A study by UF/IFAS involving nine Suwannee Valley watermelon growers, cultivating 1,883 acres (762 hectares), found they collectively saved 164 million gallons of water last year by using automated irrigation systems. Tyler Pittman, an agriculture and natural resources agent, estimates that over 696 million gallons could be saved annually if all 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) of regional watermelon farmland adopted the same technology.
Supported by grants from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Pittman led a campaign highlighting the benefits of irrigation automation through demonstration sites, educational outreach, and farmer consultations.
Effective irrigation management is essential in watermelon production. UF/IFAS recommends short, frequent irrigation cycles to ensure plants absorb water efficiently and to minimize leaching of nutrients. Traditional systems require manual visits to fields to operate valves, while wireless automation allows growers to manage irrigation remotely via smartphone apps. According to Pittman, this offers flexibility and efficiency, enabling farmers to irrigate from any location with internet access.
Of the surveyed growers, 89% reported time savings due to automation, with average labor reduced by 1.7 hours per day. Water use also dropped, as daily irrigation runtimes were shortened by an average of 1.4 hours. Grower Adam Whitehurst noted that adopting automation improved fertilizer management and overall crop performance.
To encourage adoption, cost-share programs help offset the price of automation systems, which typically range from $10,000 to $20,000 per field. More than half of the participating farmers received over $10,000 in support. Gilchrist County farmer Garrett Beach, who automated 600 acres (243 hectares), initially had reservations but now relies heavily on the system.
Source: UF-IFAS