Case Studies by Harplyn Irrigation

Gapway Mixon Farms: C.U.P.S. & WiseConn

C.U.P.S., What is it and why is it important with Citrus?

Florida growers have a long and tough history with pests and disease. In 2005, the Asian citrus psyllid arrived, carrying the bacterial disease Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening. Over the years, it has infected more than 90% of groves and forced growers to reimagine how and where citrus can thrive.

That’s part of why C.U.P.S. (Citrus Under Protective Screening) was developed. These structures protect trees from pests, limit disease spread, and create a more controlled growing environment. But, protection alone isn’t enough.

With WiseConn technology, citrus growers utilizing C.U.P.S. are able to read soil moisture levels efficiently, automate precise irrigation, and adjust in real time based on orchard needs. When every drop matters, and every bug and disease matters, it’s the difference between losing yields and growing strong.

These aren’t just structures. They’re the future of resilient citrus.

A Word from Operations Manager, Sam Mixon

At Gapway Mixon C.U.P.S., Operations Manager Sam Mixon is proving how critical irrigation management is inside protective structures. With temperatures climbing up to 20+ degrees higher than outside groves, the ability to monitor, automate, and adjust irrigation in real time is what keeps 80,000 citrus trees thriving.

RF-M1 Monitoring Node Highlight – Soil Moisture

RF-M1 nodes provide real-time soil moisture telemetry, enabling operation managers like Sam Mixon to make data-driven irrigation decisions. By monitoring water at multiple depths, he can precisely schedule irrigation programs, maintain optimal root-zone hydration, and support uniform, high-quality citrus growth across the orchard.

Weather Monitoring is Crucial for C.U.P.S.

Florida weather can change in minutes, and uneven rainfall often leaves parts of a farm over-or-under watered. Installing on-site weather stations provides precise environmental data, helping growers identify microclimates and make informed irrigation decisions to maintain uniform crop health.