Irrigation questions....

Absent Minded Farmer · Sep 19, 2020

I've poked around at the idea of it in the past. Really liked the linear setups that I saw when I was out west. That setup is what I would consider
affordable. Water to feed it would not be an issue, even in the dryest of years. It would suit my needs to a T. My biggest concern would be the cost
of running it. Is electric cheaper than some form of combustion engine? What does a seasonal utility or fuel bill look like in terms of cost. How much
does one jack up the price of hay per bale? If the higher cost prohibits me from selling locally, how difficult is it to find an overseas buyer? I'm
not on the ocean, but Lake Michigan is a stones throw from here. Would be easy enough to stuff a few containers with hay & send them on their merry
way.

Thanks,
Mike

Matt in Oz · Sep 19, 2020

Hi Mike

Can't comment on electric vs combustion engine. We run an electric pump with water applied through two lateral machines using 6hp diesels to move them. Neighbour uses a travelling gun with a diesel bore pump. He always likes our electric pump due to less maintenance. The two diesel engines on the irrigators give me more trouble than the electric pump. Do the costs and then look at the logistics of various systems. With irrigation you need to be looking at an increase in yield to justify it otherwise drylands production will clobber you on the cost of production.

Absent Minded Farmer · Sep 19, 2020

Hadn't thought about less maintenance for the electric pump. That's a plus. One thing I don't have to worry about is being in a dryland area. We can get enough rain in a season for three cuttings. Last year, with all the rain & flooding, four cuttings of waist high hay were made. We got 21" of rain during the growing season. This year it was only the first cutting that was tall, the second was knee high & third is short. We've had a little less than 10" of rain this season. I'll take a look into how much money it takes to run a pump & add that into my figuring.

Mike

RogerinIowa · Sep 19, 2020

May have to get a permit from your state. They may limit how much you use and may not be enough for your requirements.

4520BW · Sep 19, 2020

Diesel pumps require more horsepower to move the same water as electricity and cost ateast twice as much to run plus the added maintenance. If you have 3 phase its even cheaper then running a converter. We have a high water table so water so wells are not that deep and requires less power.

Absent Minded Farmer · Sep 19, 2020

I will have to look into running 3 phase. Don't recall if there's a line to the farm or not. The water table is relatively high around here, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Mike

Absent Minded Farmer · Sep 19, 2020

Glad you said something. Hadn't thought about seeing if I would need a permit for that.

Mike

Absent Minded Farmer · Sep 19, 2020

Just checked. No permit is required in WI if I keep it under 100000 gallons a day. Will have to do some calculating to see what I need.

Mike

Irrigation questions....

Absent Minded Farmer

Well-known Member

Matt in Oz

Member

Absent Minded Farmer

Well-known Member

RogerinIowa

Member

4520BW

Well-known Member

Absent Minded Farmer

Well-known Member

Absent Minded Farmer

Well-known Member

Absent Minded Farmer

Well-known Member

Similar threads