Start Here — Your Field in a Sentence

• Tell me briefly about the parcel you want assessed, including your local parcel ID, main crop, and total acres.
• How many pivots, lateral-move systems, or drip zones are on this parcel today? Options: 1, 2-3, 4-6, 7 or more
• On a typical irrigation season, how often does each zone run during peak demand? Options: Daily, Every few days, Weekly, Only during peak windows, Varies widely
• When was the last nozzle uniformity or flow test performed on these systems? Options: Within 12 months, 1–3 years ago, Over 3 years, Never
• If the site assessment shows your water or power cannot support the intended design, would you pause the project or prefer a revised design? Options: Pause until resolved, Revise design and proceed, Move to another site, Unsure

Where Your Water Actually Comes From

• How often has limited flow or pressure from your primary source forced shorter run times or reduced application depth? Options: Every season, Some years, Rarely, Never
• Describe your primary water source, include type (well, diversion, district) and any seasonal variations.
• Which of the following best describes your intake or source infrastructure? Options: On-farm well with variable yield, Surface diversion with seasonal flow, District or municipal supply, Shared pump station, Other
• Could you estimate the reliable pumping rate from your primary source, in gallons per minute or liters per second?
• Is there an active water right, permit, seasonal allocation, or restriction that could limit your peak daily withdrawal? Options: Yes, strict limits, Yes, moderate limits, No formal limits, Unsure
• Who on your team manages permits and water allocation communications with the district or regulator? Options: Owner, Irrigation manager, External consultant, Local water district handles it, Other

Soil, Slope, and How Water Actually Moves

• Which soil behavior causes you the most operational problems: slow infiltration, fast runoff, patchy infiltration, or salinity? Options: Slow infiltration/reservoiring, Fast runoff/erosion, Patchy infiltration across field, Salinity or crusting issues, Other
• Share any recent soil test results you have for texture class, measured infiltration rate, or bulk density.
• How much variability do you see across the field in infiltration and rooting depth? Options: Low (uniform), Moderate, High (patchy), Unknown
• If measured infiltration rates force a reduced application depth per pass, would you accept more passes or would that make the project unviable? Options: Accept more passes, Project becomes unviable, Prefer alternative technology, Unsure
• Select the slope or topography conditions that apply on the parcel. Options: Uniform gentle slope, Variable slopes with low spots, Terraced or bench fields, Significant gradients (>3%), Other

Pumps, Power, and What Breaks First

• How often do pump or electrical failures leave you without irrigation during critical windows? Options: Often, Occasionally, Rarely, Never
• List the pump horsepower, motor voltage, and whether the motors are single- or three-phase for your main pumping equipment.
• Pick the option that best matches your backup power or redundancy approach. Options: On-site generator, Redundant pumps with automatic switchover, No backup power, Portable backup arrangements, Other
• Could you attach or paste the latest service log for pump failures, repairs, and typical response times?
• Would a pump replacement with a lead time longer than 4 weeks force you to delay the project start? Options: Yes, would delay, No, can adjust schedule, We would find an interim solution, Unsure

People, Roles, and Who Owns What

• Who will sign contracts and who will be responsible for daily operation once the system is commissioned?
• Name the primary site contact for access and an alternate if the primary is unavailable.
• How quickly can your on-site maintenance crew respond to an urgent problem during the irrigation season? Options: Within 4 hours, Same day, Within 48 hours, Longer than 48 hours
• When a parts shortage occurs, who on your team would decide whether to delay work or accept temporary substitutions?
• Is the operation willing to commit a named operator and a weekly availability window for commissioning and training? Options: Yes, named and available, Yes, limited availability, No, cannot commit, Unsure

Big Risks You're Living With

• Point to the one infrastructure risk that would make you stop the project immediately if the assessment confirms it.
• When was the last time regulatory inspections, permitting delays, or neighbor disputes postponed an on-farm project? Options: Within 12 months, 1–3 years ago, Over 3 years ago, Never
• Tell a recent example of a season-critical failure, and describe the operational or financial impact it caused.
• List the weather or supply-chain scenarios in the next 12 months that could make delivery or installation impossible. Options: Extended drought affecting water supply, Major flooding or access issues, Key component supply shortage, Skilled labor shortages, Other
• Would you proceed if the assessment recommends a major civil change, such as regrading more than 5 acres? Options: Yes, proceed, No, stop the project, Only with cost sharing, Unsure

Who Else Is On Your Shortlist?

