Irrigation...making it pay

[1982vett]

[
I would think your part of Texas would be ripe for irrigation. I think the trick is some well placed storage tanks" and
at least one good well. Run the pumps on solar and feed drip lines off a main line to irrigate some rotational pastures.

And one should expect cattle to pay for this?

 

[Kingfisher]

[
I would think your part of Texas would be ripe for irrigation. I think the trick is some well placed storage tanks" and
at least one good well. Run the pumps on solar and feed drip lines off a main line to irrigate some rotational pastures.

And one should expect cattle to pay for this?

Well it ain't going to be goats......;)

 

[novatech]

I'm going to have to store to irrigate. How do I calculate how big a storage tank I need?

How far can I go from the Tank? To determine if I need more than one. If I have almost level land, do I need to elevate the Tank? :2cents:

Each sprinkler head is rated in gallons per minute and is dependant on pressure for the values given. Pressure is gained by the size and height of the tank.http://www.ehow.com/how_5668414_determi ... tower.html Distance from the tank affects output at the head so the pipe must be sized accordingly. The rise and fall of the pipe will also have an affect, but yours is almost level so my be of minimal concern. http://www.pondarama.com/html/friction_loss_charts.html
The size of your tank can be determined by how long you need to run the system. Gallons per minute from pump plus gallons in storage tank to provide enough water for the time given.
The above is what you need to do if you want to calculate what you will get or design what you will need. Or you can do like most people with a movable system simply move from spot to spot covering where the water missed. Then wonder why it takes a month to cover the entire pasture. :bang:
After doing all these calculations you may want to calculate the energy needed to produce the water plus the expense and depreciation of the equipment in order to see if the tax write off will be what you want. :lol2:

 

[Kingfisher]

After doing all these calculations you may want to calculate the energy needed to produce the water plus the expense and depreciation of the equipment in order to see if the tax write off will be what you want. :lol2:[/quote]

That is why I think the only way to do it efficiently is with solar to power the pumps. Plus since it's all about getting cars and trucks off the road.......they ought to give us the solar and the ability to store the water ( tanks or tank ( pond) construction funding. You figure the fuel cost to get one bail of hay to some cattle and growing grass starts looking real good.

 

[1982vett]

After doing all these calculations you may want to calculate the energy needed to produce the water plus the expense and depreciation of the equipment in order to see if the tax write off will be what you want. :lol2:

That is why I think the only way to do it efficiently is with solar to power the pumps. Plus since it's all about getting cars and trucks off the road.......they ought to give us the solar and the ability to store the water ( tanks or tank ( pond) construction funding. You figure the fuel cost to get one bail of hay to some cattle and growing grass starts looking real good.

I think you are beginning to catch on to what I said....but my point is - you are still implying you expect cattle and selling hay to cattlemen to pay for it. :)

 

[Suzie Q]

You guys are addressing the one issue that I cannot conclude how to manage at my place. How to survive a drought without making hay? With average rain or as much as 30% less throughout the year I can manage. During 2003 I weathered a drought that was sufficient to cause payout by the government. Then in 2007/2008 we had a very severe drought that nearly put me out of business as there was no hay to be had. Just getting the pastures recovered since then has been a task. I have considered irrigating but cannot determine how to efficiently apply the technique to my very rolling hills that comprise my pastures. An alternative that I have considered is buying hay when it is plentiful and storing it in the dry until needed. The cost of a storage building large enough to handle my projected needs is difficult to justify. The same applies to an irrigation system that may need to be used only every 6 to 10 years. With the hay storage, the herd headcount would have to remain where it is. With irrigation I feel I could increase the headcount by 10% plus. I cannot buy any additional adjoining property because there is none that will come on the market. I would certainly appreciate your sharing any thoughts or conclusions you reach with the irrigation research.
Currently, without hay, I am carrying a both cow (usually bred), and her offspring till marketed, 365 days/year on 1.4 acres with rotational grazing so I doubt that I will be able to increase my efficiency.

Agmantoo we make round bales and we keep them outside. Sure you might lose the outer layer, but the inside keeps. It is small and large square bales that cannot be kept outside.

We are extremely lucky and have irrigation. Ours comes straight out of a bore to an irrigator, but I have heard that you can pump into a 'turkey's nest' and then irrigate from that if you don't have the big submersible pumps that we have.

