Irrigation up and running

Leon R · May 2, 2020

Don't usually have to start the irrigation this early as april showers are usually enough to get through the first cut in mid June. July and August are the driest months and demand more constant irrigation. We have a dam further up the valley about 3 miles and a pipeline that feeds us. We are allowed 31 inches of water per year and it is metered. Lots of pressure so no pumps needed. to keep this tractor related I use my MF65 to move my irrigation equipment to the next field. It is a hobby farm of 14 acres which approx 7 acres in hay production.

coshoo · May 2, 2020

Pretty place. Where are you? Will you run out of your allotment this summer, having started this early?

55 50 Ron · May 2, 2020

YT member maps shows him near Summerland, BC

bcdave · May 2, 2020

Good morning Leon. I will start irrigation here right after bloom. Cell division happens in the apples if the soil is not cooled by irrigating early. Cell division makes apples larger. Snowball bloom this year.
Stay Safe
Dave
Southern B.C.

CBBC · May 2, 2020

We?ve been up and running with the sprinklers since mid
March, but that?s for frost protection. Really it?s only getting
serious now as the cranberry hooks / buds start
elongating...I?m set at 32 now and off at 35. Depending on the
field and variety. May bump up a bit in a week or so.

Generally at this time of year, the sprinklers will cycle on and
off a couple time per night if the sky is clear, clouds will hold
the daytime heat in. The sprinkler water is about 45-50
degrees now which is more than enough to warm up the
fields. The biggest problem is getting the water off. We don?t
need roots to be saturated.

These are solid set systems so not a lot of setting up, but we
do take out some of the sprinkler uprights at harvest. Pumps
are all 3 ph electric.

I?ll post pictures at some point.
Grant.

DeltaRed · May 2, 2020

I started corn water this morning. We have been irrigating hay for about a month.

Leon R · May 2, 2020

(quoted from post at 11:51:35 05/02/20) I started corn water this morning. We have been irrigating hay for about a month.

oshoo, won't run out of water just have to pay dearly if we go over...haven't ever done that yet and don't plan to. My annual ag water bill is around $1200 for 7.5 acres of arable land. They started metering us a few years ago when the world started worrying about the fresh water supply being depleted. Not to say that a few people wern't definitely abusing it. Definitely was a way to raise a few tax dollars as well!! Not complaining about the ag fee as the system has to be maintained.
Dave. where are you in southern BC?

bcdave · May 2, 2020

Sunny Cawston
Dave B

Leon R · May 3, 2020

Hello Dave, we are not that far apart so should get together sometime after this covid19 clears up. have a couple vintage car friends that live in your area. Leon

Irrigation up and running

Leon R

Member

coshoo

Well-known Member

55 50 Ron

Well-known Member

bcdave

Member

CBBC

Member

DeltaRed

Well-known Member

Leon R

Member

bcdave

Member

Leon R

Member

Similar threads