska. Trials by the Irrigation Research Centre in Yuma, Colorado, and the University of Nebraska have shown that fertigation reduces the amount of nitrogen that is applied while providing more consistent yields. IrrigationNZ is currently IRRIGATION LEADER
developing a guide to using fertigation in New Zealand. Ashburton farmer Charles Ross was also interested in using fertigation on his farm, along with some of the new irrigation technology the group saw. “I will be looking at fertigation as a way to lower our nutrient loading, and I also want to control all the pivots on our property from a cell phone as soon as possible.” “I have no doubt this trip has encouraged collaboration within our sector, and I know there are opportunities that will deliver improved environmental and economic results in both the short and longer term,” says Mel Brooks, chief executive of MHV Water, one of New Zealand’s largest schemes. The group had mixed views on how Nebraska compared to New Zealand in terms of its approach to environmental management. “New Zealand is very heavily regulated from an environmental point of view, and this can often lead to lost opportunities as we focus too much on regulation. In contrast, Nebraska has very little environmental regulation, with a real acceptance of how vital agriculture is to their economy—potentially sometimes to the expense of the environment. Enforcement is a last resort—they prefer to influence to achieve behavioral change. And from our perspective, this appears to largely work. However, some of their management does appear to be a little disjointed— managing surface water independently from groundwater, for example. In my view, the answer is somewhere between the Nebraskan and New Zealand approaches—more of a balanced approach between the environment and economic and social factors,” says Haidee McCabe, director of Irricon Resource Solutions. “To deliver sustainable solutions, we need to continually challenge the status quo. We don’t have the monopoly on good ideas, so having the opportunity to see how Nebraska is responding to challenges and how they are balancing environmental, social, and economic outcomes was thought provoking. Spending time with industry experts and researchers was hugely beneficial and reinforced the impression that in New Zealand, we are progressing well in our journey to improved water quality outcomes,” says Mel Brooks. Amid the busy schedule, the group also had time to cheer for the Cornhuskers football team at a college match along with 90,000 other fans and visit the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. IL Andrew Curtis has been the chief executive of IrrigationNZ since 2009. He can be reached at acurtis@irrigationnz.co.nz. To learn more about IrrigationNZ, visit irrigationnz.co.nz.
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From Yuma to Lincoln: A Map of the Tour From September 8 to 15, 25 New Zealanders toured irrigation districts, natural resources districts, university research centers, and other sites in Colorado and Nebraska to learn more about irrigation and water management in the United States. 1. Yuma, Colorado: After flying into Denver, Colorado, the tour participants traveled 21/2 hours to Yuma, Colorado, to visit Agri-Inject and the Irrigation Research Foundation.
5. North Platte, Nebraska: The next stop was North Platte, where the tour group toured the University of Nebraska– Lincoln’s West Central Research and Extension Center and learned about its TAPS program for irrigation and nitrogen management. They also visited N-CORPE, the Nebraska Cooperative Republican Platte Enhancement Project, a joint project of four local natural resources districts aiming to increase stream flows in the Platte and Republican Rivers.
2. Imperial, Nebraska: The group’s first stop in Nebraska was the Upper Republican Natural Resources District (URNRD) in the city of Imperial. Participants learned about water management in Nebraska and URNRD initiatives involving groundwater management.
6. Grand Island, Nebraska: In Grand Island, the group participated in Husker Harvest Days, an irrigated working farm show that featured new irrigation technology and equipment and exhibits focused on improving Nebraska and Corn Belt agriculture.
3. McCook, Nebraska: A half hour east of Imperial, the group visited Valley Irrigation’s factory in McCook, which manufactures pivots and pivot components.
7. Lincoln, Nebraska: The final city on the tour was Lincoln, where participants visited the University of Nebraska's Water for Food Global Institute.
4. Cambridge, Nebraska: Next, the tour group visited the Frenchman Cambridge Irrigation District, on the west edge of Cambridge, where they learned more about irrigation district modernization with district General Manager Brad Edgerton.
