With a 1150-cow dairy operation over 480 hectares, irrigation is a huge priority for Alastair Robinson. His farm, located in the small rural town of Waikuku on the outskirts of Canterbury’s Rangiora, has been in his family for over a century. To keep his pastures full of lush, nutrient-rich crops for his stock, Alastair relies upon 18 Valley centre pivot irrigators from PGG Wrightson.
“Before we invested in our first pivot in 2012, we were irrigating 300 ha with eight hose guns. It was an inefficient, labour-intensive job with slow return interval,” says Alastair.
Valley Centre Pivots date back to the late 1940s, when Frank Zybach, a Nebraskan tenant farmer, changed the global agricultural landscape forever with his invention. Zybach was convinced farmers could improve yields, while saving on manpower and water. Now, his invention is used in some 90 countries including New Zealand.
“We have gradually added one to two pivots each year, as well as additional stock and hectares to our operation. We can grow more and have seen an incredible return on investment,” says Alastair.
The pivots, designed to stand up to the demands of rough terrain and the elements to easily irrigate small or large paddocks, can remain in service decade after decade with careful maintenance.
“Like all machines with moving parts, preventative maintenance is crucial for ensuring a long successful life is achieved,” says Doug Mercer, PGG Wrightson Water Sales and Design Manager.
One way to extend the working life of your irrigation investment is through the upgrading or updating of your sprinkler packs which have a lifespan of around five years.
“Age and other contributing variables such as water harshness can begin to compromise components such as the sprinklers. This can affect the machines, overall distribution uniformity and watering efficiency. It is important to visually keep an eye out for any broken or blocked sprinkler nozzles as well as monitoring ‘bucket test’ results over time,” explains Doug.
Bucket testing, a calibration test, determines the uniformity, application intensity, and measured application depth of the water released during an irrigation event. This requires the strategic placement of buckets across your system to collect irrigation water for a set period. The water is measured to give you a performance rating of your equipment and help identify areas of poor performance.
To protect your investment, it is important to regularly check your system and keep
reliable records of past readings. Your PGG Wrightson Water representative is also a key asset.
Learn more about preventative maintenance
“Working with your dedicated PGG Wrightson Water reps to identify any wear and tear early, can prevent any potential down time through the busy irrigation season when it is crucial to have your machine running at its best,” says Doug.
Alastair couldn’t agree more.
“Our oldest pivots have some 20,000 hours under their belt with yearly planned maintenance and minimal disruptions. Any problems and our rep, Dan Marsden, is there with a solution.”
Contact the PGG Wrightson Water team for all of your irrigation needs
