Irrigation for today and tomorrow

Andrew Stewart manages around 800 stock units over 500 hectares. The Canterbury farm, Cresslands, has been in his family for over a century. Like every generation before him, Andrew has adapted and evolved, which is why investing in a new Valley® centre pivot was more than just about improving efficiency, it was an investment in future generational success of Cresslands Farms.

“The process was really straightforward,” says Andrew. “I got in touch with Doug Mercer from PGG Wrightson Water, who drew a plan up quickly. After a few tweaks to make sure we could maximise coverage, and that was it. The rest fell into place.”

Adding to the complexity of the project was the inclusion of leased land. Doug worked closely with Andrew to ensure the new system would be flexible enough to suit todays and tomorrow’s needs.

“Doug future-proofed it by designing the corner arm to irrigate both my current block and the leased one,” Andrew explains. “He even built in a second path for when I no longer lease that land. That kind of foresight is invaluable.”

Switching to centre pivot irrigation is a game-changer for Andrew, particularly on this specific block of land.

“It is a big block, and before the pivot went in, I was using two hard hose irrigators to keep it watered. In a dry summer, I just could not keep up. The soil is free-draining shingle, so even when the surface looked green, underneath it was still struggling.”

This inconsistency was costing Andrew both time and performance. “With the guns, it was hard to maintain soil moisture properly. It was labour-intensive too, shifting the hoses constantly.”

Now, with the new pivot system in place, those days are behind him. And with AgSense 365 remote control technology, Andrew can manage irrigation from anywhere.

“I use AgSense on my other pivot, so I already know how much flexibility it gives me. Being able to start or stop the system remotely, check on water application or monitor faults, it is a huge help when you are running a big operation.”

For PGG Wrightson Water, projects like this are about more than just installing equipment. It is about partnering with farmers to design solutions to meet both current needs and future possibilities.

“Working with Doug, who understands the land and the technology, makes all the difference,” says Andrew. “He was not just selling me a pivot, he was helping me build something that will serve us well for years to come.”

As Andrew looks ahead to another busy season, he is confident the investment was worth it. “The time savings it wonderful, but the best part is knowing the water is going where it needs to, when it needs to, and having the flexibility to manage it properly – today and tomorrow.”