8. Memorial Stadium: The New Zealanders ended their tour with a Nebraska Huskers football game at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Memorial Stadium. IL
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IRRIGATION LEADER
Reflections on the Tour Experience The New Zealand Perspective Keri Johnston, director, irricon resource solutions + irrigationnz board of directors
Nebraska is a state where every person accepts and acknowledges that agriculture underpins their economy. There is also a clear acknowledgment that farming equals food. Because of that, the Nebraskan approach to managing environmental issues is different. I was also really impressed to see the effort put into research and education, with a focus on how to feed a growing population whilst ensuring that the environment is looked after. Education is also something that they are passionate about, and this extends to youth education as well. Grant Ludemann, egl pastoral We were struck by the way agriculture was appreciated and valued in Colorado and Nebraska. We had heard so much about the Midwest, and it was great to see the role of the Corn Belt in producing food for the world and to gain a better appreciation of the importance of agriculture in the U.S. economy. We had heard a lot about the Dust Bowl of the past and were very impressed by how irrigation and noor low-tillage methods had transformed the countryside into productive land. Ele Ludemann, egl pastoral While there are a lot of differences between there and here, we still came home with lots of ideas and also a very real appreciation of the warmth of the people we met. One comment made on the first day—that we shouldn’t call center pivots irrigators, but applicators that can apply water, fertilizer, and other chemicals, wherever, whenever and in whichever quantities needed—has both financial and environmental benefits. I was very impressed with the way the natural resources districts had spent more than $80 million to buy land and then had retired the water right and sowed native grasses. I was also impressed by the power of philanthropy and the work done by the Water for Food Institute. The prevalence and acceptance of GMO was also notable. Science and history are losing the debate with emotion and politics here in New Zealand, and it is illegal to use genetic modification. Jon Williamson, managing director, williamson water advisory Nebraska has a different stance on sustainability than New Zealand. Protection of social and economic interests seemed to be the first priority, but at the same time, the natural resources managers were looking for and working towards solutions for improving environmental outcomes. For example, in the Upper Republican Natural Resources District, the aim was to increase application efficiency IRRIGATION LEADER
so as to reduce the rate of groundwater drawdown; a beneficial byproduct of this is decreasing nutrient losses. In New Zealand, sustainability means limiting abstraction to a safe level while meeting agreed values for the water resource (e.g., instream flow and nutrient concentration limits for aquatic ecosystem health, maintenance of minimum groundwater pressures at the coast to prevent saline intrusion, neighboring bore interference effects, etc.). Managing water and nutrient allocation within the Ogallala aquifer, which covers portions of eight states, is extremely challenging given, first, the sheer size of the aquifer, making groundwater modeling of the aquifer at a scale appropriate for local decisionmaking nearly impossible with current modeling technology, and second, the fact that water management is controlled the district level with some state and federal oversight. In contrast to New Zealand’s riparian gravel aquifers where the throughflow rate is high, the Ogallala aquifer has very low throughflow rates (a few meters per day) due to the very flat hydraulic gradients (0.0013 m/m), even though the aquifer permeabilities and bore yields for large irrigation wells are similarly large. The implication of this is that the flushing of nutrients is much slower, and consequently, in some places like the Central Platte District, nitrate-N levels were around 45 mg/L. Finally, New Zealand has much better coffee than Nebraska. Ben Donaldson, manager, Irrigation Services Southern Spending time with others from our industry and seeing a different part of the world was just as beneficial as the information I gained around water, farming, and irrigation. For me, the greatest learning was around nitrate levels in water, the education of children with regard to agriculture, and how the use of fertigation ties all of this together. It impressed me to see the resources put into education. The flow-on effect of this is that younger generations understand the need for agriculture and understand where their food comes from, even if they live in cities. Although cities create their own problems with the pollution of waterways, these generally aren’t highlighted in our media, and as our farmers are an easy target, they seem to be the ones who are always in the spotlight. I see the use of fertigation in applying fertilizers to plants little and often as something farmers can instigate for a relatively low cost and very quickly. This will become a tool to assist with the reduction of nitrate levels within their properties and regions. Nitrates in our ground and surface water are becoming a hot topic in our country; our dairy farmers in particular are under the microscope.
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Paul Jarman, owner, Essendon Farms, Darfield, New Zealand I knew very little about corn before I arrived in Nebraska, but came away with a new respect for how much the productivity of this plant has been enhanced in recent years; it now produces amazing yields despite limitations in both water and nutrient inputs. Even with our short growing season in South Island, New Zealand, I am looking to see how this crop might integrate into our dairyfarming business. The potential for introducing fertigation in New Zealand also looks promising, as we are under a lot of pressure here to make our use of nitrogen more efficient. I was pleased that we had people from one of our larger fertilizer cooperatives with us to explore the options for bringing this technology to New Zealand. The visit to Valley in McCook was of special interest to me, as we have eight of their center pivots on our farm. This visit and the Husker Harvest Days were something of a pilgrimage for us to catch up on all the latest innovations in irrigation and machinery. The issues we face in New Zealand as irrigators are similar to those in Nebraska. As you would expect in democratic nations, we have to balance and reconcile competing demands for water from many sectors. Our solutions also sound similar: “Better to work from the bottom up than the top down.” I was truly impressed with the work of Nebraska's natural resources districts. Like us, they understand that local people know the most about how to solve local problems. As a farmer with four generations on the land before me, it was great to meet fellow farmers at the barbecue hosted by John Maddux. We all feel the same sense of responsibility for the land we farm and the same hope to pass it on to future generations in better shape than we found it. There is no better way than sitting around a farmyard with a beer to find common ground on the farming challenges we face. We much appreciated the time spent with University of Nebraska people in both North Platte and Lincoln. With all these challenges we face, it is vital that we have good science on our side. The huge importance of water for food production cannot be overstated, and we wish the university well with its global conference next year.
