ISSUE 01 Spring 2012 TM This Issue What is McCrometer CONNECT Wireless Monitoring for Irrigation Management The Benefits of Wireless Monitoring Technology Tips McCrometer Live Chat Office Locations In the News Our combined products and experience bring you: W i r e l e s s Te l e m e t r y O p t i o n s : • SM/GPRS Mobile • Satellite • Radio • Spread Spectrum (900 MHz) • UHF licensed (400 MHz) • Agricultural Sensors • D e e p We l l S e n s o r s • Rainfall • Relative Humidity • Soil Moisture - Single sensors - Multi-depth probes - Many brands/models • S o i l Te m p e r a t u r e Upcoming Events What is McCrometer CONNECT™ McCrometer CONNECT is a complete suite of intelligent system solutions for irrigation management and wireless monitoring and control. McCrometer CONNECT includes both radio and satellite telemetry options, as well as Internet monitoring and alarming via mobile phones and pagers. For growers, McCrometer CONNECT is the first choice in wireless monitoring and control equipment for irrigation management, offering the widest selection of turn-key solutions by partnering with the best in the business to provide high quality local service and support. For dealers, the combined products brought to you through McCrometer CONNECT offers an expanded product portfolio. Our Satellite and GPRS telemetry are designed for monitoring flow, soil moisture, weather parameters, water quality, ET, etc. in remote areas and uses a solar panel for the power source. Our 400 MHz licensed or 900 MHz spread spectrum unlicensed band radio solutions are designed to monitor denser networks with the same parameters as our satellite and GSM/GPRS solutions and helps minimize communication fees. We are sure to have a solution for your customer! By partnering with the best in the business, McCrometer CONNECT products and services offer: • Complete Turn-Key Solutions – From simple to complex, our solutions include everything you need • Selection & Flexibility – Widest selection of sensors and communication platforms to fit your application • Service & Support – Highest quality local support for sales, installation and expansion • Soil Radiation • Te m p e r a t u r e • Wa t e r L e v e l - Radar - Tr a n s d u c e r - Ultrasonic • Wa t e r Q u a l i t y McCrometer CONNECT Launch: The initial launch date of May 1st, 2012 includes six application packages which are available as turn-key packages. With a choice of either cellular or satellite communication, growers will have access to a number of solutions including water level monitoring, pump monitoring, frost monitoring and alarms, weather monitoring and automatic meter reading. The information will be wirelessly transmitted to their home or office computer, providing a scalable solution to water management. • Wind Speed/Wind Direction Flow Meters: • Propeller • Electromagnetic • Open Channel In a press release sent out late last year announcing the acquisitions of Adcon and Automata, Kerry McCall, President of McCrometer, stated: “We are uniquely positioned to provide our customers with superior solutions in this market – with the flexibility to match their application needs, communication options and budget. We will be able to build on McCrometer’s strong flow meter installed base and heritage in the agricultural, municipal and industrial markets.” Wireless Monitoring for Irrigation Management Office Locations: Office News Corporate : McCrometer Inc. 3255 W. Stetson Ave. Hemet, CA 92545 Tel 951-652-6811 Fax 951-652-3078 www.mccrometer.com customerservice@ mccrometer.com (Flow Meters and Telemetry) Nevada City Office: McCrometer Inc. 138 New Mohawk Road, Ste. 151 Nevada City, CA 95959 Tel 530-478-5882 Fax 530-478-5881 www.automata-inc.com [email protected] (Telemetry) Davis Office: Adcon International, Inc. 1949 5th Street, Ste. 101 Davis, CA 95616 Tel 530-753-1458 Fax 530-753-1054 www.adcon.com [email protected] (Telemetry) Product Application Success Stories We invite you to share your application product success stories with us. Whether the application called for a Wireless Telemetry System, a Propeller Flow Meter, or any of our other products, we would love to hear from you. Simply complete our Customer Application Case Study questionnaire. If your story is selected to be used for marketing purposes, you will receive a $50 Cabela’s gift card! Please contact Marsha Morris at 530-478-5882 or Helen Grove at 530-753-1458 if you would like to participate. We look forward to hearing from you! The Benefits of Wireless Monitoring Common questions asked by Irrigators. We have answers. Why would I want to monitor the dealer near you, contact one of Frost Monitoring Stations Water Quality sensors can be incorporated into a water level a station if needed. Sensors such as my fields? our three convenient offices. are used to alarm you when This is a common question for users We offer customized solutions. the that have not taken advantage of Talking with a dealer can give you destructive level. This will allow pH, DO and EC are among some the technology offered for wireless an idea of what would be best for the farmer to proceed with the of the water quality sensors that monitoring of soil, ET, pest, flow, etc. your field and how to go about necessary steps to prevent frost are available through our many Wireless monitoring can optimize accomplishing a particular goal. damage. This field station would qualified dealers. yield and save both time and What types of monitoring consist of a simple temperature Flow Meter monitoring consists of money by helping make irrigation parameters are there and sensor with radiation shield and a transmitter, flow meter and solar management decisions based upon what sensors would I need? solar panel. panel. A