Kansas irrigator touts technology to conserve water

Source Domain: hpj.com

On the western edge of Republic County near Courtland, Kansas, third-generation farmer Richard Lindberg is proving that innovation and conservation can go hand in hand.

Richard and his wife Melanie own and operate Lindberg Family Farms. For many years, they’ve discussed and adapted the farm’s irrigation strategies to meet the realities of limited water resources. The farm’s geography presented additional challenges, split almost in half by railroad tracks. With help from Deshler, Nebraska-based Reinke in the past year, Lindberg met that challenge and even earned the Republic County Conservation District’s Key Banker Award for water conservation.

The Lindberg family: (L to R) Richard Lindberg, Melanie Lindberg, Weston Lindberg, Wylder Lindberg, Carlyle Lindberg, fiancé Ashley Schwieger, Renea Creech. Not pictured: Renea’s family – Ryan, Ryker, Gunner, Hunter and Breonna Reding and her family – Peter, Leonidas, Gideon. (Courtesy photo.)

The honor recognizes Kansas farmers who demonstrate exceptional stewardship of agricultural and natural resources. Lindberg’s operation stood out for its adoption of advanced irrigation technology designed to maximize water efficiency in an area with water use restrictions.

Improving irrigation

Lindberg Family Farms has been irrigating crops for several decades as the farm was purchased 80 years ago. Like many operations in the region, irrigation began with siphon tubes and eventually evolved into graded irrigation pipe systems. While effective for their time, those methods typically deliver only about 50 to 60% irrigation efficiency. As water supplies have tightened over the years, Lindberg realized a more efficient solution was needed.