Project Grant 20246702341466

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN U.S., IRRIGATION IS NECESSARY FOR PRODUCTION OF MOST CROPS. MANY SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS IN THE WEST ARE IRRIGATED USING WHEEL-LINE (WHEEL-MOVE OR SIDE-ROLL) SYSTEMS THAT ARE MORE LABOR-INTENSIVE THAN SYSTEMS COMMON ON LARGER FARMS. MANY CONTEMPORARY WHEEL-LINE SYSTEMS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE USED HALF A CENTURY AGO. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TO IDENTIFY AND QUANTIFY COST AND RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHEEL-LINE IRRIGATION TO BENEFIT SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS. THIS WILL BE DONE BY INVESTIGATING THE BENEFITS AND COSTS OF MODERNIZING WHEEL-LINE SYSTEMS WITH LOWER PRESSURE (LOWER ENERGY REQUIREMENT) SPRINKLER TECHNOLOGIES; REMOTE-CONTROLLED, SOLAR-POWERED SYSTEM MOVERS; AND AUTOMATED SYSTEM SHUTOFF. THE STUDY WILL INCLUDE A COMBINATION OF SURVEYS, FIELD RESEARCH, AND SUBSEQUENT ECONOMIC ANALYSES. CURRENT AND POTENTIAL USERS OF SOLAR-POWERED REMOTE-CONTROLLED WHEEL-LINES WILL BE SURVEYED. FIELD RESEARCH WILL INCLUDE PERFORMANCE TESTING OF CONVENTIONAL AND MODERN SPRINKLER TECHNOLOGIES, FIELD STUDIES TO DETERMINE YIELD IMPACTS OF THE SPRINKLER TECHNOLOGIES, AND DOCUMENTATION OF LABOR BENEFITS OF MODERN SYSTEM MOVERS AND AUTOMATED SHUTOFF VALVES.THE INVESTIGATORS HYPOTHESIZE THAT THE MODERNIZATION WILL IMPROVE PROFIT, DECREASE LABOR REQUIREMENTS, DECREASE CARBON EMISSIONS, AND INCREASE CROP WATER USE EFFICIENCY FOR AN OVERALL NET MONETARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT. THIS WILL DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS THAT RELY UPON WHEEL-LINE IRRIGATION AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT RELY UPON THESE FARMS. THEREFORE, THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THE AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES PRIORITY AREA AND THE SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS SUBPRIORITY AREA.