GREENFIELD. Efficient Small-field Conversion for Gravity Flow and Wheel Line Irrigators

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1 GREENFIELD Efficient Small-field Conversion for Gravity Flow and Wheel Line Irrigators

2 Irrigation Generates Income As a farmer or manager with small fields (under 80 acres/32 ha), you can adjust production practices to maximize your return on investment. Consider your irrigation system. With a Greenfield center pivot and lateral move machine, you can increase your yields and improve returns, even when precipitation is inadequate for maximum crop performance.

3 Enterprise Analysis Worksheet HAY YOUR OPERATION Irrigated Non-Irrigated Irrigated Non-Irrigated Yield 4 Tons 2.7 Tons Expected Price $90.00 $90.00 MARKET INCOME 1 $ $ direct variable cost/acre Cost /Acre Cost /Acre Cost /Acre Cost /Acre Seed $12.00 $12.00 Weed Control Insecticides Fertilizer Crop Insurance Fuel & Lubrication Repairs Irrigation Power Irrigation Repairs Rake & Cut Bailing Miscellaneous Operating Interest Sum of direct costs $ $ Return over variable costs $ $ Indirect ( fixed) cost/acre Misc. Overhead $5.00 $5.00 Machinery Depreciation/Acre Machinery Investment/Acre Irrigation Depreciation/Acre Irrigation Investment Land Taxes Land Investment Sum of Indirect costs $87.22 $56.55 Sum of all listed costs 2 $ $ Return to labor & management $ $83.72 Return on Investment (Example) = added income 1 ($ $243.00) x 100 = 151% added cost 2 ($ $159.28) Return on Investment (Your Field) = added income 1 x 100 = % added cost 2 Information in this brochure is intended for use as a guide and does not represent a warranty or guarantee of the specific yields or income that can be achieved. Management factors may also affect the end results.

4 proper irrigation for higher yields If you re farming in an area where rainfall is minimal or sporadic, mechanical move irrigation gives you a dependable way to control the delivery of water, chemicals and fertilizers to your crops. Mechanical move irrigation also provides a good return in fields where water retention is poor, especially in sandy soils. Studies show that yields can increase from 10% to as much as 50% after irrigation machines are put in place. In addition, land values typically increase when major improvements such as irrigation are implemented. The following table allows you to compare irrigated to non-irrigated crop yields (Table 1). Yield of Various Crops With and Without Irrigation Crop Irrigated Yield Non-Irrigated Yield Source Alfalfa tons/a (1.6 tons/ha) 2.7 tons/a (1.1 tons/ha) U.S. Dept. of Commerce Grain Sorghum bu/a (36.3 bu/ha) 36.5 bu/a (14.8 bu/ha) High Plains of Texas Wheat bu/a (16.1 bu/ha) 16.8 bu/a (6.8 bu/ha) High Plains of Texas Potaoes cwt/a (119.4 cwt/ha) cwt/a (79.6 cwt/ha) Manitoba, Canada Sources: 1 Irrigation of Agricultural Crops, ASA Monograph No. 30, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration Paper, Report on The Potential for Irrigation Expansion in Western Canada Key Benefits of Irrigation Include: The ability to hedge against the weather Increased water usage efficiency Reduced risk of crop failure Higher yields Lower cost of production Higher returns There is a variety of irrigation systems from which to choose. Keep in mind that it s more efficient and economical to irrigate small fields (60 acres/24 ha or less) with Greenfield mini-pivots and mini-lateral machines as opposed to standard-sized equipment.

5 Greenfield the right mov Greenfield vs. Gravity Flow Systems As shown below, converting from gravity flow to mechanical irrigation is much more efficient. But it has often been difficult to put full-size mechanical move equipment to work in fields of 80 acres (32 ha) or less. Now, however, Greenfield mini-pivot and mini-lateral machines are proving to be a practical way to reduce the water, labor and energy requirements of small-field irrigation. Take a look at these studies. Then take a look at Greenfield. PIVOT/LATERAL Average Yield Average Acre-feet Applied per Acre Tomatoes * 1.5 Soybeans 48 bu 0.7 Lettuce * 1.7 Sugar Beets 26 tons 2.0 Peanuts 3,313 lb 1.1 Berries * 2.4 Gravity Flow Tomatoes * 2.6 Soybeans 36 bu 1.0 Lettuce * 2.9 Sugar Beets 25 tons 3.0 Peanuts 2,875 lb 2.5 Berries * 3.0 * Not included in survey Save Labor While Decreasing Water Usage And Pumping Costs Over 50% Using a Greenfield mini-pivot or mini-lateral eliminates the hours required to move pipes or tubes, maintain ditches, and open and close floodgates. And, because less water is required, pumping costs are lower. This chart is from a study conducted by the University of Nebraska 1 using comparable pivot and flood operations. Annual fuel/ lube cost Annual labor cost (@ $7/hr) Operator labor ( hours/acres) Flood Pivot Pivot Savings $4,130 $2,616 $1,514 $1,680 $364 $1, Full Coverage Plus Even Distribution 75% reduction 1 Estimated Irrigation Costs, 1997, Roger Selley, Extension Farm Management Specialist, South Central Research and Extension Center, Clay Center, NE. Compared to flood irrigation techniques, Greenfield machines combine the latest in sprinkler, control and mechanical move technology to: Provide even, precise water application across the row Minimize water loss due to evaporation Allow precise timing and measurement of water applied Prevent water contamination Provide precise fertilizer and chemical application Reduce labor costs full coverage plus even distribution Center Pivot /Lateral Irrigation With center pivot irrigation, a precise application of water is achieved and evenly distributed. Flood Irrigation With flood irrigation, water is overapplied at the upper end of the field and underapplied at the far, lower end of the field.