• Name the option you are most likely to pick if you decide not to change suppliers, and explain why they would win this selection.
• Select the types of alternatives you are evaluating or have received proposals from. Options: Local dealer proposals, Direct manufacturer sales, In-house retrofit by your crew, Hybrid approach (partial upgrade), No change / keep existing
• Describe the evidence or performance thresholds that would need to hold true for you to stay with your current approach rather than switch.
• Has anyone on your team proposed solving this without an outside vendor, and if so, who would own that effort? Options: Yes, internal crew proposed it, Yes, external consultant suggested it, No internal proposal exists, Unsure
• What would it take for you to sign with a new seller within two weeks after a successful pilot?

Practical Gatekeepers — Readiness and Constraints

• Point out the single infrastructure prerequisite that, if missing, would block installation on our proposed timeline.
• Choose the types of telemetry or connectivity endpoints your operation requires for remote control and monitoring. Options: Cellular gateway with SIM, On-farm Wi-Fi, Wired ethernet to panel, Modbus/SCADA interface, No remote telemetry required
• Identify the party responsible for securing electrical permits and approving any necessary power upgrades.
• How clean and accessible are the data sources we will need for control tuning, for example pump curves, soil maps, or historical run logs? Options: Ready and accessible, Partly available with gaps, Fragmented across systems, Not available
• Are there any legal, lender, or grant conditions that would prevent accepting equipment as collateral or starting before final approval? Options: Yes, restrictions exist, No restrictions, Unsure, need to confirm
• Choose which internal resources will be dedicated to the deployment project. Options: On-site operations crew, IT or telemetry lead, Procurement lead, Facilities/earthworks team, External contractor

Decision Criteria and Next Actions

• Assuming the pilot proves the expected water and energy savings, what is the single remaining obstacle that would stop you from signing the full project within your target window?
• Pick up to three measurable acceptance criteria that would let you sign off on installation and handover. Options: Application depth within target +/-10%, Nozzle uniformity within spec, System runs unattended for X days, Telemetry reports reliable data, Power draw within expected range
• How soon do you need the full system in operation? Select your target window. Options: Within 4 weeks, 4–8 weeks, 2–4 months, Seasonal / flexible
• Identify the decision-makers, their approval role, and the expected budget sign-off timeline.
• Are you ready to schedule a site visit and pump test within the next 10 business days? Options: Yes, schedule within 10 days, Not ready that soon, Need to discuss timing, Unsure

• Performance & Controls Walkthrough

• Confirm the current state and its cost
• You confirm the quantified cost of your current irrigation performance and energy consumption.
• Deliver a field-specific nozzle selection sheet with predicted application depths and an estimated annual pump energy savings calculation.
• You confirm that the demonstrated nozzle and layout configuration achieves your target application depth and uniformity in the representative field scenario.
• Show field layout and nozzle proof runs
• Provide a proposed spare-part inventory and service-response plan aligned to the buyer's peak season windows.
• Demonstrate control logic and energy impact
• You confirm the proposed control logic and pressure management will reduce pumping energy and respect your permit or allocation limits.
• Share recent soil infiltration test results and any field electrical service constraints needed to finalize pressure settings.
• Validate operational reliability and service plan
• Confirm the representative field boundaries and the acceptance thresholds for application depth and uniformity used for commissioning.
• Agreement on the remaining evidence and tests required before a commercial decision.
• Confirm this maps to your needs

• Performance & Controls Walkthrough
• Performance & Controls Walkthrough Deck
• Performance & Controls Solution Brief

• meeting
• slides
• document

• Install center pivot structural spans
• Install lateral-move structural spans
• Install drip lateral lines and emitters
• Mount and commission drive units and gearboxes
• Install and commission sprinkler packages and nozzles
• Nozzle calibration and system pressure testing
• Install smart control panel and cellular modem
• Program control schedules and variable-rate maps
• Integrate soil moisture sensors and weather station
• Activate remote monitoring and alert subscription
• On-site operator training and handover
• Seasonal startup service
• Seasonal winterization and shutdown service
• Supply spare-parts kit and nozzle replacement program
• Remote troubleshooting and firmware updates

