HotSpot AG is a vineyard management tool, developed to simplify irrigation and help growers comply with ever-changing regulations. The cloud-based data is displayed onto a dashboard for quick access from any smartphone, tablet, or computer. From these devices, you can monitor aspects such as flow, pressure, filter, soil moisture, energy usage, well level, reservoir level, pump status, along with current weather conditions such as wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and rain collection.
Within the HotSpot AG interface, you can also control valves, pumps, diesel and propane engines used for pumps and wind machines, and inject fertilizers. All control functions can be remotely used at the touch of a button or scheduled for future use with an intuitive and easy to use scheduling tool. This full-service technology is customized to the specific needs of every individual. Multiple access points are made available providing information pertinent to each user.
Gone are the days of recording every tedious detail on a spreadsheet. Now you can measure reservoir and groundwater levels remotely. Receive alerts when the generator kicks on or any other point of data relevant to subscribers. Capture and export water and energy usage reports to supply regulating agencies with the information required for oversight.
Users can automate pumps and valves remotely and see details on pump efficiency in real-time. Observe VFD optimization from the dashboard and adjust settings to enhance pump longevity. Track specifics on pressure and flow to immediately identify issues with pump, filter and valve performance enabling owners to take corrective action prior to costly failures.
Use HotSpot AG to monitor soil moisture and weather conditions and make informed irrigation decisions. This technology will enable you to identify clogs or leaks in an irrigation system to better manage water usage when resources are limited.
With our state-of-the-art fertigation application users can simplify the execution of nutrient management by scheduling irrigation and fertigation events specific to crop needs while taking into consideration variable soil types.
In 2013, Jimmy Nichols was tasked with managing irrigation schedules for his family’s fourth-generation pistachio and almond farm. After working with the viticulturists, irrigators, and agronomists he discovered there was something missing that would enable a successful irrigation event from all perspectives. Upon implementing the newly engineered technology and seeing the benefits offered by telemetry, he realized that many others could apply this to their farms and result in higher yields with increased uniformity, lowering labor costs and increasing profitability. And for nearly a decade we’ve been doing just that.
I quickly discovered one of the biggest challenges to water management is that each team on a farm uses different units. Viticulturalists schedule in gallons per plant per week, the irrigation team thinks in gallons/minute, time, and pressure, and the accounting team asks for ac-ft or total gallons at the end of the year. When I was scheduling irrigations for our farm, I noticed that irrigation amounts were missed, and it was due to my lack of understanding of the irrigation system capabilities and constraints.
The (HotSpot AG) scheduling tool displays what irrigation schedule is achievable, when each pump and valve is schedule to be on, and records actual water applied to each block for record keeping. The real-time valve, pump, and filter station widgets show if pressure and flows are within the desired ranges during each irrigation, ensuring that the field is irrigated to the best it can be.
– Jimmy Nichols, President of HotSpot AG
HotSpot AG
WIN Expo Booth: 709
Not all ag tech companies are created equal as some startups are driven by tech entrepreneurs with minimal experience actually out walking the fields. HotSpot AG was created by farmers for farmers to take the guesswork out of water management. With decades of combined experience in agronomy and irrigation, our team is devoted to finding the right solution for each vineyard.
Our three main offices provide coverage across the state. We are centrally located in Santa Rosa, CA to service all Northern California growers. Every installation is specifically tailored to the growers’ needs and budget with a three-tiered platform. Sustainable farming is the future and with reduction in water use and greenhouse gas emissions HotSpot AG is compatible with grant funding. Are you ready to see your farm in a new light? Ask us how and find out why hundreds of users across 17 counties have embraced a new way of farming.
WIN Expo Exhibitors by Category:
North Coast Wine Industry Expo – WIN Expo – at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, CA on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
Full list of exhibitors | Register to attend
