Agriculture is the backbone of society, as we rely on their food production to sustain our lives. In order for farmers to work efficiently, techniques such as modern irrigation have provided significant time and energy savings.

These Irrigation systems are typically utilized for medium to large-scale agriculture to provide ample hydration to plants and animals.

Irrigation systems are commonly marked with identification tags, labels, and nameplates. This can help workers distinguish between various valves, pipes, and pumps in the system.

With the often complex and maze-like pattern of some piping systems, simple identification can make a big difference.

Applications

Safety

These water systems are also often adorned with information regarding safe use, as well as precautions to prevent leaks, damage, or other accidental operation. This can be as simple as a small placard or warning label.

In some cases, a full size nameplate with operating directions may be included on or around the water system.

In addition the ability to seamlessly identify the right valve or pump in a timely manner can be very important. For example, in the event of a leak or other malfunction, quickly locating the shut-off is crucial.

Any major leaks or damage has the potential to ruin a crop by over or under watering, costing the organization greatly.

Inspections

One of the most important elements in industrial safety is preventative, in the form of inspections. Periodic checks of machines, equipment, wiring, and valves, is important for all industrial organizations.

Irrigation valves must be regularly checked for any potential issues or weak points. Custom inspection tags help ensure these inspections are consistent and accurate.

Identification

A challenge for large scale operations is keeping track of large areas of various crops. One method some organizations turn to is utilizing identification tags or labels to mark stakes in the ground near crops to indicate to workers exactly where each crop starts and ends.

Materials

When selecting the right identification solution, material is an important element. Material options often used for this application include:

  • Aluminum
  • Brass
  • Copper
  • Stainless Steel
  • And More

These materials are not only durable, but resistant to water and other weather elements the agriculture tags may be exposed to, especially in an outdoor setting.

Marking Processes

Embossing

This process is used to mark tags and nameplates for a wide range of industrial uses. Often embossing is used to mark tags for many types of valve marking applications, such as safety release valves.

One of the most durable processes, embossed agriculture tags are suitable for the harshest industrial conditions. The sturdy raised text will not easily be removed from the material.

As there is no topical ink, fading or wearing is not a concern.

This means that embossed nameplates can be used in nearly any environment, and will last for decades outdoors. Weather is no match for this raised metal design.

There are some limitations to this process, as design options are limited. Producing large quantities of a single design, or a set of sequential numbers is no problem.

Photo Anodization

For identification with durability in mind, photo anodization is a great option. This process creates a design beneath protective layers of aluminum.

Durability is not a concern with these nameplates. Rated for 20+ years outdoors, the marking will not simply fade or wear when exposed to the elements in an agricultural environment.

This process can include nearly any design, logo, barcode, or imaging. Barcodes can be used for asset tracking, or to provide additional information.

The anodization process can also add a solid background color to the aluminum material. This allows for customization opportunities such as color coding or branding for the farm.

Wrap-Up

Irrigation systems are crucial in processes for agriculture, as their efficiency has helped farmers save time and resources.

In order to maintain the effectiveness of these systems, clear identification is necessary. Metal agriculture tags are used to provide information in regards to safety and operation.