Cargill and Goanna Ag Pilot GoField in the Mississippi Delta
As one of the world’s leading cotton traders, Cargill is committed to improving sustainability in cotton production. One of the ways the cotton industry can have less impact on the environment is through more efficient water use – a challenge that led to the 2024 partnership with Goanna Ag.
The Mississippi Delta project is now underway, with the objective of advancing irrigation efficiency in the cotton supply chain. The project introduces GoField, Goanna Ag’s state of the art technology that harnesses key data sources to transform how and when farmers water their fields. The program is initially available to a select number of growers in Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi and will run for three years.
Helping cotton farmers get more crop per drop
A precision approach to irrigation scheduling has the power to deliver optimized crop yields, reduce water consumption and reduce operational costs. GoField leverages critical on farm information sources; soil moisture probes, canopy temperature sensors crop lifecycle and local weather data to deliver farmers an optimum irrigation schedule.
The Mississippi Delta Project
Participants in the pilot each receive installation of Goanna’s GoField technology and personalized training to optimize irrigation timing tailored to their specific soil and crop conditions. With more precise irrigation scheduling, the project is expected to maximize yields while reducing water consumption roughly 10%, thus reducing reliance on aquifer resources (an issue already being felt by cotton producers elsewhere in the United States with aquifers in decline due to overuse and climate variables).
Measuring success
The project will be supported on the ground by Goanna Ag irrigation specialists in Mississippi, as well backed by over twenty years of data and experience in the US and Australia. Data from the 2024 growing season will be made available early next year.
For more information on the Cargill / Goanna Ag Mississippi Delta Project, please keep an eye on our news page or email communications@goannaag.com.au