Irrigation Ideas

[cattledog04]

Trying to figure out the best way to irrigate 5 acres of pasture with the hopes to rational graze it once it got growing. I want to try 5 and get it dialed, then get the other 5 going. Total pasture size is about 10 acres, I have an 1.5" pipe that runs to the end. I think the former owners planned on growing a vineyard. At the very far end I have about 65 psi with about 12 gpm. Trying to figure out if I want the labor to move pods (K-Line) or install something more permanent. Looking for opinions. As of now, it seems that installing permanent sprinklers through out would be less labor intensive overall. Also, I'm in Southern Cal, we don't get a lot of rain. Hoping to make it work. Thanks for the help.

 

[Dave]

First would be do you have irrigation rights? I have a friend who bought a place with a K-line. He gave up on it. When he pulled it it would often tip over and break off the sprinkler heads. He went to a small self traveling reel. I have one that has 500 feet of 2 inch line. I pull it out with a quad and the water makes it turn and pulls it in. With 60 psi mine shoots the water about 80 feet each side making the it 160 feet wide with each pass. His work the same but are smaller than mine.

 

[cattledog04]

I’m on a well that pumps about 22-25 gpm. Since I work full time, I’m trying to not have to move it if possible. Unless it’s the most cost effective way to irrigate. I’m guessing each move would probably have to stay in position for 2-4 hours each. That would be tough unless I did it every evening after work.
Is it possible that a dry season forage wouldn’t need watering daily?

 

[Dave]

I’m on a well that pumps about 22-25 gpm. Since I work full time, I’m trying to not have to move it if possible. Unless it’s the most cost effective way to irrigate. I’m guessing each move would probably have to stay in position for 2-4 hours each. That would be tough unless I did it every evening after work.
Is it possible that a dry season forage wouldn’t need watering daily?

The standard answer is, it depends. Mostly how much water you got on there area with each set. What is the water holding capacity of your soil. Lots of variables involved. With my hard hose feel I cover about 1.8 acres with each set. I can adjust the speed that it pulls in at. Faster less water. Slower more water.

 

[NIdahoShorthorns]

What kind of depth and static head do you have. Recharge is a big factor but 22-25gpm seems low to be watering pasture. Vineyards/orchards use a lot of water but it's usually on drip irrigation to each plant so it's very efficient. Sprinklers on pasture needs a lot of flow.

Also, to what Dave said, do you have irrigation rights and what are they? Just because you have a well doesn't mean you have irrigation rights. And if you do have irrigation rights there should be a stated volume/time you can use.

The math seems dubious. On 5 acres to get 1 inch a week of water you need 4/10ths of an acre/ft. Or 135,000 gallons per week. At 22 GPM you'd be watering 14 hours a day to keep pasture going. In So Cal 1 inch/week might not be enough to keep grass active through the summer. Check my math but I think it's correct.

 

[Dave]

Also, to what Dave said, do you have irrigation rights and what are they? Just because you have a well doesn't mean you have irrigation rights. And if you do have irrigation rights there should be a stated volume/time you can use.

The math seems dubious. On 5 acres to get 1 inch a week of water you need 4/10ths of an acre/ft. Or 135,000 gallons per week. At 22 GPM you'd be watering 14 hours a day to keep pasture going. In So Cal 1 inch/week might not be enough to keep grass active through the summer. Check my math but I think it's correct.

Irrigation from a well won't have time restriction like it would from a shared ditch. But it certainly have volume restriction.

Your math is pretty darn close. An acre inch of water is 27,154 gallons. So 5 acres is 135,770 gallon.

 

[Brute 23]

Contact and irrigation company in your area. They usually have first hand experience and can run all the calculations. You will pay a little more but you get their experience and knowledge. It's kind of a necessary evil when getting started.

My suggestion is to find more than one if you can. You can always bring their proposals back her for thoughts and ideas on them.

There are a ton of factors in this. One that came to mind was the type of grass.

 

[Dave]

I was about to suggest you look at your local conservation district or the NRCS. I seem to remember there was something negative with funding for districts in California. The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) being a federal agency might be easier to find. You need someone who is local. They will know the rules which apply to you. The water requirement and soil characteristics. There is a lot more to irrigation than putting on some water.

