Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Irrigation View 2014
Irrigation View 2014
Irrigation View 2014
IRRIGATION VIEW
WINTER 2014
A 200-Bushel
Yield Boost
T-L pivots provide more net profit without
additional investment in rent or land purchases.
Progressive
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Get the most out of your T-L Technology name Sunnydale Farms, they still
benefit from today’s high corn
system with our variety of Pivot
Control options. Program the Builds On Itself prices. However, it’s not in the way
one might think.
speed, application rate, and
Hastings, Nebraska 68902-1047 USA
HEAR WHAT
P.O. Box 1047
OUR CUSTOMERS
HAVE TO SAY
www.tlirr.com
2 | IRRIGATION VIEW
“It was probably 10 degrees the total under irrigation to nearly 46 million gallons and supply more precise than it has been
cooler in the corn under the 1,000 acres. All but one, he says, around 800 acres,” he says. “In when we had it flown on.”
pivots,” he recalls. “Of course, the make a full circle, covering 60 to the meantime, the pond will get Wade had more in mind than
pivots were running almost 24/7 120 acres each. While most of them its water from a well that pumps just the precision provided by
during the drought. That’s when pull water directly from nearby about 500 gallons per minute and continuous-movement, hydraulic
you realize just how important it is rivers, the three located near the a wet-weather creek that feeds drive, though. He also credited
to have some of the crops under farmstead were a little more of a into it,” he adds, noting that he Ken Moore with R & K Pivots, his
irrigation.” challenge. Consequently, Wade is also had bridges built so one of T-L dealer for his decision.
Due in part to that early success, building a new six-acre pond near the pivots could cross the creek. “I looked at all the different
Wade added four more T-L pivots his house to serve as a continuous “My plan was to build the pond brands and talked to several
in the spring of 2013, followed by water supply. for a steady water supply that company representatives at the
another two in the fall, bringing “It’s designed to hold almost could exceed the well capacity farm shows,” he relates. “But I
when necessary; but all of a ultimately decided on T-L because
sudden, I have all these friends I liked the dealer. R & K Pivots has
offering recreational ideas,” he been in business for almost 30
grins. “They’re all thinking about years, while the dealers for some
the fishing opportunities.” of the other brands have only
Still, Wade had more than been around since pivot irrigation
drought protection and fishing in started moving east.
mind when he started building the “I also liked the hydraulic drive,
pond and buying more pivots. He since some of the bottoms,
was also thinking of the increased where I pull the irrigation water
income potential. out of the river, tend to flood on
“It’s all about making the land occasion,” he adds. “I didn’t want
that I own more productive,” he to worry about having electric
says. “As crop land rent has gone motors under water.
up, it has become “Another thing
more economical “It’s all about making is I thought the
to put irrigation the land that I own hydraulic drive
on the land that I more productive.” would stand up
own and increase better on our
yields that way than to rent more farm than the electric motors,”
land. It’s simply a way to expand he continues. “We have ground
without acquiring more land or that’s a little rougher than you
labor.” would find in the Midwest or
Wade says the pivots also some other parts of the country.
provide a means for adding 32 So I hate having equipment
percent liquid fertilizer during that’s not built to run over a rock
the growing season and applying or two and handle some tough
fungicide when necessary. conditions,” he concludes. “I once
“In 2012, I made two applications had a planter that was built too
of nitrogen and one application light and we didn’t keep it long
of fungicide through the pivot,” for that reason. So far, T-L hasn’t
he explains. “I think the fungicide disappointed.”
application, in particular, was
IRRIGATION VIEW | 3
With an eye toward helping lateral move irrigation system,” surface, the evaporation and wind too, for crops like tomatoes and
farmers deal with water shortages says Thom, noting that lines can drift associated with traditional vegetables that are traditionally
and pumping restrictions, T-L also be spaced at 30- or 40- sprinklers is virtually eliminated. watered at surface level to avoid
Irrigation Company has gone inch intervals. “As the hoses are “In effect, producers gain disease or crop damage. So we
back to the drawing board pulled behind the system, the flexibility of a center pivot, think it’s past time for it to once
and introduced a new version emitters, spaced every six inches, while utilizing drip irrigation again be part of the T-L product
of the company’s unique deliver an even water pattern efficiency.” Thom continues. “Most line-up.”
PMDI™ (Precision Mobile Drip across the full length of the pivot importantly, it provides a water
Irrigation) system. or linear system.” saving solution for customers For more information
According to Dave Thom, Although T-L patented and who are faced with water on Precision Mobile Drip
Irrigation (PMDI), call
vice-president of sales at T-L introduced PMDI for the first time restrictions or deficit irrigation.”