The Nebraska Perspective Brad Edgerton, general manager, frenchman cambridge irrigation district
It’s always good to get people out on a structure and let them see what’s going on out there. We took them to the Cambridge diversion dam, where we’ve made some improvements over the years. We built a pump system to supplement Bartley Canal, and we automated the Cambridge Canal diversion gates along with 28 miles of canal using Rubicon Water’s FlumeGates and software technology. They had lots of good questions. We’re half a world
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apart, but we have lots of the same issues. They talked about instream flow and the demand for water. We’re able to divert every drop of water at our diversion dam; we’re not required to leave a certain amount in the stream. I think they were a little surprised by that. Actually, it would be pretty devastating if we were required to bypass a certain amount of the flow. There’s just not enough natural flow anymore. We have a hard enough time stretching the water supply now. Lyndon Vogt, general manager, central platte natural resources district
The New Zealand group was an interesting and diverse one. Based on their questions, I think they were very interested in how many of our programs work on a voluntary basis. The Central Platte Natural Resources District has tried hard not to be an enforcement agency unless we absolutely have to be. Some of our quality-control measures, for instance, like the crop reporting forms, are mandatory. We really have worked very hard on educational programs over the last 30 years. We have a University of Nebraska– Lincoln employee in our office who assists us with the quality programs and the on-farm demonstration projects— we’ve done hundreds of nitrogen management plots that show yields based on recommended nitrogen application, 50 pounds above recommended rates, and 50 pounds below, and we have shown that at 50 pounds less, the yield advantage is frequently pretty much nonexistent. They also had questions about the Platte River Program, which I told them about. The Central Platte Natural Resources District board was looking for options other than regulation for putting water back into the river. They seemed to be very interested in how we were putting water back in the river without regulating every water user. Through partnering with four of our surface-water irrigation districts and voluntary buy-outs of irrigated acres, we’ve been successful in getting water back to the river through a voluntary, rather than regulatory, process. I think about half the group wanted to talk about that regulatory aspect, and half the group wanted to talk about quality. I did ask a few questions about how they operated in their country, and they replied that they were here to learn from us, not so that we could learn from them. I got a kick out of that comment. I can appreciate that. Their questions were quite direct, too. That’s refreshing. And if they thought that you hadn’t answered a question directly, or if they didn’t understand something, they questioned it. I think they were surprised by the support for agriculture, and by the mindset most Nebraskans share, that ag drives our economy in this state and that we appreciate agriculture, but that we’re also concerned about our natural resources and the environment. There’s a fine line between natural resource protection and a robust agricultural economy. The majority of our producers understand that sustainable natural resources are what's best for the economy and best for them as well. IL IRRIGATION LEADER
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DISTRICT PROFILE
Changing the Status Quo:
A Conversation With MHV Water Chief Executive Mel Brooks
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chief executive of MHV Water, about the structure of the scheme, her insights on the irrigation industry, MHV ’s role in Canterbury irrigation, and the recent trip to Nebraska. Kris Polly: How long you have been with MHV Water, and what is your professional background? Mel Brooks: I have been with MHV for a little under 18 months. When I joined, the company was being formed out of a merger of two irrigation schemes, and I was tasked with bringing that merger to fruition, building a strong culture, and delivering sustainable solutions for our shareholders and the wider community. My background is predominantly in banking and finance; I have held analytical, relationshipmanagement, and leadership roles within the Bank of New Zealand. I was educated at the University of Otago, where I studied finance and quantitative analysis, and after graduation, I went to London for 5 years and worked in the finance sector and private banking. I returned to New Zealand to be closer to home and to get into business banking. I
Chief Executive of MHV Water, Mel Brooks.
TOP: Back row, left to right: Alan Gibson, Leo Vollebregt, Haidee McCabe, Rab McDowell, Keri Johnston, Steve Breneger, Ben Donaldson, Quinn Elston, Ian Ellis (obscured), Greg Mills, Chris Allen, Don Hunt, Jon O’Sullivan, Jon Wiliamson, Charles Ross, Gavin Reed, Grant Ludemann, Ele Ludemann, Alan Pye. Front row, left to right: Bernard Duncan, Paul Jarman, Mel Brooks, Andrew Curtis, Ohil Everest.
IRRIGATION LEADER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KRIS POLLY AND MEL BROOKS.
MHV Water is a large-scale irrigation district—a "scheme," in New Zealand parlance—in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, which delivers water and manages environmental compliance for approximately 140,000 acres of highly productive farmland. MHV operates in the Hinds Plains region of Mid Canterbury, a fertile area that is well suited to open-pasture dairy farming. MHV, a farmer-owned cooperative, was formed in June 2017, when Mayfield Hinds Irrigation and Valetta Irrigation merged to unlock efficiencies of scale for their shareholders and amplify their voices by speaking together. Mayfield Hinds Irrigation and Valetta Irrigation began as public works projects in the 1940s and have continually delivered water since 1947. Privatized in 1990, the combined schemes have successfully delivered water while investing heavily in infrastructure and technological improvements. MHV is always looking for new ideas and innovations to enhance its operations. Recently, MHV leadership and shareholders traveled to Nebraska for a tour of the state and its groundwater and surface water irrigation operations. Kris Polly, editor-in-chief of Irrigation Leader, recently spoke with Mel Brooks,
DISTRICT PROFILE thoroughly enjoyed that: Business banking is one of those areas in which you get to meet some phenomenal people who are passionate about what they do and how they do it. You get to see the best and worst of people and lift the lid on a variety of different industries and learn what drives them and how they all work together. My last role while I was at the Bank of New Zealand was as a corporate finance partner. In that role, I looked after all the irrigation scheme exposures, which gave me some understanding of the industry. So, although the transition and learning curve were considerable, there was some base knowledge to help me on my way. A number of my strengths were also transferable and have been hugely valuable, including the ability to build a strong culture, to collaborate internally and externally, and to communicate. Kris Polly: Please tell our readers about MHV Water. How large is your operation, how many farmers do you work with, and what types of crops are grown?
