California is one of those states that battles droughts each year; during the summer the state's average monthly rainfall totals just a quarter inch. According to the CDFA (CA Department of Food & Ag) “California’s agricultural abundance includes more than 400 commodities. Over a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California.” Water efficiency, fertilizer and crop protection are critical for sustainable crop production needed to feed a growing planet. Tightening regulations on groundwater and crop inputs in California are not helping either.

 
Central Irrigation is headquartered in Merced, CA but maintains a large service crew servicing San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Kings, Tulare, and Kern Counties. They specialize in irrigation systems, pipelines, pump systems and many other on farm infrastructure projects. Recently Central Irrigation has partnered with Penny Newman to complement their current line and offer additional products in a new approach to sustainable farming. Penny Newman and Central Irrigation are also Ag Center affiliates, a one-stop-shop, connecting Ag professionals with quality services from a team of industry leaders.

Keith Yamamoto of Yamamoto Farms and CEO of Central Irrigation was first introduced to Aqua-Yield® nanoliquid technology by Finn Telles of Penny Newman Farm Products. Yamamoto started by using NanoPro® on nutgrass: a very hardy and resilient perennial that can choke out crops and grow as tall as 4.5 feet tall. NanoPro® at only 4 oz per acre can be added to any spray mixture to enhance plant uptake of specialty and generic crop protection products. “I saw an immediate response in the uptake from the nutgrass. The actual kill happened quicker, and I actually killed the nutgrass. Where prior without using NanoPro® I killed everything but the nutgrass.” NanoPro® has been very successful for California growers, allowing them more flexibility with rates and a better kill. 

Yamamoto also tested Aqua-Yield® nanoliquid fertility products on his almonds and cherries. NanoN in particular will be very important for California farm operations as nitrogen regulations are tightening in the golden state. Yamamoto realizes that although their current base program is very advanced, there is always room for increasing efficiency on the farm. “I was interested in the technology because it will help utilize nutrition that’s already in the soil or enhance the nutrition that we are either fertigating or foliar spraying on our crops.”

Keith Yamamoto will now be incorporating the products on their tomatoes. “Tomatoes are a big part of our farm operation so we will use NanoGro® early on for canopy growth then foliar and fertigate with NanoPack™ and NanoCalSi™. In our alkalized soils the calcium and a lot of the micronutrients get tied up. Any way that we can help get the nutrition into the plant in a cost-effective way.”

Aqua-Yield® appreciates their new partnership with Central Irrigation as they continue find sustainable solutions for California growers to help maximize production. For more information, contact Central Irrigation at (209) 262-3723.