 

[Travlr]

Is it possible that a dry season forage wouldn’t need watering daily?

Daily???

 

[cattledog04]

I'm hoping to get a dry season forage that wont take so much water. Another thought was to add another holding tank and in the far future get a booster pump to push it out. Supposedly, my area is on top of a big aquafer. Thinking that plays in my favor. All this for a hobby farm, but my long term goal is to rotate enough Dexter beef to pay for itself. Not sure if the numbers will ever make sense. Part of learning this new adventure.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

I was about to suggest you look at your local conservation district or the NRCS. I seem to remember there was something negative with funding for districts in California. The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) being a federal agency might be easier to find. You need someone who is local. They will know the rules which apply to you. The water requirement and soil characteristics. There is a lot more to irrigation than putting on some water.

@Dave, rattle my cage! @cattledog04, Dave is spot on about contacting your local NRCS and/or SWCD. You mentioned briefly, and I saw it, but no one responded, about dry season grass. I'm not familiar with California specifics, although there is there area of the California Annual Grasslands which is different from most everything anyone on here has seen, myself included. It's being discussed here, check on irrigation laws. CA is different in that aspect, and people have died/been killed over water rights (more typically surface water, but still..). Figure out what grass you have present and its productivity capability. Also, find out what kind of grass will grow and be productive in your area SPECIFICALLY for the soil on your property. That reminds me, you need to get a soil test as well.

 

[Travlr]

I'm hoping to get a dry season forage that wont take so much water. Another thought was to add another holding tank and in the far future get a booster pump to push it out. Supposedly, my area is on top of a big aquafer. Thinking that plays in my favor. All this for a hobby farm, but my long term goal is to rotate enough Dexter beef to pay for itself. Not sure if the numbers will ever make sense. Part of learning this new adventure.

It's great that you're learning. It's the third best thing in life, and the second best one is fresh out of the oven pie.

 

[cattledog04]

Thanks for all the help. My four have been on pasture with the native grass on the lower 5 acres and it has held them over for about a month or 2, I just started feeding them once a day to get them to finish up what’s left. Had the soil tested, it’s low in nitrogen and is sandy on top.

 

[kenny thomas]

Thanks for all the help. My four have been on pasture with the native grass on the lower 5 acres and it has held them over for about a month or 2, I just started feeding them once a day to get them to finish up what’s left. Had the soil tested, it’s low in nitrogen and is sandy on top.

Almost all soil tests will show needing Nitrogen added. This is because it only lasts about 90 days when applied. If that's the only thing your lacking you have a great soil test.

 

[cattledog04]

It's great that you're learning. It's the third best thing in life, and the second best one is fresh out of the oven pie.

Almost all soil tests will show needing Nitrogen added. This is because it only lasts about 90 days when applied. If that's the only thing you’re lacking you have a great soil test.

I honesty don’t remember anything else about it. Maybe I should do it again.

 

[kenny thomas]

I honesty don’t remember anything else about it. Maybe I should do it again.

I agree you should be sure

 

[Dave]

They should have given you a printed copy of the soil test results. Always keep that. Your statement that the former owner was planning to plant a vineyard has me wondering. Did they plan that and then found out that they didn't have irrigation rights? So they sold rather than go to the expense of planting the vineyard only to find that they couldn't legally irrigate. There is a saying in the west to those regards. Do you know the difference between whiskey and water? Whiskey is for drinking, Water is for fighting over. And the fighting has and can get very serious.

 

[Dave]

I googled California water master. Sent me to their website. California has had a water master program since the 1920's. Contacting them would be the first step you need to take.

 

[cattledog04]

Even if I’m on a well?

 

[Dave]

Even if I’m on a well?

Yes. Right to irrigate is very strictly regulated. It is first come first served. There are lots of places where they won't allow a new well to irrigate. On the California water master website it states that the reason the legislator pass the water master program was because too many people were injured and even killed over water. If you start irrigating without rights and someone who does have rights sees that they will have the authorities there in a heart beat.