When gale-force winds tore across the Hurunui district on 22 October 2025, the destruction was swift and brutal. Gusts reaching 210 km/h ripped up trees, smashed windows, peeled roofs from sheds and even toppled anchored centre pivots. For Upper Balmoral dairy farmer Emlyn Francis, it was the moment everything changed.
“It could have been catastrophic with 95% of the irrigation on that block out of action,” he said — a stark reality for a farm running more than 1,000 cows and heading into what was expected to be a dry, hot summer. On this property, irrigation isn’t a luxury; it is the backbone of pasture growth and milk production.
The October wind event was not isolated to one property. Across North Canterbury, hundreds of pivot spans were damaged, with farmers facing significant repair costs and long delays for replacement infrastructure. For many, the storm became a catalyst to rethink irrigation resilience and long-term system design.
A Pattern of Damage — and a Turning Point
This was not the first time storm-force winds had damaged critical irrigation infrastructure on the farm. After repeated losses, Emlyn decided enough was enough. He needed a system that could deliver the irrigation performance and water application capability required — but with greater resilience and flexibility.
That decision led him back to long-time partner WaterForce, who had installed his first pivot back in 2002. This time, the conversation was different. Emlyn wanted a solution designed around resilience, automation and long-term reliability.
“I like people to come to me with solutions, not problems. WaterForce were fantastic — they jumped into action, and we had the whole system installed and operational by Christmas.”
The solution combined resilient solid-set infrastructure with the Water to Grow irrigation control platform, enabling large numbers of sprinkler zones to be coordinated automatically across the farm.
The Shift to Solid Set Irrigation
Working with Waterforce Rangiora’s Ian Hutcheson, the farm transitioned to a solid set irrigation system using the Water to Grow platform. The installation was substantial:
- 541 solid‑set posts installed
- A single LoRaWAN gateway with 4G data connectivity to connect devices to the WtG web-based application
- Integration of an existing centre pivot into the new irrigation programme
- 59 sprinkler groups designed to match available water pressure
- A schedule delivering 5 to 10 mm of water over two days
One of the remaining pivots was also integrated into the Water to Grow programme, now irrigating for 13 hours every two days as part of a coordinated system.
Water to Grow enabled the farm to automate and coordinate dozens of irrigation zones while maintaining pressure balance and irrigation uniformity across the network. The system also allows irrigation programmes to be adjusted remotely, reducing manual intervention and improving operational flexibility.
Smarter Water Use, Tailored to the Land
A major advantage of the new system is precision. With the farm already EM-mapped, Emlyn can now run different irrigation programmes for heavy and light soils. Heavier areas receive shorter watering times — improving water efficiency while maintaining pasture performance.
“I want to be ahead and use water wisely,” he said. The shift has also expanded the irrigated footprint. The old pivot covered 63 hectares, but with solid set extending into the corners, the new system now irrigates 77 hectares — a significant increase in productive area without increasing exposure to wind damage.
“This farm is a strong example of the flexibility smart irrigation control can provide,” says Ross Aimer, GM at Water to Grow. “The system is fast to deploy, cost-effective to operate, and allows irrigation to be adapted to the specific topography, soil types, and operating conditions of each farm.”
Building a More Resilient Future
For Emlyn, the October storm became the catalyst for a long-term rethink. The success of the first installation has already prompted plans to extend solid set irrigation and the Water to Grow system into other parts of the farm.
The goals driving the change remain clear:
- Fast response
- Storm-resilient infrastructure
- Efficient water use
- Irrigation uniformity
- Low maintenance
- Ease of operation
- Remote automation and control
As climate volatility increases, more farmers are reassessing the balance between productivity, water efficiency and infrastructure resilience. For exposed or high-risk areas, distributed solid-set systems combined with intelligent irrigation control are becoming an increasingly attractive option.
For Upper Balmoral, Water to Grow has become more than an irrigation control platform. It has become part of a broader strategy to build a more resilient farming operation — one designed to withstand the next 210 km/h wind event, not just recover from it.
Delivered alongside WaterForce and supported by Water Supply Products, the project highlights how modern irrigation technology and experienced local partners can work together to improve irrigation flexibility, efficiency, and resilience in challenging conditions.
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