is a smaller component and includes wheat, kale, fodder, and beets; in our region, we also have a successful seed production industry, which includes radish, carrot, mustard, and hemp seeds, to name a few. Kris Polly: What is the predominant method of irrigation used? Mel Brooks: It is predominantly spray, with pivots. Less than 5 percent of our farmers use border dyke (or surface flood) irrigation. Any border dyke irrigation that remains is reasonably advanced now, compared with the early days when it would just get flooded out over the paddocks. Those borders have been shortened up and laser leveled so farmers can apply water in a more efficient manner. The majority of the efficiencies that have been made on farms have been driven by the farmers looking to boost profitability, and now we have the added environmental benefit of being able to apply little and often.
Mel Brooks: MHV Water irrigates approximately Kris Polly: What is the source of your water? 140,000 acres, and we have 206 farmer shareholders. We were formed in the 1940s Mel Brooks: We use all surface water. The "We have when the government looked to invest in large water comes from the alpine-fed Rangitata infrastructure projects to get people working River and the Ashburton River. The Rangitata innovative and out of the Great Depression. They saw River is one of the largest rivers in New shareholders that we had plenty of water—it just wasn’t Zealand, and our take of water is regulated who are leading always in the right places at the right times. by a water conservation order, which ensures With the geography of our region, water could the world in their that it is sustainable and maintains a suitable be diverted, under gravity, from one of the farming practices, level of flow for recreation, mahinga kai (the large braided alpine-fed rivers and across the protection of the natural resource), and the and I’m proud to plains to be distributed to the farmlands. That overall ecology of the river. During spring, the be part of that." Rangitata River is fed by snow melt, and over foresight stimulated growth in the region and transformed land that was historically referred the summer, the hydrology is dominated by —MEL BROOKS to as the Trans-Rakaia Desert into the highly our prevailing wind, the Nor-West. With our productive farmland it is today. geography, the Nor-West hits the mountains In 1990, the government decided that being a ministry and creates considerable rainstorms in the headwaters that works scheme, that is, government-owned, was not working, swell the river. Those same Nor-West winds are hot and dry and the scheme was sold to the farmers who used it. Since by the time they hit the plains, so they increase our demand then, we have gone from strength to strength, and we have for water at a time when they are also feeding the river. So, continued to invest in technological improvements, new although we will have some restrictions on our take over infrastructure, and storage. Not only do we deliver water to the course of the season, the Rangitata typically holds up our shareholders’ gates, we also manage and oversee their well when we need that water the most. We are mindful environmental compliance. We hold their environmental about ensuring that the Rangitata and Ashburton Rivers permit to farm the land, and we hold the land use and remain strong, and we work closely with our community to nutrient discharge consent. The environmental management achieve this. is a considerable workstream, as we help our shareholders achieve the triple bottom line of environmental, economic, Kris Polly: How many employees does your scheme have? and social sustainability. We have innovative shareholders who are leading the world in their farming practices, and Mel Brooks: Well, we only have nine employees, and these I’m proud to be part of that. are mostly in our operations team. We have a groundwater We predominantly grow pasture across our scheme hydrologist, which reflects the importance for us of for dairy farming with some smaller sheep, beef, and pig understanding the groundwater quality and quantities and operations. Cut-and-carry systems are not common in New our impact on those. We run a pretty skinny operation. We Zealand; the animals graze the pasture. Arable farming are a shareholder in a shared services team that undertakes IRRIGATION LEADER
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DISTRICT PROFILE environmental, administration, and finance functions for us and for three other irrigation schemes. That allows us to benefit from economies of scale across a number of schemes and get some great people on board. Kris Polly: How many other contractors do you use? Mel Brooks: That varies based on what we are doing. Recently, we have been doing a lot of work on our infrastructure, and we have engaged with around 10 different contractors and their companies at any given time. Really, it is built around what demand looks like for us; we want to be able to use people who are the best at what they do, but we don’t need them all year round. If we can get them when we need them, and it is cost effective, then we are going to do that. We also have a lot of environmental contractors who help prepare nutrient budgets for our farmers. The use of contractors can work incredibly well and provides us with flexibility. Kris Polly: What are the top issues facing MHV Water?
Kris Polly: Has there been a time when your background in banking and finance was helpful with your current duties at MHV Water? Mel Brooks: Absolutely. Understanding the underlying bank pricing models, base rates, and risk assessments has enabled me to challenge our pricing and ensure that our shareholders
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PHOTO COURTESY OF KRIS POLLY.
Mel Brooks: Our strategy, which is ultimately to deliver sustainable solutions to our shareholders and the community, has four pillars: environmental and economic sustainability; optimizing our infrastructure; enabling innovation; and our internal measure, which is “stay strong”—it applies to our people, culture, and values. At present, my key focuses are environmental sustainability and infrastructure optimization. In our scheme, we have over 320 kilometers (approximately 200 miles) of open race or channels and about 100 kilometers (approximately 62 miles) of piped infrastructure. Within that, we are looking to make sure that we are using that water, that precious resource, in the most effective way that we can while still meeting our environmental targets. In our region, we have community-established targets to achieve groundwater quality outcomes that were agreed to by all stakeholders—farming industry groups, government, the Iwi (Māori group), recreational groups, and regional councils. These are stretch targets, and they reflect our commitment to lead and pursue sustainable environmental farming practices. Accordingly, we have agreed to reduce our nutrient leaching by 36 percent by 2035. This will include a number of different on-farm and community actions, including managed aquifer recharge, targeted stream augmentation, and other science-led initiatives.