Install center pivot structural spans

• Do you have GIS field boundaries or a field polygon file for the pivot layout? Options: Yes, shapefile/GeoJSON available, No, provide field dimensions manually, Partial—some fields have files
• Provide the existing well or pump house discharge capacity in gallons per minute (gpm) that the pivot will rely on
• How long are the desired span sections for the pivot in feet or meters (e.g., 120 ft / 36.6 m)? Options: Up to 100 ft, 100-150 ft, 150-200 ft, More than 200 ft
• Which ground conditions apply at tower foundations for span pads (e.g., compacted clay, rock, sandy loam)? Options: Compacted clay, Rock/bedrock near surface, Sandy loam, Peat/organic, Mixed
• Specify site access constraints for heavy equipment during span installation (road width, gate height, seasonal limits)

Install lateral-move structural spans

• Do you plan lateral moves across fixed furrows or variable cross-country terrain for the lateral system? Options: Fixed furrows only, Variable cross-country terrain, Combination
• Estimate the total lateral length and number of lateral towers or anchor points Options: Less than 500 m, 500-1,500 m, 1,500-3,000 m, More than 3,000 m
• Identify any irrigation channel crossings or culverts the lateral will need to span Options: None, 1-2 crossings, 3-5 crossings, More than 5
• Which soil compaction or trenching constraints exist for lateral foundation pads? Options: Shallow bedrock, High water table, Loose sand, Normal agricultural soil
• Provide the expected installation window (dates) when site conditions allow heavy span placement

Install drip lateral lines and emitters

• What crop row spacing and emitter spacing will the drip laterals follow (e.g., 30-inch rows, emitters every 12 inches)?
• Select the delivery method for drip laterals: surface-mounted, buried at specific depth, or subsurface tape Options: Surface-mounted, Buried at specified depth, Subsurface drip tape
• Specify required filtration and pressure regulation upstream of emitters (mesh size or micron rating and target pressure in psi)
• Estimate the number of laterals and total run length in meters or feet for material ordering Options: Under 500 m, 500-1,000 m, 1,000-5,000 m, Over 5,000 m
• Indicate water quality concerns relevant to emitter clogging (TDS, turbidity, iron/manganese levels) Options: Low concerns, Moderate iron/manganese, High sediment/turbidity, Need lab report

Mount and commission drive units and gearboxes

• Identify the number and model specification of drive units per pivot or lateral run based on span count
• Specify available electrical service at each drive location (voltage and phase, e.g., 480V three-phase or 240V single-phase) Options: 208-240V single-phase, 480V three-phase, Other—describe
• Which torque and gearbox rating (input rpm and output torque) is required for your field slope and draft conditions?
• Describe lockout/tagout and confined-space procedures we must follow while mounting drives on your site
• Provide preferred commissioning timeline for drive alignment and load testing (number of days from delivery) Options: 1 day, 2-3 days, 4-7 days, Custom schedule

Install and commission sprinkler packages and nozzles

• Which sprinkler package coverage pattern and nozzle family are targeted for each irrigated block (e.g., CL normalized droplet, VRI-ready nozzle family)? Options: Standard coverage, High-efficiency low-angle, VRI-optimized
• Specify design operating pressure range in psi for the sprinkler packages Options: 20-30 psi, 30-40 psi, 40-60 psi, Custom
• How many distinct nozzle types or orifice sizes will be required across the system for crop and soil variability? Options: 1, 2-3, 4-6, More than 6
• Identify any special mounting hardware or anti-sway restraints needed for your field wind exposure Options: Standard mounts, Wind braces required, Custom mounts—describe
• Provide any nozzle uniformity or catalog CV (coefficient of variation) targets you require for acceptance

