100-4 Hydrobio: Using Satellite Imagery and Analytics to Change How Farmers Are Using Water.

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Education and Extension
See more from this Session: Symposium--"Hot" Tools and Technologies from Public- and Private-sector Agronomy Programs

Monday, November 7, 2016: 1:50 PM
Phoenix Convention Center North, Room 127 B

Jessica Korinek and Barrett Mooney, HydroBio, Denver, CO
Abstract:
Fresh water for agricultural use is becoming more scarce. This can be seen with the accelerating depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer. Losses to the aquifer between 2001 and 2011 were one third of its cumulative depletion during the entire 20th century. Advances in agricultural technology have allowed farmers to produce significantly greater yields while using roughly the same amount of water needed 40 years ago but water use amounts are still more than the aquifer can recharge annually. Because of this, it is even more important to get the most out of every inch of water applied. HydroBio is a Software as a Service company that aims to conserve water and enhance yields through satellite driven analytics. HydroBio uses traditional agronomic modeling, then combines that with modern data processing and analytics, satellite imagery and advanced weather data to produce field estimates and metrics which allow farmers to make an irrigation management decision then communicate it directly to the irrigation equipment in the field. HydroBio provides unique and adaptive analytics which allow the farmer to easily integrate the data he is receiving into daily management decisions. HydroBioÕs service is allowing growers to boost yield and conserve resources with our ability to calculate sub-acre level crop water use. HydroBio went to market in 2013 with 35,000 acres in the Texas Panhandle. It now has over 200,000 subscribed acres in 10 countries, saving time and money for its clients by providing irrigation recommendations and monitoring crop health.

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Education and Extension
See more from this Session: Symposium--"Hot" Tools and Technologies from Public- and Private-sector Agronomy Programs