IRRIGATION LEADER
DISTRICT PROFILE are getting the best deal possible. There are also a number of other elements, for example, hedging profiles, systems, covenant compliance, swap rates, and loan tenors, where my background has proven very useful. So often we tend to pigeonhole people, but the reality is that the majority of skills in banking and finance—and other industries for that matter—are hugely transferable. Kris Polly: You recently toured irrigation districts in Nebraska. What was your motivation for participating in the tour, and what did you hope to learn? Mel Brooks: We are looking to challenge the status quo in our scheme. We can’t continue to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result. We need to demand better water quality outcomes; we need to ensure that we are meeting our social license to operate; and because we don’t have a monopoly on good ideas, we need to go out and see what other people are doing. Coming to Nebraska was an awesome opportunity for me to see a little bit more about what is going on and to meet people who are experts in their fields and to get their insights. So often we get immersed in what is happening in our own neck of the woods and get tunnel vision: We don’t see what is possible around us. It is really just about opening up the mind and seeing what is possible. Kris Polly: Did you see or learn anything in Nebraska that will be helpful to your scheme?
Cambridge Diversion Dam near Cambridge, Nebraska, looking down-canal.
IRRIGATION LEADER
Mel Brooks: Definitely. I really liked what is being done with the idea of using the irrigator as an applicator, not just for water but for fertilizer and chemicals. We don’t do so much of that here. With our dairy farms, we typically spread effluent through pivot specifically, but there is not a lot else that goes on. There is a really good opportunity there to be able to apply fertilizer more frequently and in smaller amounts, which would lead to fewer opportunities for the leaching of nutrients through the soil profile into the aquifer during
rainfall events. I really liked some of the education programs that are being done, especially in the universities, and also the way that younger children are being engaged in the 4H program in schools and being taught the science associated with agriculture. I also really appreciated that some of the natural resources districts collaborate to look at how they can use the resources they have, effectively retire highly intensive farmland, and look to subsidize or augment stream flows. I believe collaboration is one of the keys to long-term success, and it was great to see the natural resources districts’ role modeling this. Kris Polly: How would you describe the Nebraskans? Mel Brooks: I really enjoyed meeting the people. I am a people person, and I think that the way to really understand a region is by getting to know the people, what drives them, and what they get out of bed for each morning. There is a Māori saying: “What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, the people, the people.” I thoroughly enjoyed getting the opportunity to meet Nebraskans in their own environment. Everyone I met was genuine, open for discussions, and curious. Kris Polly: What is the most helpful thing that you have learned in your time with MHV, and what advice would you give other irrigation district managers? Mel Brooks: I think that coming into my role, the big challenge was that we were merging two irrigation schemes, and it was a time of real change. In fact, we are continuing on that change journey, especially around our environmental management. I think the main piece of advice I would give is that people need to listen more with their ears and not their mouths. Taking the opportunity to explore what is motivating people, what they are concerned about, and how you can work with them to achieve a common goal is hugely powerful. If you give people a platform to share their views and opinions, and you understand one another, it really opens up a trajectory for your journey together. IL Mel Brooks is the chief executive of MHV Water. She can be reached at mel@mhvwater.nz.
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Streamlining Sargent Irrigation District's Canals and Pipelines Matt Lukasiewicz of Sargent Irrigation District
Debris can get into an irrigation system in any number of ways—through intakes that are open to the rivers they draw from or through open canals—but it always causes a headache for irrigation districts and the farmers they serve. After being plagued with debris in its system for many years, Sargent Irrigation District in central Nebraska turned to the experts at International Water Screens to solve its problems. With nearly 30 years of experience, the International Water Screens team helped Sargent Irrigation District select and install self-cleaning, traveling water screens to meet its specific needs. In an interview with Kris Polly, editor-in-chief of Irrigation Leader magazine, Matt Lukasiewicz, general manager at Sargent Irrigation District, spoke about the solution and the benefits it has brought to him and his district’s water users.
Matt Lukasiewicz: I have been at the district for 71/2 years. I spent 2 1/2 years as assistant general manager for Tom Knutson. Since his retirement, I have been a general manager. Kris Polly: Please tell us a little about Sargent Irrigation District.
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Kris Polly: How do you use the products from International Water Screens? Matt Lukasiewicz: We started using the company's water screens about 4 years ago. We decided to start using them because of the trash entering our system via the direct flow from the river. We have some trash racks along the way that catch larger debris, but the smaller stuff still gets by. Toward the end of the bottom third of the canal system, the debris started to become more concentrated. With over half of our irrigation district being covered in center-point pivots, a lot of the pivot screen systems were getting clogged. We knew we needed to do something about it. One year, when we were at the Irrigation Leader Operations and Management Workshop, we visited with International Water Screens about the issue we had. While we knew we had more of an issue upstream with larger debris, we wanted to start on a small scale toward the bottom where we were having a lot of the issues. Fortunately, the company was able to help us. IRRIGATION LEADER
PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT LUKASIEWICZ.
