When our forefathers began mapping out the land in this great country, they chose square parcels instead of round ones. When center pivot irrigation was developed, walking around a fixed pivot point in a circle was more efficient. Since then, we have been trying to figure out ways to water the corners. Although linear or straight-line systems have been developed, they are generally more costly than the center pivot system…
Winters in Michigan can be tough on your irrigation systems. Freezing and thawing, critters looking for refuge and late season mishaps long forgotten after harvest can create unwanted challenges. A little time looking and repairing before the spring field work begins will reduce frustration and downtime when it’s time to water…
A CID or Certified Irrigation Designer is uniquely qualified to help with the layout
and design of an irrigation system for your farm. Because they have completed
additional training and testing in this area, they have another level of
understanding and expertise. While common sense and experience are valuable
tools, going the extra mile to complete the courses and certification enables a CID
to add performance and efficiency to an irrigation system designed specifically for
your field…
Farm to table is alive and well in Michigan. Direct marketing to consumers has potential to keep a greater percentage of the retail dollar. Like many ventures undertaken, marketing efforts and new and different production tasks are not always easy, but it can increase revenues from your operation. Grass is one of the thirstier crops grown in Michigan, so adequate water is important to keep quality and yield at optimum levels for proper growing or finishing of cattle…
Merriam- Webster defines telemetry as the science or process of telemetering data. So, what is telemetering? Telemetering is an electrical apparatus for measuring quantity (such as pressure, speed, or temperature) and transmitting the result especially by radio to a distant location. Gadgets that transmit data that allow us to monitor or control equipment from a distance…
“The sprinkler package on your center pivot is the most important component of the system” says Josh Wolter, CID (Certified Irrigation Designer) at Michigan Valley Irrigation. It determines the efficiency and gallons per minute per acre applied to the field. It also determines droplet size and pattern that can be key to uniformity, wind drift and soil compaction. Because of its location at the end of the system, acting as the emitter, the tips are subject to wear, even though they may appear to be functioning properly. There are many reasons to pay attention to this critical component, and the cost is very minor compared to the rest of your system…
Let’s look at a little history. Going back about a hundred years, farms in this country were diversified with livestock, crops, and probably some fruit and vegetables, or at least a big garden. Most crops were grown to feed their livestock. Perhaps there were a few extra acres to sell for cash to purchase inputs for the next year’s crops. A little bit of everything so the family had a nice variety of food for consumption and the crops were rotated, the manure was fertilizer, and cover crops were used to prevent erosion and provide some pasture or feed for the livestock…
