Watermelon Growers in North Florida Save 164 Million Gallons Through Automated Irrigation.

As watermelon season peaks in North Florida, farmers are preparing for harvest around Memorial Day with a powerful new tool at their disposal: automated irrigation. Replacing manual valve systems, this technology is rapidly transforming agriculture in the Suwannee Valley—and saving millions of gallons of water in the process.

According to a recent assessment by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), nine farmers managing 1,883 acres of watermelon land collectively conserved 164 million gallons of water in 2024 by adopting automated irrigation systems.

“If every farmer across the region’s 8,000 watermelon acres were to implement this system, we could potentially save more than 696 million gallons annually,” said Tyler Pittman, UF/IFAS agriculture and natural resources agent and lead author of the assessment.

Pittman has been at the forefront of efforts to introduce automation in the Suwannee Valley. His outreach includes 110 acres of demonstration plots, large-scale Extension education programs, and one-on-one support for farmers exploring the shift.

Efficient irrigation is essential in commercial watermelon farming. UF/IFAS recommends short, frequent watering sessions to optimize plant uptake and reduce nutrient loss. Traditional systems, however, often require farmers to drive between fields to turn valves manually—a time-consuming and inefficient process.

“Now, with just an internet connection, farmers can manage irrigation from virtually anywhere—even a beach,” Pittman said.

Of the farmers surveyed by Pittman, 89% said the technology saved them time—averaging 1.7 fewer hours in the field each day. All reported using less water, with irrigation durations cut by an average of 1.4 hours daily, or 24%.

For growers like Adam Whitehurst in Alachua and Levy counties, the benefits go beyond water savings. “I can track exactly how long I’m running fertilizer and how much I’m applying,” he said. “The crops respond better.”

However, the cost of automation—ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 per field—remains a hurdle. Two-thirds of surveyed farmers said they would not have invested without financial help. More than half received over $10,000 in support from cost-share programs such as those offered by the FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy and the Suwannee River Water Management District.

Garrett Beach, a Gilchrist County farmer who automated 600 acres in 2023, was initially skeptical. “At first, I ran the system manually,” he said. “Now, I wouldn’t farm without it.”

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-automating-irrigation-suwannee-valley-crop.html

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.