Kris Polly: How long have you been the manager of Sargent Irrigation District?
Matt Lukasiewicz: We have a direct flow permit that allows us to divert up to 260 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water from the Middle Loup River, which we use to irrigate 14,287 acres of land. We have 40 miles of open canal irrigation and about 44 miles of buried laterals.
A screen made by International Water Screens helps Sargent Irrigation District keep debris and trash out of its system.
The screen we installed is set to handle a maximum of 70 cfs for the particular area of the canal where it is going to be placed. When we first start to run water through the system, we will operate the screen continuously until the trash from over the winter is gone. In the summer, when our water flows are around 10–20 cfs, we will have it run every 30 minutes. If we have flows of about 25–40 cfs, we will use the screen every 15 minutes, and every 10 minutes when we have a flow of 40–70 cfs. When we installed the screen, we had a local contractor construct all the concrete around the structure to International Water Screens’ specifications. The installation of the screen was easy—the screen was simply lowered in. It sits in on its weight and does not require bolts, which makes it easy to install and remove. So far, it has been a success. The farmers are very, very happy. They went from cleaning the trash screens in their pivots four to six times a day to cleaning them only once every couple of rotations. Removing large debris from our trash racks has become more of a safety issue for us. Even when it is dark, our ditch riders are out pulling logs and large items from our trash racks by hand. We are looking at installing a couple more screens upstream to improve this safety issue. Kris Polly: What kinds of items can these screens remove? Matt Lukasiewicz: To my knowledge, anything we can throw at them will be removed. We have seen an example of a deer that got into a canal, and the screen was strong and durable enough to catch it. IRRIGATION LEADER
Kris Polly: In addition to cleaning out the trash, does it also keep fish out of your canals? Matt Lukasiewicz: Yes. The screen mesh the company uses is a stainless steel mesh material, which can be customized to prevent certain fish species or items from passing through. Kris Polly: What kind of maintenance do you have to perform on it throughout the year? Matt Lukasiewicz: Up to this point, we have not had to do any maintenance. In the summer, as we mow the canals, the wind pushes some of the clippings, brush, and other trash into the canal. However, the screen quickly picks that out of the water. During the winter, our canals generally dry up. For the most part, we drain our pipelines, but some of our siphons may have some water in them over the winter. That being said, we do leave our screen system in place over the winter. The freezing and thawing has not had any effect on its performance. The last thing that wears out on them is a plastic element that the screen rides on. The amount you use the screen will determine how often that has to be replaced. That was one of the selling points of the screen system. Today, it still looks brand new. IL Matt Lukasiewicz is the general manager of Sargent Irrigation District. He can be reached at mluk@qwestoffice.net.
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THE INNOVATORS
The Preemergence Perspective How Andrew Skibo Is Changing the Mindset on Weed Control
Dr. Skibo and Kate Mohatt, an ecologist with the Chugach National Forest, conducting the first application of fluridone for an elodea eradication project in the Copper River Delta, Cordova, Alaska.
Parker Kenyon: Would you please tell us about your professional background? Andrew Skibo: I have been working in agriculture for the past 16 years. I have a background in herbicide mode of action, the environmental fate of pesticides, and
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invasive species control. I have been working in aquatics, predominantly the irrigation market segment, for almost a decade. My focus has been primarily on the western United States. I was previously based in Colorado, where I led the western research and development focus for another company. I joined Alligare earlier this year. Parker Kenyon: Please give us some information about your educational background. Andrew Skibo: I have a dual degree, a bachelor of science in plant and animal science, from the University of Delaware, with a focus on production agriculture. I continued my education and obtained a PhD in plant and soil science, also from the University of Delaware. My focus was on weed science, weed biology, weed population genetics, environmental chemistry fate, and so on. On paper, I am a classically trained weed biologist. By trade, I am an aquatic plant biologist specializing in invasive species control and eradication. Parker Kenyon: Would you please tell us about the services that Alligare provides? Andrew Skibo: Many folks in the irrigation world know Alligare as the Magnacide H Herbicide company, but in IRRIGATION LEADER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDREW SKIBO AND ALLIGARE.
One of an irrigation district manager's main challenges is costeffectively ridding his or her systems of aquatic weeds in order to ensure a smooth flow of water. Traditionally, irrigation districts have injected chemicals directly into the irrigation water to control weeds. Alligare, a renowned vegetation management solutions company, has been working successfully with preemergent weed control programs for the last several years. Preemergent weed control, while not a new strategy in the world of terrestrial weed management, is relatively new in the world of aquatics. Its goal is to prevent aquatic weeds from growing in irrigation ditches in the first place, thus eliminating or greatly reducing the need for in-season treatments. Forward-thinking irrigation districts across the United States have been using Alligare’s preemergence solutions for several years with great success. Irrigation Leader writer Parker Kenyon spoke with Andrew Z. Skibo, PhD, a technical support specialist in Alligare's aquatics division, about the preemergent weed control program, current challenges in aquatic weed management, and Alligare’s vision for the future of the technology.