Nozzle calibration and system pressure testing

• Specify the target coefficient of variation (CV) or nozzle uniformity threshold for acceptance during the calibration test (state percent) Options: CV <= 7%, CV <= 10%, CV <= 12%, Custom value
• Which system pressure checkpoints in psi should be recorded during the pressure test (e.g., supply, mid-span, end of line)?
• Provide the number of sample runs and field plots where nozzle catch-can tests will be performed Options: 1 plot, 2-3 plots, 4-6 plots, More than 6
• Who on your team will sign the calibration and pressure-test report to confirm acceptance?
• List any regulatory or irrigation district reporting thresholds that nozzle calibration must meet (e.g., application depth per pass in inches)

Install smart control panel and cellular modem

• Confirm available cellular signal strength at control panel location in dBm or indicate if a site survey is needed Options: -70 dBm or better, -90 to -70 dBm, Below -90 dBm / survey needed
• Specify required input power and back-up power options at the control panel (voltage and battery or generator requirements) Options: No backup required, 12V battery backup, AC with generator backup, Custom
• Provide the telemetry endpoint requirements we must configure (IP/URL, port, authentication method) or indicate if we should use your SCADA endpoint
• Which physical mounting location and enclosure rating do you prefer for the panel (e.g., pole-mounted NEMA 4X at 10 ft height)? Options: Pole mount NEMA 4X, Pad-mounted NEMA 3R, Indoor cabinet, Custom
• What measurable acceptance criteria will confirm the control panel and modem are commissioned (successful telemetry ping, configuration load, and remote command test)?

Program control schedules and variable-rate maps

• Provide your target seasonal application depths (inches per irrigation event) by crop and field block for schedule programming
• Do you have existing prescription or VRI (variable-rate irrigation) maps to import (file format: shapefile/GeoJSON/CSV)? Options: Yes, shapefile/GeoJSON, Yes, CSV, No, maps need creation
• Indicate preferred schedule triggers: calendar, soil moisture threshold, or weather-based ET estimates Options: Calendar only, Soil moisture sensor thresholds, Weather ET integration, Hybrid
• Which control parameters should be locked for operations (max run time per zone, minimum off delay in minutes)?

Integrate soil moisture sensors and weather station

• How many soil moisture sensor locations and at which depths (e.g., 0-30 cm, 30-60 cm) should be integrated per field block? Options: 1 location per block, 2-3 locations per block, 4+ locations per block
• Which telemetry protocol or endpoint do your sensors use (HTTP API, Modbus TCP, LoRaWAN) or do you require adapter configuration? Options: HTTP API, Modbus TCP, LoRaWAN, Other / provide spec
• Provide target weather station parameters to collect (wind speed, rainfall gauge tipping bucket, solar radiation), and mounting height
• Identify any existing sensors or stations to be retained so we avoid duplicate telemetry channels Options: No existing, Existing station to retain, Existing sensors scattered
• Specify acceptance checks for sensor integration such as data freshness (minutes), expected measurement ranges, and missing-data thresholds

Activate remote monitoring and alert subscription

• Which alert channels should be activated for fault notifications (SMS, email, phone call, in-platform alert)? Options: SMS, Email, Phone call, In-platform alert
• Specify alert thresholds for pump run time, low pressure in psi, and unscheduled stop events
• Do you require 24/7 monitoring subscription or business-hours-only alerting? Options: 24/7 monitoring, Business hours only, Hybrid schedule
• Provide the primary and secondary contact names and preferred contact methods for escalations during irrigation season
• Indicate whether you require automated weekly telemetry summaries and the preferred report format Options: Weekly email CSV, Weekly PDF summary, Dashboard only, Custom

On-site operator training and handover

• How many operator trainees will attend on-site training and what skill levels do they currently have with pivot controls? Options: 1-2 novice, 1-2 experienced, 3-5 mixed, More than 5
• Which training modules are required: basic panel operation, emergency stop procedures, routine maintenance, or advanced VRI editing? Options: Basic panel operation, Emergency procedures, Routine maintenance, Advanced VRI editing
• Provide your preferred training format for handover (hands-on at control panel, classroom with tablet, or remote webinar follow-up) Options: Hands-on at panel, Classroom with tablet, Remote webinar follow-up, Hybrid
• What documentation formats should accompany training (paper quick-start, PDF operations manual, video walkthroughs)? Options: Paper quick-start, PDF manual, Video walkthroughs, All of the above
• What measurable acceptance criteria will confirm successful handover (operator completes run cycle and executes remote start/stop within expected time)?