pressure may be added current needs and conditions. There are a variety of parameters Soil Moisture monitoring depends for additional data collection. Monitoring the moisture in your soil that of what type of sensor would best addition to totalizer data, you can calculate how much water was you the ability to try different areas in your field if necessary. Remote can give you assurance that water are a few common examples of work with your crop. McCrometer offers a variety of soil moisture applied irrigation automated monitoring provides a means of accurately tracking and is reaching the roots at the depth monitoring field stations.: event, monitor system’s flow rate, evaluating the results of test trial. This data is essential in determining pressure, pump performance and the end result you intend to accomplish, whether it is for irrigation, be alerted with timely alarms. pest and/or frost management. can be monitored. Here temperature approaches you determine is optimum. It can also help determine if you are using too much water. Monitoring flow helps ensure your irrigation system is delivering the water accurately and can provide “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.” BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, (1706-1790), Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1746 during each In Still Not Sure? Do a Test Trial A test trial is a great way to accomplish specific goals such as knowing when is the best time to irrigate or when is the best time to spray for a specific insect. Even with a frost issue, a test trial can let you know if you have different micro climates and where they are located. Using satellite or GPRS telemetry allows the stations to be portable, giving This Month’s Q&A Technology Tips Q: How do I upgrade to telemetry real-time alarms for leaks, clogs or Evapotranspiration (ET) sensors in both single and multi- other events when the system does calculations can be used to help not perform as expected. schedule irrigation. This field depth probes. Water Level monitoring can be done in a tank, pond, open canal How do I know what is best station would read sensors such and/or well. as solar radiation, air temperature, for my field? Submersible transducer, radar and The best way to find out about relative humidity, wind speed and ultrasonic are a few types of level what is best for your field is to direction. The ET station can also sensors that we offer. These would talk with your local McCrometer be used for pest management by be wired into a field station next Representative or dealer. To find utilizing all sensors such as rain and to the water site and give you the leaf wetness. water level details. on my existing flow meter? A: Upgrading your existing McCrometer or Water Specialties’ flow meter with telemetry is a relatively simple process. In most cases, a simple transmitter can be added to allow your existing meter to become “telemetry ready”. The best way to begin is to start with contacting your local McCrometer Representative or Dealer and they can help in letting you know what equipment is needed. Equipment needed to remotely monitor existing McCrometer flow meters: - Field Station (Cell or Satellite Radio) - Solar Panel and/or AC Charger -Transmitter and sensor cable - Pressure Transducer (optional) Every day at McCrometer we go to “Gemba” which means where the actual work is done. This event brings clear focus into our workday and is an important ingredient in our producing superior products. Looking at the details of our processes helps us concentrate more effectively on our major focus which is you, the customer. This same focus applies to our Customer Service philosophy at McCrometer. We work diligently to provide service that shows urgency, care and courtesy. We listen to our customer to improve every facet of our service. We will always do the right thing for our customer, not just because we have been given the authority to do so but because we truly want to. We value the relationships we have built over the past 55+ years in business and promise to keep our focus on you. Marc Bennett Customer Support Manager McCrometer’s Live Chat on Website www.mccrometer.com is proud to announce the newest feature to our website. Each person who enters into McCrometer’s website will now be offered a chance to talk with a live customer service representative. If you opt to talk with a live person, help will be at your fingertips. This is an option that was designed to help with questions regarding flow meters, telemetry or suggestions you may have for better serving our customers. Upcoming Events • 2012 Water Technology Conference May 2-3, 2012, Clovis, CA In the News McCrometer is pleased to announce the purchase of substantially all of the assets of Automata, Inc., based in Nevada City, CA, a leader in satellite and radio telemetry, software and sensors for agricultural and rural water. Combined with the earlier acquisition of Adcon Telemetry, McCrometer has established a new business unit, McCrometer CONNECT™. This new business unit will focus on developing and selling complete wireless solutions for agriculture and rural water management applications. To find out how to purchase McCrometer CONNECT products, please contact us at one of our three convenient offices. 3255 West Stetson Avenue Hemet, CA 92545-7763 951-652-6811 951-652-3078 fax www.mccrometer.com • GMDA Summer Conference June 6-8, 2012, Nebraska City, NE • 3i Show July 12-14, 2012, Dodge City, KS • Husker Harvest Days September 11-13, 2012, Grand Island, NE • Montana WRA Annual Water Conference October 6-7, 2012, Location TBD • Irrigation Association Show November 4-5, 2012, Orlando, FL • World Ag Expo February 12-14, 2013, Tulare, CA