Is your irrigator due for a service?

Regular maintenance, just like servicing your car, will help ensure your irrigation system is running at full capacity when the heat comes on. Irrigation system checks and servicing should be undertaken at scheduled times over the irrigation season (the more hours your irrigator runs for the more regularly these checks should be carried out). 

In many cases you can refer to your irrigation systems instruction manual for details on servicing and maintenance checks.

Many simple checks and servicing like lubricating joints, replacing oil in gearboxes and looking for signs of fatigue can often be carried out by farm staff. However, should you be unsure or think that you might have detected an issue don’t hesitate to contact your irrigation dealer. 

Grafton Irrigation (Zimmatic dealer based in South Canterbury) have put together a handy checklist to guide you through the checks and maintenance that will help prevent mid-season issues. The checklist covers your intake, pump shed and mainline, and pivot, hard hose, soft hose, K-line and G-set (solid set) type irrigation systems. Print yourself a copy using the link below.

Pre-Season and Maintenance Check Sheets - By Grafton Irrigation

This post has been written by Sarah Elliot from Lindsay NZ - thanks to Grafton Irrigation for your input!

Irrigation Evaluations (aka Bucket Testing) - Including tips for testing VRI systems

Spring is here but we are seeing all four seasons rolled into one some weeks which is not an anomaly. The soil moisture levels in our region have had a healthy boost in the last few days but if the media reports are true we may be in for a dry summer - please don't shoot the messenger, I'm only relaying what I have heard.

Should this transpire then that is even more reason to ensure that our irrigation systems are applying water as efficiently as possible so that we are maximising the amount of water applied that is available for plants to grow. An irrigation evaluation is a way to assess the efficiency and distribution uniformity of your irrigation system to ensure it is performing as expected.

An irrigation evaluation will help identify causes of any poor performance and (sometimes with the assistance of a qualified professional) show how these can be resolved. Increasing irrigation effectiveness and efficiency will allow you to grow more for less.

An irrigation evaluation (often referred to as a bucket test) is simple enough to carry out yourself, there are several good guides freely available to walk you through this process. For more information check out:

IrrigationNZ - Bucket Testing Resources
DairyNZ - Irrigation Evaluation Guide

The guides recommended above will walk you through how to carry out a standard bucket test however before you begin you need to consider any additional technologies that enhance your irrigation system. For instance if your system has variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology then you will need to take this into account when planning your bucket test. Lindsay NZ, the developers of the Growsmart Precision VRI system, have created a step-by-step guide that explain these additional considerations in more detail.

Growsmart Precision VRI - Bucket Testing Tip Card

If you are not in favour of the DIY irrigation evaluation option then consider contacting an accredited evaluator, this would also be recommended if your own test identifies potential issues that warrant further investigation. If you have additional technology such as a VRI system then ensure that whoever is carrying out the test is aware of this and that they carry out the recommended additional steps. If you need further help then contact your irrigation dealer, many dealers also have accredited evaluators on hand.

Irrigation system checks and maintenance should be undertaken at scheduled times over the irrigation season (the more hours your irrigator runs for the more regularly these checks should be carried out). Recommended irrigation system maintenance will be covered in more detail in the next H2Grow blog post, this will include a checklist that you can download and print off to help you with this task.

Keep an eye out for the next post or subscribe by entering your email in the box to the top right of the screen to ensure that you don't miss it!

Today's blog was written by Sarah Elliot from Lindsay NZ - I hope you have found it useful!

Is Your Irrigator in Top Nick?

The spring weather has brought more rain to many parts of New Zealand compared to previous seasons which has meant many irrigators have barely got off the starting blocks. This extended downtime is a perfect opportunity to give your irrigator a bit of TLC which will help ensure it is running at full capacity when the heat comes on.

Many simple checks and servicing like lubricating joints, replacing oil in gearboxes and looking for signs of fatigue can often be carried out by farm staff. However, should you be unsure or think that you might have detected an issue don’t hesitate to contact your irrigation dealer.

Grafton Irrigation (Zimmatic dealer based in South Canterbury) have put together a handy checklist to guide you through the checks and maintenance that will help prevent mid-season issues. The checklist covers your intake, pump shed and mainline, and pivot, hard hose, soft hose, K-line and G-set (solid set) type irrigation systems. Print yourself a copy using the link below.

