Flow Meters Help Idaho Grower Improve Water Efficiency

Andersen is required to meter water use on his more than 2,000-acre operation near Arbon, Idaho. He runs seven center pivots over 740 acres of alfalfa, wheat and forage grains. He integrated FieldNET^® technology into his irrigation system to help measure water use and more.

“Smart metering really is a no-brainer – especially when you pair it with FieldNET. I can accurately measure my water usage and report on it over time – and that’s vital for accurate analysis. It’s all done automatically, which is a huge benefit for me,” he said. “Irrigation is something that we constantly tweak to find the right balance between cost, efficiency and yield.”

Andersen also relies on FieldNET to ensure his irrigation systems are operating efficiently.

"One unique scenario, where a smart meter is a huge help for me, is for one of my wells that’s pumping almost at capacity. I’ve noticed that the well produces less through the irrigation season – and the drawdown/lift increases – and that affects my gallons per minute (GPM) through the pivot,” he said. “With FieldNET, I can check the GPM from my phone when the pivots are running, which is great for my sanity – knowing everything is fine. It also sends me alerts if my GPM drops below a certain threshold, so I can respond appropriately.”