Central irrigation pivot is a profitable alternative for rice production

Traditionally cultivated in flooded areas in the south of the country, in recent years rice cultivation has suffered from low profitability due to increased costs and a shortage of qualified labor, which has made the production process unfeasible.

Given this scenario, demand from producers for irrigation pivots has grown, which in addition to helping with property diversification, has the advantage of great savings. After all, the producer will consume less water and spend less on labor to irrigate. In addition to being agile, implementing culture is much cheaper from an operational point of view.

Farmers who do not yet use a pivot to irrigate rice will be able to see the operation of equipment up close and ask questions during the Rice Harvest Opening, which takes place between February 12th and 14th at the Terras Baixas Station of Embrapa Clima Temperado, in Capão do Leão (RS).

Lindsay, a company that manufactures central pivots Zimmatic by Lindsay in partnership with the Federation of Rice Growers Associations of Rio Grande do Sul (Federarroz) and Embrapa, presented pivot irrigation as a new feature in the Technological Showcases. “Federarroz came to us with the aim of seeking intensification towards sustainability. With the issue of the crisis in the rice sector, they want to provide producers with safe alternatives and the use of pivots to irrigate rice is a new development that has been emerging throughout the region”, highlights Marco Sanchotene, agricultural technician and director of Sanchotene Agronegócios, Zimmatic distributor. by Lindsay in the region, based in Dom Pedrito (RS).

In the technological showcases, a traditional moment of exhibition at the Official Opening of the Rice Harvest, visitors will have access to news and trends from the main companies and entities in the agricultural sector. There will be 34 spaces from 20 companies. The Zimmatic by Lindsay pivot was installed in a 1,5 hectare area, where the rice will be harvested.

According to Sanchotene, during the event, water savings and productivity security where there is irrigation will be demonstrated, as central pivot irrigation technology is still little used in the southern half of the state. “It is worth highlighting that, in addition, all the technological showcases for soybean and corn crops where the companies are located are being irrigated with this pivot, in addition to rice,” he says.

The Zimmatic by Lindsay pivot also has the advantage of its three-wheel system per tower, which is very important for rice cultivation. This model provides benefits such as greater traction with less wear on the equipment and even greater fluctuation due to better distribution of the machine's weight.

Remote irrigation management and management

During the event, producers and visitors will be able to see up close in the soybean and corn crops how FieldNET Advisor works, the new irrigation management tool, completely integrated with FieldNET, recognized as the most complete tool for remote irrigation management.

The solution provides precise and objective information to the producer, indicating the right time when the crop needs water, the quantity, the location and also making sure that the pivots are operating as scheduled, helping with property management and decision making.

FieldNET Advisor combines years of research and development that has resulted in complex calculations and models that provide accurate, simplified information for irrigant management. Previously, this information was available in different locations and devices, which did not make the activity easier and even required more time.

Now with the new technology, irrigation decision-making is carried out with more confidence and assertiveness. “FieldNET Advisor is an agronomic tool that will add to our client’s management. Just like FieldNET itself, which for more than 10 years has been recognized worldwide for its efficiency and simplicity of integrated operation, where producers manage their equipment and manage the irrigated area on the same platform”, says Gabriel Melo Guarda, engineer agronomist and FieldNET application engineering analyst at Lindsay.

In a single map or list view, you can view the most important information for all irrigated areas, including water depletion, recommended next irrigation start date and degree-by-degree pivot blade to apply to avoid crop water stress and water waste. The producer simply puts the schedule and recommendations into action with a simple touch of a button on a smartphone, tablet or computer.

According to the agronomist, FieldNET Advisor is fundamental for irrigation management and could be very useful in the future to help rice producers. The tool can help producers irrigate correctly, recommending the amount of water and when the crop needs it. 

According to him, FieldNET Advisor's proposal is to always maintain the ideal amount of water in the soil for each crop. “We were able to provide the producer with better cost control, and this is fundamental. Every time irrigation is avoided due to the reliable rain forecast provided by the system or variable depths are used within the same field due to different types of soil, we are able to optimize the use of natural and financial resources, at the end of the harvest we will have a better productivity and consequently profitability”, concludes the analyst.