Pre-Season and Maintenance Check Sheets - By Grafton Irrigation

This post has been written by Sarah Elliot - thanks to Grafton Irrigation for your input!

Am I a Responsible Irrigator?

The current Government's focus on water as the way to double New Zealand's farm exports by 2025 is reflected in the increasing accessibility of irrigation to farms around the country. Although a resource consent may state a Farmers right to use this water to irrigate and an irrigation dealership would be more than obliging to install the hardware - this ability to irrigate comes with responsibility.

To achieve a high level of irrigation performance requires a well-designed, well managed and well maintained irrigation system.

Choosing an Accredited Irrigation Dealer will ensure that your irrigation system is well-designed and meets the Irrigation Design Code of Practice and Standards. To view the list of currently accredited companies, click here.

Once the system is up and running ensuring it is well managed and maintained is up the those that own and operate it. The following questions should be considered by all those who irrigate.

1. Does my irrigation system apply what I tell it to in a uniform manner?

Poor distribution uniformity and low irrigation efficiency costs money. An irrigation evaluation is a way to assess the efficiency and distribution uniformity of your irrigation system to ensure it is performing as expected.

An irrigation evaluation will help identify causes of any poor performance and (sometimes with the assistance of a qualified professional) show how these can be resolved. Increasing irrigation effectiveness and efficiency will allow you to grow more for less.

An initial evaluation (often referred to as a Bucket Test) is simple enough to carry out yourself, there are several good guides freely available to walk you through this process. For more information check out ->
- IrrigationNZ
- Irrig8lite
- DairyNZ

If you are not in favour of the DIY option then consider contacting an Accredited Evaluator, this would also be recommended if your own test identifies potential issues that warrant further investigation.

The Hydro Services Team carrying out an Irrigation System Evaluation

2. Am I applying the right amount of water to optimise growth and avoid drainage or leaching? 

Measuring and monitoring your soil moisture is the best way to manage your irrigation efficiently.  If you don’t know what your soil moisture content is then how do you know how much you need to apply? Without this information, you risk either under-irrigating which can affect plant growth or over-irrigating which can also be detrimental to plant growth and the environment. Both these scenarios impact profitability.

There are a number of options when it comes to measuring soil moisture, choosing the best option for your farm and then ensuring it is giving you accurate information however cannot be covered in one paragraph. There are many posts already on H2Grow that discuss this topic, use the “WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN” menu to navigate to these, or subscribe so that you do not miss out on these in the future.

3. Is my irrigation system working as it should, and will it continue to do so in the long run?

Irrigation system checks and maintenance should be undertaken during the off-season and at scheduled times over the irrigation season (the more hours your irrigator runs for the more regularly these checks should be carried out).  Recommended irrigation system maintenance will be covered in more detail in the next H2Grow blog post, this will include a checklist that you can download and print off to help you with this task.

Keep an eye out for the next post or subscribe to ensure that you don't miss it!

Managing Pivot Wheel Track Problems

While centre pivot track management is fairly routine for most growers, those working in more challenging paddocks often need to take extra measures to avoid creating deep tracks or getting stuck.

“During the design phase of a centre pivot is the most cost-effective time to manage tracking issues,” said Steve Melvin, Irrigation Applications Specialist with Lindsay Corporation. “However, there are steps growers can take at any time to help reduce tracking problems.”

Following good maintenance practices is the first and most cost-effective step in reducing tracking problems. Melvin suggests:

• Check the owner’s manual and adjust the tyre pressure accordingly. When the pressure is too high, the tyres will make deeper tracks and if it’s too low, the tyre may come off the rim.

• During the first pass of the year, run the pivot around dry on a day when the soil is fairly moist but does not stick to the tyres or squeeze out. These conditions are optimum for packing the soil in the wheel track. During the second pass, apply 6 - 12mm of water. This will help compact the soil and reduce the depth of the pivot track during the season. 

• Over-watering and keeping the irrigated area too wet often leads to deep tracking problems, so it’s important to maintain a good irrigation schedule. Apply the largest practical irrigation depth, without runoff, and allow the paddock surface to dry more before the next pass. 

