One of the biggest challenges - and most important parts - of farming, is water. We not only have to give the crops the water that they need, but drain it off after heavy rains.
At Long and Scott Farms, we farm on flatwoods ground which has a natural hardpan. This hardpan allows us too irrigate and drain in a very efficient way. This is done by ditches that are placed sixty feet apart and about a foot deep. As water runs through the ditches it seeps out in the field and the hardpan keeps it from going down. There are also ponds on the farm that collect rain water that also affect the moisture in our fields. We can irrigate up to one hundred acres at the same time with one well.
When crops are irrigated overhead, much of the water evaporates. And when plant leaves get wet it creates perfect conditions for disease. Overhead irrigation is normally expensive and labor intensive. If water leaches, so does fertilizer. Ditch irrigation helps conserve water, fertilizer, chemical usage, labor and fuel. We grow our crops with minimum amounts of water needed for healthy plants and with minimal amounts of evaporation and run off. At Long and Scott protecting our natural resources is a top priority.
Do you have question about water and irrigation? Please send them along.
Cade Easley
Integrated pest manager
Cade@longandscottfarms.com
No comments:
Post a Comment