It’s estimated that approximately 70 percent of center pivots operating in North America today do not have remote monitoring capability. With a recent expansion to its Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) offering, Lindsay Corporation aims to lower that number.
“Our newest innovation, FieldNET Pivot Watch, essentially brings remote irrigation management to anyone who wants it,” says Lindsay product manager Reece Andrews. “With an low price point and do-it-yourself installation, this monitor-only solution is perfect for growers who want to watch their pivots but don’t want or need the control capabilities.”
A compact and lightweight solution, Pivot Watch attaches directly to the span pipe with a simple strap. It’s solar-powered, so there’s no need to connect to the electric circuitry of the pivot.
“It’s a simple but powerful solution, with integrated cellular connectivity, GPS positioning and other embedded sensors that allow growers to remotely watch their pivots,” Andrews says. “Using the FieldNET mobile app, growers can monitor pivot start/stop, the current position, travel direction, pivot speed and more.”
Other features and benefits of Pivot Watch include:
- Universal compatibility. Pivot Watch is easily mounted to the end of any pivot, regardless of age or brand—even hydraulic pivots.
- Real-time status updates. With the user-friendly FieldNET mobile app, it’s easy to monitor the pivot operation anytime from anywhere. It also delivers alerts for startups, shutdowns, low pressure and stopped wet events.
- Return on investment. Fewer trips to the field saves time and reduces wear and tear on vehicles.
- Portability. The device is easy to move from pivot to pivot for crop rotation or on leased cropland.
- Access to FieldNET Advisor. Growers and their agronomic advisors will have the option to add Lindsay’s FieldNET Advisor, which compiles all of the critical crop and field data needed to maintain the correct soil water balance during every stage of plant growth. It then delivers field-specific irrigation recommendations, so growers know precisely when, where and how much to irrigate.
“Pivot Watch is an affordable way for growers to take that first step into technology,” says Cody Frank, owner of Two Rivers Irrigation, a dealer in Ewing, Neb. “It’s cost-effective and easy to install. It’s the perfect solution for growers who don’t think of themselves as high-tech. They can start with the monitor-only option and add control capabilities later, if they want to.”
Frank says Pivot Watch is also a good option for growers with one or two pivots that operate close to their home or office.
“Growers who have pivots close by don’t necessarily need full control capabilities,” he says. “Pivot Watch is a good option for them, because it lets them keep an eye on their pivots and it delivers alerts if there’s a potential problem. They can also get FieldNET Advisor, which is another big plus, because it can help increase yields while saving time, money and water.”
Pivot Watch is available with or without a pressure transducer to indicate whether water is on or off and to display end-of-system pressure. For more information about FieldNET technology, visit www.myfieldnet.com.