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What is a Pivot and Why Do I Need It?

What is a Pivot and Why Do I Need It?

Deciding which of the many farm irrigation systems to rely on for your irrigation needs is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a farmer. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right option for your farm.

You need to consider the type of crop you’re planting, fuel cost and availability in your area, the initial cost of setting up your system, labor requirements, the size and shape of your land, and your water source. At Woofter Construction & Irrigation, we can help you make the call.

If you determine that a pivot irrigation system is an investment that will benefit your farm, we sell and service pivot irrigations systems for every field type.

But first, let’s go over some basics.

Pivot Basics

So exactly what is a pivot? A pivot irrigation system is a mechanized irrigation machine. And depending on your field type, there are several different types of machine designs.

A center pivot irrigation system, for example, is an irrigation system that irrigates the field in a circle around a pivot point. This is designed to work best in a round or square field. It’s made up of a pivot point, a control panel, drive unit, tower box, span (the long pipes between pivots), and the last regular drive unit.

The center pivot irrigation system is the most common. However, it’s not the only option. There are additional types of pivots including the corner pivot irrigation system and the geolateral pivot irrigation system. Like the center pivot, the corner pivot offers uniform application but reaches those hard-to-get areas of a field. The geolateral pivot is designed for underutilized and irregularly shaped fields.

Benefits of Pivot Irrigation Systems

Installing a pivot irrigation system has many benefits. Pivot irrigation systems allow water to be delivered to crops in a targeted way. Water is delivered to plants on a regular basis, and you determine how much and how often plants are watered.

Pivot irrigation uses low-pressure application. This means less water is wasted compared to other methods of irrigation. This ultimately saves water while reducing your energy costs and your impact on the environment. And energy costs aren’t the only savings. Installing a pivot irrigation system also reduces the cost of labor since time spent working in the field is decreased. And as you cut down on time in the field, you’re actually able to increase your yields! Our pivot irrigation systems are low-maintenance, high- quality, and are backed by the Zimmatic by Lindsay warranty.

Call Woofter Construction & Irrigation today to discuss any questions you have about farm irrigations systems and to see which pivot irrigation system is right for your farm. Woofter sells both new and used farm irrigation systems to allow for budget-friendly options.