You irrigate overnight if it is hot. That way everything gets a drink before the sun takes it away.

 

[uncle]

Trying to get some idea of how much I can expect to actually irrigate. How often should I cross my fields? I have heard all kinds of things... plan on 4" month ...you need to cross every 7 days with 3" of water.

There is a world of difference in those statements!

I am in the Texas panhandle and we get about 22" a year and I am watering grass pastures for all seasons.

How many inches a month should I plan on?

Thanks Yawl!

Uncle

 

[uncle]

I didn't mention that I am high intensity grazing.

 

[LRTX1]

Trying to get some idea of how much I can expect to actually irrigate. How often should I cross my fields? I have heard all kinds of things... plan on 4" month ...you need to cross every 7 days with 3" of water.

There is a world of difference in those statements!

I am in the Texas panhandle and we get about 22" a year and I am watering grass pastures for all seasons.

How many inches a month should I plan on?

Thanks Yawl!

Uncle

I think the answer to your questions would change on a monthly/weekly basis, based upon temps and rainfall. Your soil type would have an affect on those numbers also. In my situation, across the country from you, an extra 1-2 inches a month would make a world of difference.

 

[Kingfisher]

I think you are beginning to catch on to what I said....but my point is - you are still implying you expect cattle and selling hay to cattlemen to pay for it. :)[/quote]

I never said nothing about selling hay..........I would hope here in Central Texas I could establish some sort of most of the year grass program if I could find a place that lends it self to some irrigation. Thanks for your reply.

 

[uncle]

Trying to get some idea of how much I can expect to actually irrigate. How often should I cross my fields? I have heard all kinds of things... plan on 4" month ...you need to cross every 7 days with 3" of water.

There is a world of difference in those statements!

I am in the Texas panhandle and we get about 22" a year and I am watering grass pastures for all seasons.

How many inches a month should I plan on?

Thanks Yawl!

Uncle

I think the answer to your questions would change on a monthly/weekly basis, based upon temps and rainfall. Your soil type would have an affect on those numbers also. In my situation, across the country from you, an extra 1-2 inches a month would make a world of difference.

So is there a rule of thumb like "grass needs 4" per month of water" ...So, rain provides 1" I need to provide 3". Just wondering... it would sure make it a easier and a little more predictable. Otherwise it kinda feels like I would be guessing :bang: !

 

[LRTX1]

Uncle, I dont think there is a magic number here. There are just too many variables at play. It's really region/season/soil type specific.

 

[1wlimo]

Uncle, I dont think there is a magic number here. There are just too many variables at play. It's really region/season/soil type specific.

There is very little help that I can find, some say 24 inch per season,

Go with your 4 inch and be flexiable.

 

[Suzie Q]

and realise that you will now be one complaining about the weather. Which farmers are famous for.

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

As a former landscape & irrigation contractor in the N. Central Texas area, considering "average" rainfall, for bermudagrass we figured 1" per week. This was considering "normal" soil moisture levels already present.

Now, in the Texas Panhandle, where we normally have about 22" of rain a year, we've only had about 0.8" of an inch since September 30, 2010. Our sandy soil moisture level here is probably down to 24 to 30" right now.

Several issues: (1) Soil moisture needs to be "up" to normal levels to start. (2) Evaportranspiration effects (heat, wind) have a big impact. (3) Grass type is next: bermudagrass, buffalo grass, range grasses will "survive" (aka dormant) with insufficient moisture, but not grow. (4) Fertilizer is useless unless it rains or one irrigates.

Each "zone" in Texas has irrigation rates relative to the effects of wind & heat. The State of Texas has data on all these zones: go to the State TCEQ site for more information.

Given our current drought issues, wind, heat...one would "probably" need closer to 2" per week on bermudagrass pastures to even get it greened up and grow a little, as with dry topsoil, the percolation rate of any water applied will be significant.

 

[1wlimo]

Running Arrow Bill you managed to get my brain into gear. The link goes to sensors that can be used once you are up and running.

http://www.irrometer.com/sensors.html

 

[uncle]

Running Arrow Bill.... Thanks for the in-depth answer! This give me something that I can start with.

Uncle