A recent economic impact study found that automation of irrigation systems in Suwannee Valley has saved more than 164 million gallons of water. That remarkable feat occurred in 2024, less than a year from now. Tyler Pittman, an agriculture and natural resources agent with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), led the study. It shows the many ways technology is improving sustainable farming practices.
Pittman has been instrumental in helping Suwannee Valley farmers adopt automated irrigation. In 2023, Garrett Beach, a Gilchrist County watermelon farmer, automated his irrigation system, allowing him to monitor and control 600 acres’ worth of irrigation remotely. Though initially nervous about putting too much faith in technology, Beach has come to trust its power.
“Now, I trust it, and I see its value,” – Garrett Beach
Farmers across the region reduced their irrigation run times by 1.4 hours on average per day. This incredible transformation amounts to a 24% reduction in their water consumption. The evaluation found that automation allowed farmers to reduce their time spent in the field by an average of 1.7 hours per day. This small change had a big effect on their productivity.
To help prove the value of automation, Pittman has created 110 acres of demonstration sites to display its advantages. He emphasizes the capability of these systems:
“Farmers can irrigate their fields while sitting on a beach on an island somewhere,” – Tyler Pittman
The fiscal disposition towards embracing automation is an important one. Systems are expensive with averages running from $10,000 to $20,000 each field. Cost-share programs have had a significant impact. Over half of the farmers served benefitted, with many receiving more than $10,000 to buy tools and equipment. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed reported that they would not have pursued automation without this funding.
Adam Whitehurst, another watermelon farmer, expressed how automation has increased efficiency for his operations:
“The system allows me to monitor fertilizer run times and measure exactly how much I put out,” – Adam Whitehurst
Time savings were the top benefit, underscoring why automation is beneficial to 89% of farmers who took the online survey. For some, though, this push towards innovation is more than a pursuit of efficiency. It’s about going green.
Pittman envisions a broader impact if more farmers adopt these practices:
“We’re flirting with saving more than 696 million gallons of water each year if the farmers of all 8,000 acres of watermelon in the region adopt this technology,” – Tyler Pittman