Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/668983
Cannon: Our firm has always worked in many market segments although large-diameter irrigation wells have been the backbone of our operations. We've expanded our tooling and equip- ment to be able to compete better in the municipal and industrial markets. In Florida, the end product of the large-diameter irrigation well market is not much different from a full blown municipal/industrial well. Site size is usually the biggest difference, and we must be prepared to work in smaller spaces for industrial/municipal projects. WWJ: What do you think the fu- ture looks like for the young gen- eration workforce interested in working in the irrigation industry? Cannon: There is a drastic need in the drilling industry for new generations to enter the workforce. Many companies have aging workforces with fewer young new hires. Much of the institu- tional knowledge in these firms will be retiring and becoming lost in the future. Preston: The water scarcity threat is expected to worsen over time and solu- tions will require the brightest young minds. The younger generation has grown up with technology and will be at the forefront of developing new solutions. Mackin: We have an obligation to feed the world. Whether the market is up or the market is down, we're always going to need water and, more specifically, water for crops to survive. Farmers have to water their crops whether corn is $3 or corn is $8. They're not going to punt. I think the industry is looking good. It's strong, and I think it's going to be fine. WWJ: There have been reports stating irrigation efficiency tech- nology has on occasion actually had unintended consequences of farmers thinking they can have more water-intensive crops or crops that require constant rates of irrigation instead of a drought- resistant crop. Have you seen things like that? What can be done about that? Cannon: Central and South Florida have actually seen the opposite trend. We have gone from flood irrigation and sprinkler application to row crop and or- chards using direct application micro-jet and drip tubing in conjunction with soil moisture testing. In our climate, we have to use some form of irrigation to enable production. However, most of the farmers have learned that pumping water is a cost, and they want to minimize that cost. Downey: The feeling I get out there is it is actually the other way around. I think they're more apt to look at that and save energy and water. We don't have any allocations in central Ne- braska, but I don't get the feeling that farmers are abusing that at all. WWJ: What are the biggest ad- vancements you've seen in the irrigation industry over the last few years? Mackin: From an efficiency standpoint, variable frequency drives—which allow you to be more energy efficient—have gotten to a point where they're now rea- sonably priced for a farmer. When I first started, you didn't see as many just be- cause the price was too high to justify one. Cannon: The implementation of micro- jet applicators and drip tubing have greatly reduced the amount of water needed for agriculture in our region. ...the instrument of choice for professionals worldwide Water Level Meters s Well Casing Indicators Well Depth Indicators s Data Loggers s Temperature Meters Conductivity Meters s Interface Meters s Pressure Transmitters Tag Lines s Borehole Inspection Cameras Made in Canada www.heroninstruments.com s 1-800 -331-2032 IRRIGATION continues on page 18 WWJ May 2016 17 Twitter @WaterWellJournl