Options for Center Pivots - Adding Acres and Improving Performance
Center pivots are an efficient way to water larger fields. Many changes have occurred since the original water drive units. It appears that changes will continue to come even faster. With competition between multiple manufacturers and the growing demand for food, new ideas are being developed and tested at an ever-increasing rate. Sprinkler packages alone have gone from around 60% efficient in the 90’s to nearly 95% efficient today. So, if you haven’t upgraded your sprinkler packages in less that 10 years, that would be a great place to start.
Let’s look at some upgrades that may bring increased value to your existing irrigation systems:
Low pressure sprinkler packages with pressure regulators that improve uniformity and efficiency and may reduce energy usage.
Secondary end guns can improve coverage beyond the “end of iron”.
Hi profile towers can increase clearance allowing you to cover hilly areas previously limited by ground clearance. (Allow your pivot to walk further into tough topography.
Longer spans that may allow you to span an area unfit for drive wheels.
Benders that allow one or more spans to continue past a fixed obstacle.
Drop Spans that can stop and leave one or more spans behind while the section of the pivot connected to the pivot point continues.
Corner arms that retract and extend to cover open areas beyond a previously limited pivot length.
Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s) – These units can both act as a phase converter and save energy when the system demand is reduced.
Injection Pumps added to the water system that allows for metered applications of fertilizers and crop protectants.
Telemetry Units that allow you to monitor and control your pivot while away from the panel.
Control panels that can provide variable rate irrigation to the field.
Control panels that can be connected to weather stations and program water applications accordingly.
Several other technology advances are in limited use or testing including VFD’s on individual drive units for continuous movement and pivot mounted cameras to assess plant stress from various sources.
Virtually all these upgrades can be added to your existing iron to increase performance and add value to your existing system. Don’t feel limited just because you have an older system. There are many ways you can upgrade and improve results. Not sure where to start? Call Michigan Valley Irrigation. We have Certified Irrigation Designers, Certified Technology Advisors and a staff totaling over 450 years of irrigation experience. We are here to help!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pete is the marketing manager for Michigan Valley Irrigation, having joined the company in 2016. He was raised on a dairy farm in western New York and graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in agricultural economics. His entire working career of over 37 years has been involved in agriculture. A farmer helping farmers. When away from Michigan Valley he operates, Joyful Noise Farm, a small livestock and produce farm and spends time with his family.