800-330-4264, email T-L at
Irrigation, the PMDI technology approximately ten years ago, the Although PMDI does require sales@tlirr.com or visit
combines the benefits of T-L’s key to its reintroduction is a new some additional management, www.tlirr.com/products/
hydrostatically powered center partnership with Netafim, Inc., user experience has shown this precision_mobile_drip_
pivot irrigation systems with a world leader in drip irrigation factor to be far outweighed by irrigation.
the efficiency of drip irrigation products. The new, improved the benefits of improved watering
for total water efficiency that version not only addresses the efficiency.
approaches 95 percent. current growing interest in water “Plus, producers have
“Universally available for all new conservation related to drought experienced reduction in wheel
or used pivot or linear irrigation and lowering water tables, but track problems since the PMDI drip
systems, PMDI features in-line provides better durability. lines emit water behind the pivot
driplines spaced at 60-inch Because the driplines do not wheels, which then are running
intervals that are pulled through put the water out in the air, but on dry ground,” Thom concludes.
the field by a center pivot or rather directly onto the soil “The PMDI system works well,
RELIABLE IRRIGATION PERFORMANCE…
LIKE NO OTHER.
THE T-L DIFFERENCE | Contact T-L, your T-L dealer, or visit www.tlirr.com to learn more.
151 East Hwy 6 & AB Road · P.O. Box 1047 Phone: 1-800-330-4264 Phone: (402) 462-4128
Hastings, Nebraska 68902-1047 USA Fax: 1-800-330-4268 Fax: (402) 462-4617
TIF
ER IE
sales@tlirr.com · www.tlirr.com ISO
C
9001
U A LI T
Y
Q
6 | IRRIGATION VIEW
Back when Mark Utecht and his and the barns are empty, there’s T-L center pivot in 1973; but Still, the unit was too good to
dad raised hogs near Hastings, no longer a need for straw. Plus, that part of the farm went to a totally retire as salvage.
Nebraska, the wheat grown in the center pivot, which was cousin who has since replaced it “I sold eight of the towers and
the corners of fields irrigated adjacent to the hog operation, with a new T-L,” Utecht explains. spans to a neighbor,” he explains.
with T-L center pivot units went was already close to 40 years “However, the one I just replaced “He hasn’t done anything with
to good use. Not only was it an old. So, in an effort to “kill two was a pivot that Dad bought and four of them yet, but he has
extra dryland crop for the cash birds with one stone,” Utecht installed in 1975.” already used the other four
grain market, but the straw installed a new T-L corner pivot While the original unit utilized to build a pivot that covers a
was actually needed for system this past spring that chain drives on each tower, corner that he can’t reach with
bedding in the hog barns. A lot covers the entire field. The irony Utecht had since replaced all the main pivot.”
of things have changed since is that a portion of the old pivot but one of those with hydraulic In the meantime, Utecht enjoys
then, though. is still going after 39 years. motors on the wheels, bringing the benefit of being able to
Now that the hogs are gone “Dad installed the very first it closer to today’s standards. irrigate approximately 152 acres
in the field with the newest unit …
particularly since approximately
two-thirds of his 600 acres
consists of corn-on-corn.
“I’ve always felt like corn
gives me the best return on
investment,” he continues. “And
I still do things the traditional
way by using a disc/chisel in
the fall and following it with
a field cultivator in the spring
before I plant.”
IRRIGATION VIEW | 9
Not surprisingly, he feels the farm and beginning to farm full- But it still takes a lot of work that I’m getting more of the field
same about T-L center pivot time in the mid-’90s, Utecht says I don’t have with the pivots,” he watered than we ever did in the
units. They’re simple and reliable. he actually bought his first T-L adds, joking that his time isn’t past.”
