July 2026 was among the driest on record across many parts of Michigan, according to National Weather Service data, putting the state’s agriculture sector in a precarious position. Plant growth is severely hindered by these conditions, forcing growers to rely on irrigation to supplement the lacking precipitation.
When irrigation is desperately needed, growers seek to use water resources as precisely as possible, said Younsuk Dong, an assistant professor and irrigation specialist in the Michigan State University Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
Not enough water results in depleted soil moisture and stunted plant development. Too much can heighten disease pressure while saturating the soil, which leads to nutrient runoff and money lost. Either scenario hurts farmers’ bottom lines, presenting a difficult situation for businesses that operate on thin margins.
Alongside a variety of other tools, Dong and his team pioneered the Low-Cost Monitoring System, or LOCOMOS, which positions in-field sensors to monitor soil moisture, leaf wetness and several other environmental conditions. Software then analyzes the data to generate precise recommendations that are delivered to growers via a mobile app.
Using the growers’ normal irrigation schedule as a comparison, LOCOMOS enhanced annual profits in a 100-acre field by $7,700 for corn and $1,300 for soybeans based on yield increases and reduced energy costs. Dong said these significant savings warranted further investigation into other cropping systems. But before growers consider the plethora of available MSU tools, checking their irrigation system’s performance is a top priority.