Post by tonhou on Jan 17, 2014 17:21:29 GMT -5
Someone mentioned irrigation in another thread so I thought it worth exploring further.
Our grazing area is 4.5 acres (just under 2 ha) and we irrigate the whole area with a K-Line irrigation system. It has 5 pods and can be moved by hand (is a bit of a grunt if you go from one end of property to the other). The pump/power requirements are very low - we use the minimum recommended 1hp Jet pump. The system is low cost <$1500 (NZ) if you get a Chinese pump - plus you need a supply line of minimum 1 1/4" (30mm). We are currently in the middle of our summer and we are running it for 2 X 10 hr shifts/day putting on 25-30mm (1-1 1/4') of water/shift - on a 10 day rotation. Strictly we should have second set of 5 pods and a bigger pump for 2ha, but doing 2 daily shifts we can get by.
Obviously you need a good water source - we have a well with an abundant supply of water, though a little irony.
The power cost is not excessive for us and ensures we have good grass supplies heading into the winter and need minimal hay for the winter months (this is NZ!)
Do a search on K-Line irrigation and you will get the drift.
--Tony
Our grazing area is 4.5 acres (just under 2 ha) and we irrigate the whole area with a K-Line irrigation system. It has 5 pods and can be moved by hand (is a bit of a grunt if you go from one end of property to the other). The pump/power requirements are very low - we use the minimum recommended 1hp Jet pump. The system is low cost <$1500 (NZ) if you get a Chinese pump - plus you need a supply line of minimum 1 1/4" (30mm). We are currently in the middle of our summer and we are running it for 2 X 10 hr shifts/day putting on 25-30mm (1-1 1/4') of water/shift - on a 10 day rotation. Strictly we should have second set of 5 pods and a bigger pump for 2ha, but doing 2 daily shifts we can get by.
Obviously you need a good water source - we have a well with an abundant supply of water, though a little irony.
The power cost is not excessive for us and ensures we have good grass supplies heading into the winter and need minimal hay for the winter months (this is NZ!)
Do a search on K-Line irrigation and you will get the drift.
--Tony
the place of rolling mountains and grass we Aussies would kill for 