“I’ve priced other brands, unit on his own in 2005. That worth much. In the meantime, most any
but I’ve always stuck with T-L, was placed on a quarter-section The only other regret that farmer in Nebraska will tell
partly because of the hydraulic farm that he purchased in an Utecht has is that the newest you that corn returns more per
drive, but mainly because of the effort to expand the operation. corner pivot system is the only acre than wheat. And as
dealer and the service,” he says. Otherwise, all his land lies south one that makes a full circle. livestock disappears from more
“I’m more comfortable around of Hastings within a few miles of The rest of them automatically and more row-crop operations,
hydraulics and think they’re a lot the home farm. reverse due to a farmstead there certainly isn’t as much
simpler than electric drives. Plus, “At this point, everything is or other obstacle blocking need for straw.
every so often, I hear another under irrigation with all but 70 the path.
horror story about the service, acres being under pivots,” he “I wish they all went
or lack of it, that somebody got relates. “The only field that is still in a full circle,” he
from another brand.” being flood irrigated has a good insists. “But at least
After taking over the family slope to it, so it’s easy to irrigate. with this newest T-L,
GPS NAVIGATION
CORNER SYSTEMS
D
9001
LIKE NO OTHER. U A LI T
Y
Q
T-L’s GPS NAVIGATION CORNER SYSTEM
is the ultimate in design simplicity.
• RTK Accuracy (sub-inch)
Featuring Real Time Kinematic (RTK) accuracy and
• Base Station included, no subscription
Wheel Angle Sensor (WAS) for true tracking, the required
package includes the base station, eliminating the
• WAS (Wheel Angle Sensor) for True
need for a subscription. The system tracks multiple Tracking
constellations reducing the signal loss caused by tree • Track on Track accuracy, pass after
lines and other obstacles and there is no electronic pass
interference from power lines. Operators can easily • Fast Start up Time
change the path of the system through a simple Inside T-L Irrigation’s T-L’s exterior control box • “Teach” function to easily change the
“teach” function. control box/panel path
• No electronic interference with power
Users get “track on track” accuracy pass after pass, lines
fast start up time, and real-time diagnostics so they
• Tracks multiple constellations, reduces
can watch it work. Safety is assured through low signal loss behind tree lines
voltage, DC(24VDC), and there is no buried wire. • Real Time diagnostics, watch it work
Combined with T-L’s hydrostatic design, low • No Buried Wire required
maintenance, reliability and unmatchd continuous • Continuous movement of all drive units
movement, T-L’S GPS NAVIGATION CORNER Inside the competitor’s Competitor’s exterior • Safe & Simple low voltage DC (24VDC)
control box/panel control box
SYSTEM represents the optimum in pivot Corner • 2 Patents Pending
System management.
10 | IRRIGATION VIEW
Emilse Alesso
Catamarca Province, Argentina
IRRIGATION
Our customers say it best.
Center pivot irrigation has
continued to pay off since Steve
as the winner of the 2010 North
Carolina Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt
R VIEW Local Dealer:
R&K Pivots
Rogers, who farms near Glendale, Expo Southeastern Farmer of
Russellville, KY
Kentucky, was featured in the the Year award.
Irrigation View in 2013. While he However, since his appearance
hasn’t had the chance to add any in the Irrigation View article,
more T-L units, Rogers certainly Stone was also selected by
saw the value in having irrigation the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers
available this past season. Alliance as one of the winners of
Due to dry weather at critical its Faces of Farming & Ranching
times this past summer, he said program for 2013. USFRA’s
he used the pivots a number goal through the contest is to
of times to add supplemental promote agriculture by finding
› tlirr.com/testimonial/steve-rogers
water. The result? While dryland exemplary farming models who
fields yielded around 100 to 120 are both proud of farming and
bushels per acre, the three fields eager to promote the story of
under pivots yielded closer the industry to the public.
to 220 bushels on average, As one of the Faces of Farming Local Dealer:
for a yield improvement of Circle S Irrigation
& Ranching, Stone spent part
Hartsville, SC
approximately 100 bushels. of this past year sharing his
“The difference was pretty story and experiences on a
significant,” he admits. national stage.
“Unfortunately, I’m currently “I recognize that farmers in
at the limit on the amount of general need to do a better job
ground I can irrigate; but I’m relaying our message and stories
still investigating ways I can to the consumers of our products
add at least one more T-L pivot. and others who will have a part
It just depends on access and in shaping our futures,” says
water availability.” Stone. “My objective was to › tlirr.com/testimonial/bo-stone
Farther east, near Rowland, reach an audience that doesn’t
North Carolina, Bo Stone … who realize farmers have the same
was featured two years ago in goals as them — to provide a
the T-L Irrigation View … is not safe, reliable and affordable
only an advocate for T-L center source of food while protecting
pivot units, but for agriculture our natural resources.”
in general. If you recall, Stone Naturally, T-L continues to play
had previously been selected a vital role in those goals.
eNEWS SIGN-UP
Receive email updates on the latest product releases & news
with T-L Irrigation.
Visit www.tlirr.com/enews to sign up today.
www.tlirr.com/enews eNEWS