Israeli Tech Tests On Colorado Soil

More than 800 center pivot systems across the High Plains now carry cameras and ground-penetrating radar designed in Israel. These sensors scan crops and soil on every pass to detect issues like clogged nozzles before visible stress appears on the plants.

The technology is moving from existing farms to a dedicated test site. The Logan County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) will manage 170 acres beside the historic 1905 Sugar Factory in Sterling, Colorado. Trae Miller, executive director of LCEDC, stated that the 2027 growing season is the planned kickoff for this trial. He expects to run four different water management technologies on the single field to compare their performance.

The initiative links the Western Negev Innovation Authority, known as HaMitbah, with local Colorado agricultural interests. The coalition includes Ofakim Municipality, the Eshkol Regional Council, Sapir Academic College, and 17 AgTech and WaterTech companies. The connection originated with the BIRD Foundation, the US-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation. Miller noted that a BIRD grant awarded to Nutrien Ag Solutions and GreenEye Technology sparked the initial interest. The Colorado-Israel Chamber of Commerce, led by co-directors Jordan Kastrinsky and Jeremiah Baronberg, then facilitated the introduction to HaMitbah.

The partnership addresses shared challenges in two distinct regions. Logan County supports a farm economy valued at over $6 billion and 1.38 million head of cattle. The Western Negev produces 65% of Israel's field crops in a desert environment with minimal rainfall. Both areas face extreme climate conditions, water scarcity, and labor shortages. Ryan Timmerman, general manager at NA Timmerman, cited labor as a primary concern for his operation of approximately 50,000 head of cattle. He described the need for support with a single word: "Help."

The technology aims to fit existing farming practices rather than replace them. Kastrinsky explained that row-crop farmers prefer center pivots over drip irrigation systems that require laying and removing plastic lines each season. Autonomous Pivot, one of the participating companies, sells an annual membership for its hardware rather than a one-time cost of $50,000. Daniel Bridges, the company's US representative, emphasized that the system operates continuously without breaks. Other companies in the group, such as Aqueduct Agrotech and Ness Fertigation, offer solutions that integrate with current irrigation infrastructure to reduce pumping costs or dose fertilizer at the roots.

Water management remains a central focus for the region. Jim Yahn, a Logan County Commissioner who managed the North Sterling Irrigation District for 34 years, showed the delegation water rights dating back to 1873. He explained that the water is used seven times, with return flow picked up by downstream users. Colorado's regional basin roundtables help settle disputes between farmers, cities, and state engineers. Kastrinsky referred to this collaborative approach as social water technology, a model he believes Israel can study.

State and local support for the project includes grant opportunities and infrastructure. Lance Gloss of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade outlined state grants of up to $500,000. Ofakim has set aside land in the Western Negev to serve as a reciprocal test site for Colorado technologies. The groups plan to bring Western Negev startups to the Idea Farming 2.0 event in Sterling in March 2027. They are also exploring a formal county-to-county partnership between Logan County and a Western Negev municipality.

The delegation also visited Graham Electric Planter, where six employees build circuit boards to retrofit old planters into precision machines. Mike White, president of Northeastern Junior College, agreed to establish a bridge with Sapir College. Noam Bedein, director of Innovation Diplomacy at HaMitbah, concluded the visit by presenting the concept of exporting field-tested resilience developed under severe climate stress.