For modern growers, irrigation efficiency is no longer simply about getting water onto a field. It is about applying the right amount, achieving uniform distribution and covering as much ground as possible with fewer resources.
For Landbau Tellmer, a Northern German arable operation specializing in potato production, combining precision sprinkler technology with Fasterholt travelling irrigation systems is helping make irrigation more efficient and effective.
Irrigation has been an integral part of the farm since the late 1970s. Today, approximately 99% of its farmland is connected through permanently installed underground pipelines supplied by electric pumps.
This infrastructure provides reliable water access for crops including potatoes and sugar beet, but increasing pressure on water permits has made efficient application just as important as availability.
Making every irrigation run count
“The biggest challenge in irrigation today is not technology, but water permits,” says Florian Schröder of Landbau Tellmer. “We have water rights for every field, but they are not sufficient to irrigate all crops as intensively as we would like.”
To make better use of its available water and improve operational efficiency, Landbau Tellmer integrated Fasterholt travelling irrigation systems alongside its conventional hose reel fleet.
The travelling systems allow longer field sections to be irrigated in a single setup, with distances of up to 1,000 meters possible. On the farm’s average nine-hectare plots, this enables up to 7.8 hectares to be irrigated in one run.
“With a field length of 1,000 meters, we can now irrigate 7.8 hectares in a single setup,” Schröder explains. “Because we now cultivate some plots lengthwise, we can even save up to three setups in certain cases.”
Fewer setups reduce repositioning, labor requirements and machine movements, helping the farm make better use of limited irrigation windows.
Precision sprinkling for uniform application
Efficient field coverage is only part of the equation. Water must also be distributed consistently across the irrigated area to make every application count.
To improve application performance, Landbau Tellmer standardized Komet sprinkler technology across its irrigation fleet. With a throw distance of up to 78 meters, uniform distribution and reduced sensitivity to wind are particularly important.
“Uniform water distribution across a throw distance of 78 meters is critical for us,” Schröder says. “Since switching to Komet sprinklers, we have seen improved irrigation uniformity and reduced wind sensitivity.”
The combination of Fasterholt travelling irrigation equipment and Komet precision sprinklers therefore allows the farm to cover large areas while maintaining consistent water application.
optimizing water use
Landbau Tellmer has also introduced the RainDancer system to further optimize application. By reducing water volumes applied per hectare while maintaining consistent crop performance, the system supports the farm’s broader goal of using its available water more efficiently.
This approach is becoming increasingly important as water restrictions and climate variability intensify.
Rather than viewing irrigation simply as a means of supplying crops with water, Landbau Tellmer is treating it as an integrated system in which infrastructure, travelling equipment and sprinkler technology work together.
“As water resources become more regulated and climate variability increases, the focus must shift from access to water towards the efficiency of its application,” says Andree Groos, CEO of Komet.
“Technologies that improve distribution uniformity and reduce wind drift will play a decisive role in ensuring agricultural productivity while protecting water resources.”
A more efficient irrigation strategy
The experience at Landbau Tellmer demonstrates how complementary technologies can improve irrigation efficiency. Fasterholt travelling systems increase the area covered in a single setup, while Komet sprinkler technology helps ensure that water is distributed more uniformly across the field.
The wider impact of this approach is reflected in Komet’s global figures. In 2025, Komet technologies supported irrigation across more than 610,000 hectares and contributed to an estimated 734 billion liters of water savings through improved application efficiency.
For Landbau Tellmer, the benefits are practical: fewer setups, greater field coverage, improved distribution and more efficient use of limited water resources.
“The combination of Fasterholt machines, Komet sprinklers and the RainDancer system is a significant improvement and a strong complement to conventional hose reel irrigation,” Schröder concludes.