THE INNOVATORS
Experimental trial of IMOX plus flumioxazin for preemergent control of water stargrass in a conveyance canal managed by the Lower Neche Valley Authority in Beaumont, Texas. Photos show pretreatment (left) and 3 months after treatment (right).
the niche industrial vegetation management market, we have the most comprehensive portfolio in the industry. We provide solutions to the range and pasture, right-of-way, railroad, forestry, and aquatics markets. While aquatics is a large piece of our portfolio, we have a great team of specialists supporting the broad portfolio of Alligarebranded active ingredients in the industry. I work in riparian and aquatic areas—basically, from the ditch bank down and then across the water. I would say that approximately 60–70 percent of what I do is related directly to the irrigation market, while most of the rest of my work is on state and federal contracts working with invasive and nuisance species control. Alligare provides solutions to managers working in ponds, lakes and rivers, and irrigation canals, and we provide support to managers of drinking water reservoirs. In short, we go wherever we are needed. Parker Kenyon: Please tell us about the work that you and Alligare are doing with preemergence technology. Andrew Skibo: When we’re talking about in-season, in-water treatment options, there are currently only a few active molecules available to the irrigation system manager. Typically, when you ask folks how you control weeds in an irrigation ditch, the thought process has been, “We put something in the water.” Weeds are controlled in season. With this approach, there are only a few available means of control that can be used in an irrigation ditch during the season when you are delivering water to clients. For several reasons, some of those may not be suitable to a specific system, whether because of regulatory concerns or the end use of the water. So, when approaching a new water conveyance system, we always refer to our “toolbox” in the irrigation market. We start with, “What do we have available to us today?” When I talk to an irrigation district manager, the first thing we want to know is where the water is going; what it is being used for; what the dominant cropping systems are; and, ultimately, what the goals for the system are. IRRIGATION LEADER
Then we can start figuring out which tools are suitable. If we were ever to lose one of these tools because of resistance or regulation, we would really have our hands tied. So we broadened our perspective and asked, “What if we approached weed control in irrigation canals from a slightly different perspective and made the applications in the fall or the spring of the year? What could we do there?” Your prospective toolbox becomes much larger with this approach. You now have a larger number of modes of action that could be used to provide long-term, in-season aquatic control. We approached the market with this in mind, and over the past few seasons, we have really started to build a solid operational program. The programs that we are continuing to develop could be applied anywhere from several weeks following water shutdown—say mid-October—to up to 30 days prior to canal recharge the following spring. That really expands the window of application in what is traditionally downtime, a maintenance and recovery period after the madness of the water season. Even with traditional off-season maintenance programs, such as reshaping, burning, desilting, and lining, there is plenty of time to put these programs in place. Provided that the proper specifications regarding timing, method, and chemistries used are followed, we usually see season-long weed control. Once the system has been recharged the following season, the only thing left to do is to clean up hot spots where you have breakthroughs and manage algae growth. Unfortunately, there are no preemergent programs for algae, but that can be done cost effectively through traditional aquatic chemistries. The concept of preemergent aquatic weed control really does turn traditional weed management on its head because you are doing it before water is ever in the ditch. While this approach is relatively new in the aquatics market, our colleagues in traditional row-crop agriculture have been doing it this way for over 50 years. Where preemergent programs have been trialed and adopted, they have worked well.
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THE INNOVATORS
"At the end of the day, it is the irrigation manager whose job is on the line, and ultimately, he or she is the one who must make the decisions necessary to supply water to the clients." —ANDREW SKIBO
Parker Kenyon: What are some of the challenges of the preemergence program? Andrew Skibo: From a technical background, some of my concerns are making sure that we have combined modes of action, because we are not just seeing weed pressure from in-season aquatic weed species. For a lot of ditches that may flood late, particularly those in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions where people may not charge their systems until mid- or late May, we are seeing control of a lot of the spring annual terrestrial weeds. These are typically managed with a preflood burndown application of glyphosate with varying levels of success. We know that a lot of these winter annual species have resistance issues, particularly to glyphosate and to some of the other more traditional chemistries. Thus, when we have combined modes of action, we are following best management practices to gain control of those resistant spring annuals with these chemistries. One of the biggest challenges is changing the mindset of the irrigation market itself, which is often, “We have always done it this way.” We at Alligare want to challenge that. If you keep doing what you have always done, then you are going to get what you’ve always got. Although there are traditional chemistries available, we have started gaining traction with forward-thinking managers who are aiming to improve their program. These managers understand who we are at Alligare and what we have to offer. A bigger-picture challenge that we face almost daily is the perception that Alligare is a generic company. I like to challenge customers and competitors alike by saying that in the world of aquatics, there really is no such thing as a generic. There is currently one molecule that is on patent. Everything else is postpatent. What most managers are purchasing is simply a product in a jug. Anyone can put a product in a jug and sell it. Rather than trying to sell convoluted rebate programs that may end up costing you more money or offering limited guarantees, what we are really selling is the technical support and the information on how to use these programs—where they work, where they don’t work, and what caveats to keep in mind while using them. We are also selling peace of mind with the guarantee that if you use our products and follow our recommended programs, we will be there to back you up if a problem arises. What matters more than knowing that your success is our number-one priority, that we will be there at 2:00 a.m. on a Saturday to assist you in any way you need, and that we will ensure you get to keep more of
