Friday Feature: Autonomous Irrigation Unit for Row Crops

by | Feb 24, 2023 | Best Management Practices (BMPs), Corn, Cotton, Farm Equipment, Feature Video, Fertilization, Field Crops, General Agriculture, Innovation, Irrigation, Irrigation, Natural Resources, Peanut, Precision Ag, Small Grain, Sorghum, Soybean, Sweet Corn, Water issue

This week’s featured video shares an innovation for crop irrigation.  Rain 360 is an autonomous (self-driving) irrigation unit that can apply up to 1/2″ of water per week in a 160-acre field, 3/4″ per week in a 100-acre field, or 1″ per week in a 80-acre field.  The Rain 360 unit uses GPS guidance to follow the same path as the planter.  The unit utilizes a 3″ hose that connects with a well or other water source and applies a band of water at the base of the crop rows. This unit can also be used for fertigation.  The Rain 360 creeps across a field at 0.4 mph day or night with either a 60′ or 120′ boom that can apply up to 215 gallons/minute to boost crop yields.  Because it is self-guided it can even be used in irregular shaped fields as well.  Watch the video to see this innovative machine in action.  Thanks to Kacey Aukema, UF/IFAS Extension Walton County, for sending the link to share this week’s video.

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If you enjoyed this video, you might want to check out others from the video archives:  Friday Feature Archive

If you come across an interesting, inspiring, humorous or something new and innovative related to agriculture, please send in a link, so we can share it with our readers.  Use the share button from the YouTube or Facebook video you like and send the link via email to:  Doug Mayo

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