FarmHQ Launches Flow Rate Analysis for Any Flow Meter to Help Growers Manage Water Use More Efficiently

Farm irrigation technology company FarmHQ has announced that its global platform for monitoring, controlling, and automating irrigation equipment is now providing flow rate analysis for any pulse output flow meter to help growers manage their irrigation and water use more efficiently and avoid overpaying for water, identify leaks, and automate their recordkeeping and water usage compliance.

Launched in 2020, the FarmHQ platform lets growers monitor, control and automate any piece of their existing irrigation equipment to lower costs, simplify their operation, and reduce stress. The cloud-based FarmHQ app pairs with the FarmHQ cellular device, which can be retrofitted to any electric or combustion-powered water pump powering any irrigation system, solenoid-actuated valve, pulse-emitting flow meter, hard-hose irrigation reel, center pivot, and linear sprinkler, to provide growers and their teams new remote monitoring, control, and automation capabilities from a smartphone.

FarmHQ’s flow rate analysis solution connects to any pulse output flow meter, and updates the farmer with real-time and historical flow rate data, including peak flow and average flow, all in user-defined time windows. This new feature will provide valuable insights into the health of irrigation systems and water availability, and automate recordkeeping for easier compliance reporting.

FarmHQ combines flow rate analysis with real-time pressure monitoring to help growers identify issues quickly, and can alert them in real-time when flow rate goes outside of a set range. With custom automations, growers can even have their pump shut down automatically in case of a major problem like a leak or clog. It also gives growers a holistic view of their farm-wide water usage, as well as individual pumps, to understand when they are approaching their water quota and avoid overage charges.

FarmHQ’s flow rate analysis solution is free for all current FarmHQ users, and will be available to all future FarmHQ farmers as a part of the robust package that monitors pressure, GPS location, time usage, and total water output.

Under typical irrigation conditions, FarmHQ saves approximately 500,000 gallons of water and reduces farmers’ labor and input costs by an average of $5,000 per device per irrigation season.

“We’ve seen the challenges with flow metering firsthand on our family’s farm – and growers across North America told us they were looking for a new way to understand the health of their irrigation system and their existing equipment, identify leaks, lower costs, and automate their recordkeeping for compliance. Our flow rate analysis solution is part of the next generation of farm irrigation that gives every grower and every farm the option of controlling, monitoring, and automating their existing equipment from a smartphone,” said David Wallace, CEO of FarmHQ and a third-generation potato grower from Washington State’s Skagit Valley. “With FarmHQ already a critical part of farms’ operations in 30 states and provinces across North America, we’re excited to partner with growers to help them have a better perspective on the health of their irrigation system and operations.”

FarmHQ works anywhere a smartphone does and is being used on farms in 30 states and provinces in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FarmHQ devices are currently available to farms across North America for direct purchase and via the company’s network of irrigation equipment dealer partners.

In today’s complex and fast-paced crop production sector, the team at CROPLIFE keeps 21,000 agricultural retailers, distributors and their suppliers up to date on such decidedly 21st century issues as seed technology, biotechnology, precision agriculture, customer service and retention, and business management. See all author stories here.