For the Steenkamp brothers at SKS Boerdery in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, dry fields, unpredictable energy provide or even robbery are consistent struggles. When it got here to discovering an irrigation provider to lend a hand them transfer from dryland manufacturing to irrigation, Polla Steenkamp wasn’t about to accept 2nd best possible.
He scoured the marketplace for state-of-the-art generation and rock-solid reliability in irrigation apparatus. “In spite of everything, there was once no different selection for us however Agrico,” says Steenkamp.
Preventing robbery with the Agrico G4 centre pivot
The Agrico G4 centre pivot gadget, a major instance of irrigation engineering, straight away stuck his eye. Its graceful design, with cables tucked away out of sight, promised coverage in opposition to the ubiquitous danger of robbery in South Africa.
The chic G4 tower, able to spanning fields as much as 70m vast with its three-legged centre (a singular twist at the vintage design), is a fort in opposition to robbery.
Cables and essential elements are hidden within the truss construction. Even the primary panel, the mind of the operation, stays shielded at the back of a tamper-proof duvet, leaving would-be thieves annoyed.
Overcoming electrical energy shortages with solar energy
However SKS Boerdery’s wishes ran deeper than safety, as Eskom’s unpredictable energy grid threatened to choke their vegetation’ water provide simply once they wanted it maximum.
Agrico’s crew noticed those demanding situations as a really perfect alternative for innovation. Willie Cilliers, department supervisor of Agrico Ermelo, proposed a daring answer: sun panels and turbines would energy all of the venture, making operations Eskom-independent.
In Steenkamp’s personal phrases: “Each and every time {that a} problem got here up, the Agrico crew analysed the location and spoke back with sure comments and answers. I had an excellent enjoy running with Willie and his crew of engineers from Bellville. I handiest have reward for them. I don’t suppose there was once ever an issue and I’m hoping this is going each techniques.”
A completion of potency with LEPA
Ask any farmer what it takes to run a winning industry, and they’ll let you know: each drop of water, each watt of power, issues. Input the LEPA gadget: low-pressure irrigation which minimises losses and delivers water precisely the place it’s wanted.
And who wishes a weatherman if you have Agrico’s Internet Regulate? This virtual wizard, available from the relief of Steenkamp’s telephone, has turn into his irrigation command centre. Agrico’s Internet Regulate lets you set up more than a few pumps and pivots from the relief of your good tool.
Internet Regulate, with a GPS gadget, displays the strain on the finish of each and every pivot and adjusts the energy of your motors and pumps to fulfill each and every pivot’s actual wishes at any second because the towers transfer throughout your fields.
“It’s all about potency,” Steenkamp says, his voice stuffed with the pleasure of a person who has tamed the weather.
For more info on Agrico’s irrigation techniques, consult with www.agrico.co.za.