Irrigation

Low-elevation sprinkler application (LESA) has been studied in the Pacific Northwest for several years.

Burns, Oregon, in the month of August is a series of sandy hills smattered with sparse, dead yellow grass traced with gravel roads that kick up grayish-yellow dust – until you reach the hay fields.

When there’s an abundance of alfalfa available on the market and prices drop, buyers look for superior quality feed even if that means paying a premium.

The ag industry is one that doesn’t stand still. Everything from new technology to unexpected changes in weather affects operations and brings growers both new challenges and opportunities. Despite continual change, one thing remains a constant for all: the value of the dollar.

We all remember the drought of 2012; dryland ground that had produced well for many years now had nothing. In my town, oak trees started to die. There was one topic everyone was discussing: rain.

Throughout the past few years, drip and subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) have emerged as new opportunities for alfalfa growers looking to conserve water and other resources.