Absolutely! Having the capacity to water your crops can add yield in most years and save a crop from disaster in drought years, even in states that generally receive enough rain to produce a crop.

In most cases slopes from 4% to 20% can be accommodated by shortening span lengths, careful placement of drive units, and selecting the more robust models. Finding a reliable, experienced, local dealer with a Certified Irrigation Designer on staff is a great start.

One of the best ways to reduce soil nutrient levels on fields at your dairy farm is to increase crop yields and remove them for feed. Timely irrigation during the crop growth cycles will improve nutrient absorption and increase yields.

There is a tremendous range of volume, but a good starting point is 5.5 gallons per minute per acre watered. Multiple pivots from the same water source should be included in your acreage figure.

Nearly all pivot manufacturers require 3 phase power for the system to function properly. It is very common, if your power supply is only single phase, to use a phase converter or VFD to provide 3-phase power.

Most center pivots are designed for decades of use and upgrades are readily available. Pivots used in supplemental irrigation states will generally be in better condition, having walked fewer miles. Check the pipeline, drivetrain and tires as the structure is generally less suspect to deterioration.

As a rule, 40 acres for common field crops. Here are 4 keys to sweetening the return of a center pivot system:

• Longer, full turn machines

• Multiple pivots using a single water supply

• Higher value crops that will increase revenue faster with yield bumps

• Greater yield boost from course, well-drained soils

This answer is subject to many variables including your ancillary infrastructure expense but will probably range from 3-10 years. This farm investment can provide immediate annual cash flow help, improve your balance sheet, and contribute to your estate plan.

Valley Pivots have the longest useful life, the highest resale values and the largest dealer network in the world.

Most pivot span lengths run from about 100 to 200 feet. The maximum recommended length for Valley pivots is 2800 feet, covering nearly a full section or 640 acres.