In areas where conditions create significant problems, Melvin said growers have additional options, including:

• Adding a three-foot extension in the pivot pipe at the pivot point every other year, which allows the wheels to move out of the old tracks for a year. This gives the soil an opportunity to firm up before moving back the following year.

• Adjusting the sprinkler configuration around each tower to direct water away from pivot tracks or applying water after the pivot has passed.

• Integrating Variable Rate Irrigation technology (VRI) for pinpoint control of irrigation systems. With VRI technology, problem areas can dry out, reducing the depth of the tracks throughout the growing season. For more information visit growsmartprecisionvri.co.nz.

• Increasing tyre footprint by switching to larger tyres, NFTrax or radials to minimise the kg's per square centimetre the wheel puts on the soil.

To access the complete article that Melvin wrote about track management options, visit www.ksre.k-state.edu/irrigate/oow/p16/Melvin16.pdf.

For information about tracking solutions, including NFTrax, talk with your local Zimmatic dealer or visit www.zimmatic.com/tracking-solutions. 

This helpful guide to managing wheel track rutting has been adapted from a recent Zimmatic by Lindsay blog article (Managing Wheel Track Problems) and posted today by Sarah Elliot from Lindsay NZ.

Irrigation NZ Conference Summary

The Irrigation NZ Conference was held in Oamaru from the 5^th to 7^th of April. There was a huge range of speakers and presentations all relating to different aspects of the industry. Some of the important and recurring topics are summarised below.

Irrigation has benefits to communities and the environment.

The pre-conference tour took a bus load of delegates on a tiki-tour through the Waitaki valley to see first hand the irrigation schemes that draw water from the mighty river. It is readily apparent that irrigation water has benefits to farmers and community.  An example being a storage pond which is held in a trust to allow the public to use it for recreational use. A great example of the community and irrigators coming together to prosper together.

MGI Intake off the Waitaki River.

Also highlighted on the trip was how irrigation can have benefits to the environment.  The frequent droughts experienced by the Waitaki Valley prior to irrigation meant that rabbits and dust storms were free to wreak havoc on the area. Now, with irrigation, soil is no longer lost in howling Nor’Westers and improved soil structure has resulted in reduced sediment loadings in water ways. This draws some similar parallels to Keith Cameron’s talk at the PAANZ Conference (see: http://www.h2grow.nz/2016/03/inaugural-paanz-conference-summary.html)

The future is a scary place…

Synthetic meat and massive urban greenhouse skyscrapers are set to be realities in the future. The value and limited supply of the world’s natural resources was something that really hit home in Julian Cribb’s talk and it gave serious weight to the fact that efficient irrigation and water use is extremely important.

Another guest speaker, Peter Biggs detailed the concept of the volatile, uncertain, complicated and ambiguous world that we live in today. Complexity and uncertainty are two concepts that are a big part of the irrigation scene in New Zealand. How do we keep an eye on the future when such complex issues confront us at home on a daily basis?

Engaging with the public is important for success.

Nicky Hyslop, Chair of INZ made us aware of something we are all possibly guilty of. Not listening when we should. The idea that more often than not we just need to “shut up and listen” when dealing with the public on issues related to irrigation and agriculture and go forward in a dynamic, proactive way. The key message being that we must “engage” with the public rather than lecture them if any change is to be bought about.

 

Waitaki Irrigators Collective to bring together all irrigators in the Waitaki Valley

Management and measurement to improve efficiency.

The growth of technology in the sector is seeing efficiency gains left, right and centre. From improved efficiency of infrastructure that delivers water to the farm gate to the use of VRI and soil moisture management, irrigators have plenty of scope to lift performance. The level of data that can be easily captured from an irrigation system such as; flow, pressure and energy used is high. Not only can irrigators make use of this data to reduce energy costs but also water use efficiency. Dan Bloomer presented on how simply it is done with 2 dozen buckets to actually measure what water your irrigator is putting on the ground. Ultimately what gets measured gets managed.

