Being an Irrigating Farmer has many benefits with increased
land value and production to less reliance on rainfall events being at the top
of the list.
But with these benefits comes responsibilities and duties to
ensure success at being an irrigating farmer.
So, what is involved?
1. Regular System Maintenance
1.
Irrigation System checks should be undertaken
pre-season and at least twice over the irrigation season. This involves doing pressure tests, checking
sprinklers and nozzles, cleaning out filters, checking and fixing leaks. Click on the link below for checklists and
guides.
2. Irrigation Evalulations
Irrigation
Systems need to be evaluated much like getting a vehicle Warrant of
Fitness. Evaluating your system allows
you to check that it is working to the design specifications and performing as
you would expect. High distribution
uniformity (how evenly the system applies water) is the key to achieving an
efficient and effective irrigation system.
Ideally, irrigation systems should be ‘farmer’ evaluated annually using
the ‘Irrig8lite’ guide - http://www.pagebloomer.co.nz/resources/irrigation-calibration/irrig8lite/.
Should your system show low performance, a
full system evaluation should be undertaken by a qualified evaluator: http://www.hydroservices.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured&Itemid=271.
3. Measuring Soil Moisture
Measuring
your soil moisture is the BEST way to manage and schedule your irrigation
efficiently. If you don’t know what your
soil moisture content is, it is likely you are either under irrigating or over
irrigating which can be detrimental to your crop and/or the environment. There are a number of options when it comes
to measuring soil moisture whether it be an on farm service or telemetered
continuous soil moisture sensors.
The Irrigation Season has already arrived for some and is
fast approaching for others. If you
haven’t completed your pre-season system maintenance checks already, now is the
time to do it!