Mike Hemman (Netafim): Precision Irrigation, Automation & Fertigation

Short Summary

Modern irrigation is shifting from “hardware-only” to an integrated stack of automation + fertigation + data-driven decisions. Growers are adopting remote monitoring, alerts, and smart controllers to reduce labor and lower in-season risk.

Drip systems increasingly act as a precision nutrient delivery network, enabling smaller, more frequent fertigation doses aligned to crop demand—improving uniformity and reducing nutrient losses.

Adoption is fastest in high-value crops and water-stressed regions, where economics, water allocations, and regulation push farms toward precision systems.

• Typical outcome: 20–40% lower applied water (varies by system and crop).
• Typical outcome: 15–30% better nutrient-use efficiency via continuous fertigation.
• Typical outcome: 30–50% lower irrigation-related labor with remote monitoring and automation.