Hello... this is your irrigator calling

But that is where the irrigation and soil monitoring sector is headed and Water Right Ltd's managing director could not be more excited.

O'Kane and his Hastings team are looking forward to showcasing the recent innovations in their field at the East Coast Farming with Technology Expo in Wairoa in April.

He says it's a must that farmers and landowners learn about and use quality, up-to-date systems as part of their sheep and beef operations on the North Island's East Coast.

"As weather patterns are changing it seems we are having far more extreme and changeable seasons and they all have a common factor – water," O'Kane explains.

"It is either too much or nothing and the way to combat these changing seasons is by drainage and irrigation. More farmers are learning that irrigation equipment is a tool similar to a drench gun or sprayer; if it is dry you can mitigate your risk by investing in irrigation, similarly, if it is wet you get rid of the risk with drainage. Using up-to-date technologies means you have the ability to put the water in a targeted area 'just in time' rather than 'just in case'."

Accurately monitoring and mapping different soil types is a key piece of the puzzle, says field hydrologist and director of Hydro Logic NZ Ltd, Matt Brown, who will also be exhibiting at the expo.

"Measure, monitor, manage – you need to measure and monitor soil moisture and temperature below a crop to ensure a good crop yield through efficient irrigation practice," he says.

"If you are irrigating efficiently, you're also saving in other areas of input – including power and fertiliser, not to mention using your allowance of irrigation water smarter."

Both agree their sector has come a long way in 10-15 years.

"There has been a big push into cellular telemetry over the last decade and, with this, a focus on monitoring more parameters," Brown adds. "Further to this there is now a push into radio and wireless technology meaning lower costs to the end user."

"Ten to 15 years ago the attitude was 'it looks dry' or 'the neighbour has started so we better get irrigating'," O'Kane says. "People using irrigation realise how expensive it is to put water on, and have made a profit based decision to embrace technology and use water wisely.

"All control bodies have implemented water monitoring so big brother is watching and it means your allocation can not only go over but you are likely to use your allocation more wisely than the previous 'hit and hope' method."

Water Right Ltd and Hydro Logic NZ Ltd will have a variety of products on display at the expo.

"Hydro Logic will show a range of products to suit the agricultural sector including weather stations, soil moisture and water quality stations," says Brown.

"Automation means better use of farm labour and we have the products to do this."

"We will have an irrigator and pump equipped with GSM technology; this means the machines talk to you if there is a problem, you can remote start them from anywhere in the world with cell phone coverage and get progress updates with a text message," O'Kane explains.

Both companies believe innovation and technology, in general, to be integral to the success of sheep and beef operations which is why they wanted to get on board with the expo.

"Markets and prices demand increased efficiency to ensure maximum profits into the future," Brown says.

"The only way for our primary sector to survive is to innovate and embrace technology to save time and money and increase the bottom line," claims O'Kane.

"Most people struggle with the concept that our farmers are no longer just 'farmers' – they are business people running in most cases multi-million dollar businesses."

The East Coast Farming with Technology Expo is being hosted at the Wairoa A & P Society Showgrounds on April 13 and 14, 2016. www.eastcoastexpo.co.nz