b'Making it RainThe Rainmaker system mimics rain, making irrigation systemsbetter for spuds.BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONWHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE between rain and irrigation? You may say, well one I turn on to water my spuds and the other happens sporadically, but theres more to it. Irrigation is simply water, while rainwater on the other hand has molecules in it that assist in plant growth. You may not think this makes a huge difference, but it does leading one company to package that all up and sell it. We built a machine that mimics that process of sunlight absorption in the upper atmosphere and transference of those molecules into rainwater. We achieve those same molecular changes of air and force it under pressure into the irrigation line of the farmer. These molecules then react with the minerals, metals, the fertilizer and many other components in the water. Nutrients are made available to the plants and soil microbes. By-products of oxygen and carbon dioxide stay behind for the microbes and the fungi to use in the soil,An older version of the Rainmaker system attached to an irrigation boom in a potato field. Riaan Kirsten, founder and chief technicalPHOTO: RAINMAKER.EARTH CORPofficer of Rainmaker.Earth Corp, explains in a Zoom interview.and enhanced aerobic microbial life. And byalso a significant yield increase, with good Kirsten and his team started developingdoing that, when the soil gets two or threeshape, gravity, and quality for the spuds the system 20 years ago in South Africa.inches of rain, that rain penetrates into theoverall. For the 2023 growing season he Their idea was to oxygenate water so thatsoil, he says.bought 10 more units and plans to test them it would mimic rainwater, through trialIn 2022, through a mutual connection,out on his all his potato fields, seed canola, and error they developed their system. TheKirsten was introduced to Chris Hunttimothy hay and sugar beet crops. Rainmaker system is connected to irrigationwhich is when the product took off. WithRainmaker is currently working on pivots and converts the irrigation water toHunt at the helm as CEO, Rainmakerdeveloping its dealership footprint to make mimic rain using an advanced oxidationis now being launched internationally.the system more widely available. Hunt also process. It combines energized air and smallInitially the company was called Carbonsays theyre working with agronomists to doses of hydrogen peroxide to generateCascade but recently changed the name washelp growers learn more about their product. hydroxyl radicals in the treated water. changed to Rainmaker.Earth Corp.Were still learning every day on what Once a grower installs the RainmakerOn Tamminga Farms near Taber, Alta.types of soil, what types of plant and what system on their irrigation boom, theyllBill Tamminga installed a Rainmakeramendments may be needed or changed. So notice the water penetrates their soil quicker,onto one of his irrigation pivots duringhow can I change my fertilizer input? Or can Kirsten explains. Plants will also start takingthe 2022 growing season. The processingI give different fertilizer, less fertilizer or less in more nutrients.potato grower right away noticed his cropwater or even more water? Kirsten explains, The hair roots of the plant grow rapidlywas staying healthier and greener longeradding his team is also working to make the and more abundant because of more oxygencompared to the untreated side. There wasunit smaller and more efficient. 32SPUDSMART.COMSummer 2023'