MEETING NOTES: North Kern looks at new irrigation technology

Agenda packet:  CLICK HERE

Joel Kimmelshue of Land IQ gave a presentation to the North Kern Water Storage District board of directors at its April 21 meeting on one of the company’s latest new tools: Daily Evapotranspiration (ET) and Irrigation Management Tool to help farmers make informed decisions with daily data.

Evapotranspiration measures how much water plants take up and release, transpire, into the atmosphere.

Kimmelshue said while growers like the current Land IQ information, it only comes once a month and shows how crops used water the previous month. Growers wanted more current information, he said.

The company has been working with Cawelo Water District and the Tulare Irrigation District to beta test the new program, which delivers ET data daily on a by-field level. 

Growers can sign up for individual fields through Land IQ’s portal and add specific crop information, irrigation methods and anticipated planting and harvesting dates. 

Water district managers would also have access to this information for their districts. 

North Kern board members asked what additional data the system could provide as well as how it would work for farmers with lands across multiple districts. Kimmelshue said growers would be able to access multiple districts through their unique login.

Board members asked if growers could register for the software individually? 

No, Kimmelshue said, Land IQ is only working with Groundwater Sustainability Agencies or water districts, not individual growers. Cost for the new program is 55 cents per acre per year. 

Land IQ provides the monthly ET analysis for the Kern subbasin. North Kern’s share of that cost is about $4,900 per month.

The board did not take any action as this item was for discussion only.