Capital budgets are tight right now. Growers are in the tough part of the economic cycle. Input costs are rising across the board. Vineyard managers know they need to invest in automation to help control costs and better manage their irrigation, but if the budget’s not there, it’s not there.  That’s why we’re running an Automate Now, Settle Up Later promotion for all new clients who sign up before June 30th.  We want to give you the budget flexibility you need to get up and running this season, while paying zero hardware costs until 2025.  Message us or request a demo at lumo.ag

223: New Decision Support System for Irrigation Efficiency If irrigation efficiency is a goal of yours, a new predictive model may make scheduling easier in the future. José Manuel Mirás Avalos, Tenured Scientist at Misión Biológica de Galicia in the Spanish Nation Research Council (CSIC) (MBG-CSIC) in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) is working on a Decision Support System (DSS) prototype for irrigation and fertilization of winegrapes. This computer model accounts for multiple variables including weather, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, soil type, plant spacing, bud break, variety, and wine quality goals to help farmers make more informed irrigation decisions throughout the growing season. LISTEN IN Resources:         191: CropManage: Improving the Precision of Water and Fertilizer Inputs 195: Hydrological Mapping: A Vital Component of Effective Water Conservation Plans 213: High Resolution Data from Space Helps Farmers Plan for Clima

Henry Halimi had certainly earned his retirement. Having achieved an impressive education in mathematics and mechanical engineering, and successful exits from multiple startups in his 45 years as a serial entrepreneur, Halimi had just sold Flo Technologies to Moen the plumbing-supply giant. Halimi co-founded Flo with his son Gabriel. Halimi owns multiple water technology patents and has sold millions of units through his inventions and innovative products, so going back to work didn’t really need to be high on his priority list. Lumo team install proprietary smart valve in a Sonoma County vineyard   But, when Lumo CEO Devon Wright knocked on his door and asked Halimi to join him and company CTO John Hinnegan at their new agtech company focused on water sustainability through improved irrigation efficiency, Halimi didn’t hesitate. "I come from a second-generation water family from the old country," Halimi recounts. "As a kid, pumps, valves and pipes