Changing demographics combined with advances in Internet connectivity and mobile devices point to a technology-driven future on U.S. farms and ranches.  Reinke Irrigation Regional Manager Mike Mills believes in 10 years farmers and ranchers will have control over their growing operation "right at their side on a remote device such as a cellular phone or tablet computer."

"We'll see even more precise irrigation control and reporting driven by the need to understand where we're using water and why," Mills said. 

According to Mills, Reinke Irrigation has been "quietly on the forefront of irrigation development since its founding in 1954."  Richard Reinke, the company's founder, developed the world's first reversible, electric gear driven center pivot system in 1968.  Today, Reinke is one of the largest irrigation systems and components manufacturers in the world with plants in Nebraska, Kansas and China.  The company is headquartered in Deshler, Neb. where Richard Reinke formed Reinke Manufacturing Company on his family farm more than 50 years ago.

Benefitting from record farm income
High commodity prices and record farm income led to strong results for Reinke Irrigation in 2011.  Farmers reinvested their profits in areas that benefit their operations over the long-term such as building improvements, new equipment and irrigation.

"It would have been hard to have a bad year in agriculture last year with the market and commodity prices where they were," Mills said.  "We see that opportunity continuing in 2012."

In particular, sales of control products are strong due to the excellent results growers have experienced.  Control panels can provide advanced use of pressure, flow, temperature, and weather measurement equipment for monitoring and control and can be integrated with Global Positioning Systems to improve application of water by location. 

"Control panels give farmers an opportunity to automate a significant part of their operations," Mills said.  "With labor in high demand, automation is attractive across the spectrum from hobby farmers to the largest operation."

Exploding tech trends
Mills believes the use of technology on farms and ranches will increase dramatically over the next 10 years.  Demographics will play as big a part in that growth as the development of new technologies.

"As demographics shift on the farm to a younger population that has lived all their lives with Internet and mobile technologies, we'll see a demand for more technology in agriculture," he said.  "We've really just dipped our toe into it at this point."

The current drought situation has highlighted the need for greater control and conservation of finite water resources.  Although the urgency may fade as aquifers refill, a focus on the availability, use and allocation of water resources is likely to remain.

"In the past, Reinke introduced GPS, the computer-based control panel, touch screens and remote monitors to the industry and we'll lead through innovation in the future," Mills said.  "We look every day for ways to keep growers efficient tomorrow."

More information on Reinke Irrigation is available at www.reinke.com.

About Barbara Keiker

Barbara Kieker is a freelance writer who writes on business-related topics for a number of web-based properties. She also provides communications services to Fortune 500 corporations, small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

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