At the “Control the Flow” Pivot Experience, you’ll learn about the role of water in agriculture – and the need for conservation and wise water use in this monumental exhibit featuring a full-size irrigation system, which spans the exhibit.

Variable rate irrigation is new technology that allows farmers to control individual sprinkler heads to deliver precise amounts of water to various areas of their fields. The goal is to provide the optimum amount of water to the crop based on soil type, terrain, soil moisture and other factors. Farmers use satellite technology, mapping, and other tools to know as much about their fields as possible—so they can provide the right amount of water at the right place at the right time, targeting irrigation water where and when it is needed.

Activities

• Use the interactive controller to “program” the pivot according to crop, terrain, soil type and soil moisture
• Once you’ve met the challenges of programming the pivot, watch your pivot perform as you directed—through a series of fiber optic sprinkler heads down the 137-foot span