Seasonal startup service

• When do you schedule seasonal startup relative to planting dates (weeks before planting) Options: 4+ weeks before, 2-4 weeks before, 1 week before, As needed
• Which startup checklist items are mandatory for you: pump priming, pressure test, nozzle inventory check, drive motor inspection? Options: Pump priming, Pressure test, Nozzle inventory check, Drive motor inspection
• Do you require on-site verification of irrigation depth per application during the first runs after startup? Options: Yes, perform catch-can validation, No, visual inspection only, Spot checks only
• Specify preferred SLA for startup service response time in the startup window (hours) Options: 4 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, Custom
• Identify whether seasonal startup includes firmware/firmware-parameter updates for controllers Options: Include firmware updates, Exclude firmware updates, By exception only

Seasonal winterization and shutdown service

• Which winterization tasks do you require: drain lines, remove/secure nozzles, electrical isolation, or full system blowout? Options: Drain lines, Remove/secure nozzles, Electrical isolation, Full blowout

• Purchase Agreement
• Order Confirmation
• Statement of Work (SOW)
• Master Services Agreement (MSA)
• Service Level Agreement (SLA)
• Payment Schedule & Milestones
• Warranty Statement
• Spare Parts & Inventory Agreement
• Acceptance Test & Commissioning Certificate
• Change Order Agreement
• Equipment Financing Addendum

• Go-live Health Check
• First Performance Measurement
• Acceptance Gate Review (Day 90)
• Quarterly Operational Review and Seasonal Readiness

• Close low-priority enhancement requests or defer them with documented rationale and expected review date.
• Restate numeric acceptance criteria from Installation Scope
• Produce a documented pass or fail for each numeric criterion recorded in Installation Scope.
• Capture the buyer's documented acceptance decision with an identified signatory or, for smaller deals, a documented acceptance record.
• Agree remediation items, verification steps, and final validation dates for any conditional acceptance.
• Publish the acceptance decision and supporting measurement data to the shared workspace.
• Create remediation tickets for any failed criteria with clear verification steps and completion deadlines.
• Schedule follow-up validation runs and a short re-check meeting if any criteria are conditional.
• Performance trend review
• Confirm nozzle uniformity coefficient and mean time to service response meet or remain on track toward operational targets.
• Finalize the seasonal startup and maintenance schedule with confirmed spare-part provisioning.
• Ensure the ticket backlog has owners and SLA-based resolution dates or is reduced to an agreed stable level.
• Publish the seasonal startup checklist and maintenance schedule to the shared workspace.
• Replenish the prioritized spare-parts list and record expected lead times in the parts channel.
• Re-confirm scope and acceptance owners
• Confirm deployment items on the commissioning checklist are complete or have documented remediation steps.
• Confirm operator access and initial training coverage sufficient for safe operations.
• Create and populate the shared ticket channel with all open issues and temporary mitigations.
• Publish the as-built configuration and commissioning checklist in the shared workspace.
• Log all open defects and service requests into the shared ticket channel with expected resolution dates.
• Schedule the First Performance Measurement meeting within the 4 to 10 week window.
• Present first-period performance data
• Determine whether average applied depth per irrigation and pump energy use per applied acre-inch are trending toward the Installation Scope targets.
• Agree a prioritized list of corrective actions with resolution dates and parts delivery estimates.
• Confirm the re-measurement timeline and the Acceptance Gate meeting date.
• Schedule and perform targeted nozzle uniformity and pressure trace tests on the identified spans.
• Order or reserve required spare nozzles and critical parts and post expected delivery dates in the shared workspace.
• Update controller schedules or VRI maps as agreed and publish the configuration snapshot used for re-measurement.
• Deployment and commissioning validation
• Diagnose gaps and root causes
• Present outcome data against each acceptance criterion
• Ticket backlog and service response review
• Document pass or fail per criterion and acceptance decision
• Operator readiness and training signals
• Seasonal startup and maintenance planning
• Field validation checks
• Agree remediation plan for any failed criteria
• Prioritize enhancement and parts requests
• Open issues and blockers
• Agree corrective actions and parts needs
• Immediate remediation and next steps
• Confirm path to acceptance gate