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your hard-earned dollars? I would claim that Alligare has the best technical support available in the industry as well as quality products and the most honest and transparent pricing you will find anywhere. Parker Kenyon: What message do you have for our readership? Andrew Skibo: I hope that it doesn’t come across as a cliché, but I would say, “You are not alone.” This information is out there, and there are people who want to help you make informed decisions. I came to this market from a nonsales background: I came from a pure research and development background, where my job was to translate data into a form in which it would be useful in the field to get a job done in a safe and economical fashion. My entire career has been focused on the translation of information to the end user. When I talk to clients, I always try to preface my advice to them by saying that, yes, I work for Alligare, but I hope I earn the reputation of being a relatively pure source of information, a resource. Here is what is available to you, and here are the relative benefits, downsides, and costs of all these programs. I will always strive to help you get to a point where you can make an informed decision. At the end of the day, it is the irrigation manager whose job is on the line and ultimately, he or she is the one who must make the decisions necessary to supply water to the clients. I am available 24/7, but it is the people in the field who are getting the job done, and I am just trying to support them. Parker Kenyon: Is there anything that you would like to add? Andrew Skibo: When you look at the aquatics market in comparison to the global pesticide market, there are no new actives coming down the pipeline. What is available to us in the irrigation market is just a small subset of what is already a small toolbox. We really do need to steward these products as best we can and use our best management practices so that we do not risk losing any of these tools. To that end, Alligare is launching Alligare University, a series of training seminars designed to bring up-to-date information on aquatic and riparian vegetation management to irrigation district managers and ditch riders. Stay tuned for more details coming soon! Finally, I would like to thank Irrigation Leader for the opportunity to discuss this important topic. IL For more information about Alligare, visit alligare.com. IRRIGATION LEADER
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BUSINESS PROFILE AgWest's main office in Holdrege, Nebraska.
AgWest Supporting U.S. Farmers Through Commodity Analysis
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AgWest Founder and Chief Executive Officer Steve Knuth.
IRRIGATION LEADER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEVE KNUTH AND AGWEST.
lthough U.S. farmers are proficient at growing a variety of crops, at times they need help marketing and selling their goods. That is where AgWest Commodities comes in. AgWest is an agricultural commodities broker based in Nebraska that helps U.S. agricultural producers in several Corn Belt states effectively market and sell their products. AgWest founder and Chief Executive Officer Steve Knuth has worked in the agriculture industry since his early years in small-town Nebraska. Shortly after he graduated from high school, Mr. Knuth joined a fertilizer business that was owned by his brother. He worked there for over 20 years before deciding to pursue a career in agricultural commodities. Mr. Knuth started AgWest in 1999 in the basement of his home in Harlan County, Nebraska. For the first few months, Mr. Knuth was the only employee. Over the next several years, AgWest grew rapidly. “I severely
BUSINESS PROFILE underestimated the possibilities of this business model,” he says. “We had pretty meager goals early on. Within a few years, we had 10 employees, and it just kept growing from there.” From 10 people working daily in Mr. Knuth’s home, the company has grown to 45 employees at its main office in Holdrege, Nebraska and branch offices in Colorado, Iowa, and Kansas. Mr. Knuth remains at the helm. AgWest focuses on developing and implementing effective marketing and distribution plans for U.S. farmers. No two agricultural operations are identical, so each plan is carefully crafted to fit the client’s unique needs. “What really makes us unique is the guidance we provide to our clients in developing the plan. Then we take on the responsibility of making it happen as designed,” says Mr. Knuth. The backbone of AgWest’s operation is a system of commodity analysis called Revenue and Profit Management, or RPM. RPM begins with a discussion between a client and an AgWest representative to determine the costs associated with producing a particular commodity. From there, a plan is developed with the ultimate goal of consistent profitability. “We preach consistency in profitability to help curb the often destructive emotions that can blow up good marketing plans,” says Mr. Knuth. AgWest has received positive feedback from both customers who use RPM for their
marketing and their ag lenders. The proof of the concept is in the numbers: The RPM program has had an average retention rate of more than 90 percent for each of the last 10 years. What sets AgWest apart in the agricultural commodities industry is the company’s willingness to shoulder the burden of executing marketing services on behalf of its clients. Because its clients do not always have the knowledge or technical skills required to fulfill the goals of an RPM plan, AgWest receives a limited power of attorney from its clients. The actions it takes to accomplish an RPM plan are predetermined and based on an agreement with the client; clients also always have the option of adjusting the goals of a plan. AgWest is growing rapidly and is actively planning its vision for the future. In 2017, AgWest became involved in the agricultural land brokerage industry with the creation of AgWest Land Brokerage. Taking advantage of its experience in the agricultural commodities industry and its employees’ high level of integrity, AgWest hopes to continue providing critically important consulting services to U.S. farmers for many years to come. IL To learn more about AgWest, visit goagwest.com.
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Hiring: Field Technician Modesto, CA ABOUT RUBICON WATER Join the leading provider of irrigation technology solutions. Rubicon Water delivers advanced technology that optimizes gravity-fed irrigation, providing unprecedented levels of operational efficiency and control, increasing water availability and improving farmers’ lives. ABOUT THE ROLE Rubicon Water is currently seeking an experienced, highly motivated, field technician to join our team in the Modesto office. The position involves the installation, troubleshooting and support of automated irrigation control systems.
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