Consulting
Agricultural
consulting has been a way of life for this company for over 30 years.
Experience paired with integrity has grown our client base to include
some of the most influential growers in the San Joaquin Valley. The
valley’s wide range of crop types and growing conditions has given us a
diverse range of experience and understanding.
The
cost of farming is on the rise. Maximizing profits through efficient
use of inputs is a must. Water and fertilizer constitute a large
portion of the farmer’s budget. We can tailor a plan that precisely
monitors soil moisture and fertilizer. Our consulting plans offer a
wide range of services including weekly visitation for irrigation
scheduling and timely soil and tissue sampling.
Specific
solutions are needed to meet the demands of specific crops. A single
program may not be right for all crops. This is why we choose to meet
with our growers to design a specific plan that meets their needs.
The
backbone of our irrigation management is an Et based computer system
that uses CIMIS weather stations to import Et data daily. Understanding
Et in relation to crop size is essential to predicting irrigations and
the amount of water needed. We adjust this system to the specific
crop and also use other instruments to aid in data collection.
Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachios and Wine Grapes
We
started consulting in almonds in 1993 and continue with the same
clientele today. We soon added wine grapes, walnuts and pistachios to
our long list of permanent crops that we work in. Proper irrigation
scheduling and fertility management produces healthy vigorous trees and
vines.
Almond hull rot has become a major
issue with some varieties causing loss of productive fruitwood for the
future. We have been one of the leaders in the implementation of the
pressure chamber, (pressure bomb), to safely cut back on irrigation to
reduce the incidence of this disease. We can help you with your almond
irrigation decisions and set up a plan to handle hull rot in
susceptible varieties.
The walnut industry
has also benefited from the use of the pressure chamber and other soil
moisture measuring devices. Significant loss of yield has been directly
attributed to poor irrigation management in walnuts. We have been very
successful in maintaining proper moisture throughout the season.
Wine
grape growers in the central valley and in the coastal regions
continuously struggle to maintain the quality of the grapes harvested
but maintain good yields. Regulated Deficit Irrigation or RDI is often
practiced to gain fruit quality without a large reduction in yield. We
have used RDI in many permanent crops for various reasons. A minimal
reduction of water from a fully irrigated regime can have great
benefits. We can tailor a moisture monitoring plan to meet your needs.
Row Crops
Since
the founding of this company Ag Moisture Inc. has been scheduling
irrigations and providing fertility expertise on row crops all over the
central valley. We deliver a detailed irrigation schedule weekly or
twice a week depending on the crop. Farmers and managers can use this
schedule to plan their cultural practices ahead of time. This enables
the farm to run more efficiently, saving money and time.
A large portion of our client base is devoted to processing tomatoes and cotton.
We have scheduled almost all other row crops in the central valley as
well. We have experience working with sprinkler irrigation, drip
irrigation and the good old stand by flood.
Recently
buried drip irrigation systems have gain popularity in the San Joaquin
Valley. These very precise systems are state-of-the-art offering
growers increased yields and water savings. We have extensive
experience with these systems using a variety of soil moisture
monitoring techniques.
Consulting Plans and Options
Our
company believes that we should mold the plan to fit the client. Our
basic all in one plans are based on a price per acre structure but can
also be priced per block. We can meet with you at your convenience to discuss your
needs in the field and map out a formal quote. Please contact us at:
559-906-1131