This weeks post was bought to you by Nick Evans of Agri Optics. To find out more about Nick or to get in touch with Agri Optics check out our website: http://www.agrioptics.co.nz/meettheteam/ 

A trick to combat rust on your irrigator

Many of us have seen brown or orange irrigators out in the field. If the spans, truss rods, v-jacks and towers are all orange or brown, that’s a sure sign that there is a lot of iron in the water that is being irrigated and in the scheme of things it isn’t generally a big concern. 

Discoloration caused by iron in water supply

What you should be concerned about though is all the moving components that can rust, especially if your irrigator is in a coastal area where the salt in the wind causes rapid corrosion. In these areas some of the first signs and parts to cause problems will be hinges and tower alignment components.

Tower alignment components are vital to keeping your irrigator straight and if any of these parts seize, they can break and the corresponding pivot tower could either get stuck in a moving or still state, or if you are lucky, just safety out the machine before anything bad happens.

Likewise, any hinges that seize will either stop you getting into panels, or simply corrode and snap off. 

We’ve found that fish oil products like the one pictured here are fantastic for preventing rust (or at least slowing it down), making your components last much longer. The frequency that you need to apply it will depend on the climate you are in, but keeping a tin of fish oil based product in the shed and applying it frequently to moving and rust-susceptible parts will go a long way to help extend the life of your system.

Is your irrigator going to perform for you this season?

Most of the country's irrigators should be well into gear by now, so it's a good time to ensure that your system is going to get you through the season with as little hassle possible.

Giving your irrigator a mid-winter service is generally the best way to prevent mechanical breakdowns the following season. A mid-winter service generally involves things like lubricating joints, replacing oil in gearboxes, looking for signs of fatigue, etc. Addressing these points will go a long way in setting you up for a happy irrigation season to come.

Avoid scenes like this!

If you have or have not given your irrigator a winter service, there are several crucial things that you should check at the beginning and throughout the irrigation season. Some of the simple things to check include:

• Riser pipe is greased and well lubricated
• Tower box components are free and not corroded. Depending on the type of alignment your pivot has, there may be points to lubricate. If joints corrode, seize, and fail this will cause your machine to safety out.
• Alignment is good – when the pivot is running the spans naturally have a bow one way or the other depending on whether it is in forward or reverse. If this bow is always one way, that is a sign that the alignment needs adjustment and excess pressure is being put on spans, towers and the centre point. This can also lead to excessive wheel rutting.
• No electrical components are exposed. Loose cable glands can let moisture in to electrical components and lead to premature failure.
• Tyre condition – this one should be pretty obvious
•  No obvious leaks – leaks should be treated early as can often be fixed by simply tightening components. For example, if a flange joint between span-pipes is leaking, that is a sign to immediately get up and check that the nuts and bolts are all tight – a simple way to avoid a disaster!
• Visual inspection – anything that doesn’t look right probably isn’t.

Signs of fatigue such as the crack in this base beam bracket should sound alarm-bells!

If you are not comfortable with repairing any of the issues you find with your machine yourself, it is going to be much cheaper to get a service technician to come out and repair it now than it is going to be when it causes your machine to stop working, causes more damage, and affects whatever crop you are irrigating.

Irrigator Maintenance – Sand

A little while ago I wrote about Sand Traps and how they should be inspected and cleaned regularly. This week we’ll look at the effect sand has on your irrigation system.

In general terms, sand inside an irrigation system = bad!

Sprinkler spray pattern

Just like sand-paper or sand blasting, sand suspended in water inside your irrigator is abrasive and will cause expedited wear on your system. This wear occurs anywhere exposed to the sand. It will start at the pump, causing impellors to wear faster, go through your mainline and headworks. If you have a mechanical flow meter, this will suffer. The sand then gets into the riser and makes its way along your span-pipes causing wear on the galvanising all the way along. Some of the sand will make its way up into the goosenecks and then down into your regulators and sprinkler nozzles, then onto the sprinkler plates. And guess what – it’s still abrasive and causing wear on these components too!

The main two problems caused by sand wear are

1.       Decreased life expectancy

2.       Decreased performance

As components like regulators and nozzles experience wear, they will start letting more and more water through, the more water that is going through, the greater the wear and the cycle continues. Your nicely calibrated system at the beginning of its life will soon start to over-apply water and as it is doing this it is also causing more wear on the sprinkler plate which will distort the sprinkler’s application pattern.

