The system is one of only two in Kansas, according to the farm’s owners.
An irrigation system on wheels that can operate on irregularly shaped farms will be featured during a demonstration day planned for Aug. 1 at the Flickner Innovation Farm near Moundridge.
Farm owner and operator Ray Flickner said the 360 RAIN irrigation system is the latest technology being implemented on the farm. The system is unique in that it can operate on irregularly shaped fields where a center pivot system would not be practical, and the amount of water required by the vehicle is much less than traditional irrigation systems.
The implementation of this new technology is part of a partnership between the farm and Kansas State University and is funded by a grant from the Kansas Water Department.
“This system is brand new and there are only two operating in Kansas, so we’re in uncharted territory,” Flickner said. “We know that well capacity in the area is starting to decline, so it was important for us to launch this system on the farm. This is one interesting way to address that issue, and we’re excited to see where this system takes us.”
The program begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m. The event is free and will provide coffee, beverages and breakfast pastries. For more information, including how to get to the event and register, visit the Kansas Agriculture Resources and Environmental Center online.
Other technologies that will be highlighted at the event include remote sensing and management systems, plant and soil moisture sensors, soil moisture probes, etc. Representatives from local, regional and national industry leaders will be on-site to answer questions and provide details about how their products work at the Flickner Innovation Farm.
In addition to projects related to the 360 RAIN system, several K-State researchers have projects underway at the site, including a study of nutrients delivered by subsurface drip irrigation, a project on the impact of soil health practices on nutrient and herbicide losses, and a weed study.
The Flickner Innovation Farm is a partnership between Flickner, university researchers, Kansas State University research and extension specialists and industry leaders who work together to conduct research in a large-farm setting to identify the most efficient technologies and practices that Kansas producers can use on their own farms.
Photo: The 360 RAIN irrigation system is the latest technology being installed at Flickner Innovation Farm near Moundridge. (Photo courtesy of Kansas Agriculture Resources and Environment Center, July 12, 2024)
