Irrigation

South Dakota farmers slogged through two wet years before the rain shut off in the middle of last growing season. Now a warm start to winter without much snow cover has farmers heading into the next crop year short on moisture.

Let’s talk about water – irrigation water – specifically, the things affected by irrigation water: summer forage, business risks and the possibilities for change.

Alfalfa is undoubtedly the most important forage crop grown in the U.S. It is easy to see why it gets the title “Queen of the Forages,” with hundreds of thousands of acres planted across the country.

Lack of existing research

Most hay producers in the Southeast irrigate their hayfields on a set schedule to provide 1/2 – 1 inch per week.

How would you answer this question: “Which equipment returns more profit on your farm – your tractors or your sprinklers?”

Center pivots have revolutionized irrigation, greatly increasing water application efficiency, and have become a way of life on many irrigated farms.