If you have a lot of sand in your system, other than emptying the sand trap frequently, you should also be aware that your system will need checking and re-calibrating more frequently to account for the wearing effect.

In order to mitigate some of the bad effects caused, you might want to consider a sand separation system such as the lakos sand separator filter pictured below. This type of filter will remove 98% of sand-like particle matter down to 200 mesh (74 micron) with low and steady pressure loss of only 0.137 to 0.413 bar.

Lakos sand separation system

For more information about sand filtration systems, contact your local Lindsay dealer.

Irrigator Maintenance - Sand Trap

Have you ever removed your sand trap or flushed your pivot?

It may surprise you, but this is a question we often ask when people are having trouble with sprinklers on overhangs and we are questioned in return “What is the sand trap?”

Sand trap location shown by red arrow

Every centre pivot and lateral irrigator should have a sand trap just after the last tower and immediately before the overhang. You’ll often find it directly below the boost pump for the end gun.

During normal operation, any sand and fine particles that make their way into the irrigator will travel through the spans and then settle in the sand trap. For this reason, the sand trap is designed with a ring-lock mechanism so that it can be quickly and easily removed, inspected, emptied and replaced.

Components that make up the sand trap

How much sand and fine debris is pumped through your irrigator will determine how often you will need to empty the sand trap. How quickly the sand trap fills is something you will learn from experience. Note that the amount of sand pumped out of a well can change over time and may be affected by events such as earthquakes. You should never let your sand trap fill completely as this will mean sand will go past your sand trap and continue to go down into the overhang.

If you’ve got an exceptionally sandy water-source, or you’ve neglected to empty your sand trap for some time, your overhang may be filling with sand. This adds weight to your irrigator increasing mechanical stress and in extreme cases blocks entirely and stops water from coming out of the sprinklers on the overhang. If your overhang has a build-up of sand, you can remove the plate on the end of the overhang and pump a small amount of water through your irrigator to flush the sand out.

Of course, proper maintenance and emptying of the sand trap will avoid having to flush your machine. Sand also does all sorts of other damage to irrigators. We’ll look at what sort of damage it does and how to mitigate this in a future post.

Stu Bradbury

Lindsay NZ

WHO SAID IRRIGATING WAS EASY?

Being an Irrigating Farmer has many benefits with increased land value and production to less reliance on rainfall events being at the top of the list.

But with these benefits comes responsibilities and duties to ensure success at being an irrigating farmer.  So, what is involved?

1. Regular System Maintenance

1.       Irrigation System checks should be undertaken pre-season and at least twice over the irrigation season.  This involves doing pressure tests, checking sprinklers and nozzles, cleaning out filters, checking and fixing leaks.  Click on the link below for checklists and guides.

http://irrigationnz.co.nz/news-resources/irrigation-resources/irrigation-system-checklist/

2. Irrigation Evalulations

Irrigation Systems need to be evaluated much like getting a vehicle Warrant of Fitness.  Evaluating your system allows you to check that it is working to the design specifications and performing as you would expect.  High distribution uniformity (how evenly the system applies water) is the key to achieving an efficient and effective irrigation system.  

Ideally, irrigation systems should be ‘farmer’ evaluated annually using the ‘Irrig8lite’ guide - http://www.pagebloomer.co.nz/resources/irrigation-calibration/irrig8lite/.  

Should your system show low performance, a full system evaluation should be undertaken by a qualified evaluator: http://www.hydroservices.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured&Itemid=271.

3. Measuring Soil Moisture

Measuring your soil moisture is the BEST way to manage and schedule your irrigation efficiently.  If you don’t know what your soil moisture content is, it is likely you are either under irrigating or over irrigating which can be detrimental to your crop and/or the environment.  There are a number of options when it comes to measuring soil moisture whether it be an on farm service or telemetered continuous soil moisture sensors.  

Find out more at: http://www.hydroservices.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured&Itemid=268.

The Irrigation Season has already arrived for some and is fast approaching for others.  If you haven’t completed your pre-season system maintenance checks already, now is the time to do it!