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

Short Summary (6 lines)

Precision irrigation is shifting from “hardware-only” to integrated systems that combine automation, sensors, and data-driven decisions to reduce risk and stabilize performance.

Mike Hemman highlights how remote monitoring and exception-based alerts help growers scale operations without increasing labor or complexity.

Drip infrastructure increasingly acts as a continuous fertigation network, enabling smaller, timed nutrient doses aligned to crop demand—improving uniformity and reducing losses.

Adoption is strongest in high-value crops (orchards, vineyards, vegetables, berries) and in water-stressed regions where regulation and allocations accelerate upgrades.

By 2030, closed-loop irrigation and predictive automation using crop + weather models are expected to become mainstream in leading operations.

• Typical results (varies): 20–40% lower applied water, 15–30% better nutrient efficiency, and 30–50% lower irrigation labor.