THE INNOVATORS
Reinventing the Wheel: Irrigation Revolution’s Track Systems
The Xtra-X track system.
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Kris Polly: How long have you been in business? John Cates: I have been in business for 2 years, but I have been designing, developing, and testing for 5. Kris Polly: Could you please tell us about your professional background? John Cates: When I graduated from high school, I traveled all over the United States servicing ethanol plants in the maintenance department. I did that for about 2 years, and then, for the next 4 years I worked in manufacturing for a company that made parts for companies like Kawasaki, Case, and New Holland. I then worked a stint at New Holland manufacturing in Grand Island, Nebraska. For the last 8 years, I have been an agronomist for an ag research company. IRRIGATION LEADER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHN CATES.
rrigators around the United States spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours every year dealing with problems with the tires on their pivot systems. Traditional tire systems are prone to flats, create large ruts in the ground, and can be costly to maintain. Irrigation Revolution has created an effective solution to the problems of traditional tire systems with their Xtra-X track system, which was first displayed at Husker Harvest Days 2017. The Xtra-X system is designed to reduce the ground pressure of a pivot to significantly reduce the size of ruts created. Results show that the Xtra-X system reduces rut size by 80 percent. Irrigation Revolution is looking to help farmers all around the United States increase the efficiency of their pivot systems while reducing operational costs. Irrigation Leader’s editor-inchief, Kris Polly, spoke with the founder and CEO of Irrigation Revolution, John Cates, about his Xtra-X track system, its benefits to farmers, and Irrigation Revolution’s vision for the future.