6 e for small-field irrigation Greenfield vs. wheel line or solids set Greenfield mini-pivot and mini-lateral machines can make small-field irrigation more practical and more profitable, while giving you peace of mind. This ability has been thoroughly proven in university studies and documented by case histories nationwide. University Study Shows Cost Saving Operating Costs Case Histories Prove Greenfield Advantages Ownership Cost Total Cost Hand Line $ $38.60 $ Wheel Line $75.70 $70.30 $ Center Pivot $48.15 $52.00 $ *Source: A Cost Comparison of Alternative Sprinkler Systems from proceedings of the Winter Commodity Schools, 1994, University of Idaho. Power Costs Cut in Half Location: De Leon, Texas Application: Commercial hay production Summary: When Blanton Jones replaced his wheel-line system with a Greenfield mini-pivot he was able to reduce operating time, cut his power costs in half and get an extra cutting of hay. Blanton says, We try to cut our Coastal Bermuda every 28 days to get the highest protein and food value, but you have to get the water on fast. I can now apply what I need in 68 hours with the Greenfield and I don t have to run round the clock. With wheel line it was costing me about $500 a month to run. That s been more than cut in half with the Greenfield machine. No Turf Loss in Wheel Track Location: Metter, Georgia Application: Commercial turf farm Summary: At Collins Evergreen Turf, Larry and Vera Collins have used Greenfield machines to help build a solid reputation as a turfgrass supplier. Larry told us: With our Greenfields we re able to keep the seedbed moist, get good germination and we can normally harvest a hundred percent of the irrigated area including the wheel track. We re using three machines a three-tower, a seven-tower and a nine-tower to cover about 80 acres (32 ha). They give us more flexibility in fitting the area. Easy Operation, Good Reliability Location: Rembert, South Carolina Application: Vegetable production Summary: Wateree River Farm uses two Greenfield mini-pivots to help supply the produce used in all the correctional institutions operated by the State of South Carolina. Mark McCown, manager of Wateree River Farm, says Greenfield mini-pivots were a good fit both for his budget and the area he wanted to cover. They ve worked fine, says Mark, they operate just like the big pivots. He puts about 1,200 hours a year on the Greenfields. That s a fair test for any pivot and overall, Mark said, they ve shown good reliability. Extra Yield in Hard-To-Reach Areas Location: North Central Colorado Application: Hay production for sale to cattle feeders Summary: Ray Olin has steadily increased his use of Greenfield mini-pivots to help bring under-used acres into high-volume hay production. Ray Olin has been irrigating with Greenfield mini-pivots since the late 90s. His five machines ranging in size from 7 to 55 acres (3 to 22 ha) have enabled him to put 125 additional acres (51 ha) of alfalfa under irrigation. Ray says, They do a good job of filling the places that are hard to irrigate and the extra production you get definitely makes them worthwhile.

7 Comparative Cost Worksheet Greenfield vs. Wheel Line Greenfield Center Pivot Greenfield Lateral Move Wheel Line Your Estimate Table 1. Comparative Cost of Mechanical Move Irrigation Machines Capital Cost Number of Machines Acres Irrigated (Square 40 well present with 400 GPM) Required Flow Rate (GPM) Equipment Cost $17,500 $24,500 $18,000 Total capital cost $17,500 $24,500 $18,000 Capital cost per acre $ $ $ Table 2. annual ownership costs (per acre) Greenfield Center Pivot Greenfield Lateral Move Wheel Line Depreciation on Machine (20 yr) $25.00 $31.41 $23.68 Interest on 7% Insurance ($1.00/$100) Your Estimate Total annual ownership cost $65.00 $81.66 $61.57 operating costs (per acre) Power (electric 6 cents/kwh) $16.01 $20.74 $32.19 Labor (@ $10.00/hr) Maintenance (1.5% new cost) Total annual operating cost $31.51 $48.15 $74.29 operating and ownership cost $96.51 $ $ Pressure at the Machine (psi) Without Irrigation With Irrigation Table 3. Profit projection comparison Gross Revenue Per Acre Irrigation Operating and Ownership Cost 0.00 Other Expenses ( land cost, seed, chemical, fertilizer, etc.) Net Income

8 Leadership in Irrigation Based on GrowSmart Technology FieldBASIC Manual operation Limited status No history Limited options FieldVISION Easiest to operate Visual status and information enhances irrigation management Simple direction plans for different forward and reverse control between two barriers History log and timers monitor performance and usage Optional field position system adds extra programmability Multilingual capability FieldBOSS Most powerful, programmable and expandable Load control schedule operates during lowest electrical rates Advanced programmability by: Future date/time Day of week and time of day Repeat mode Powerful direction-specific controls Control up to three accessories Multilingual capability FieldSENTRY Wireless irrigation network Manage all your pivots (any type or brand) from the Internet or a cell phone with FieldSENTRY. Receive real-time text message status alerts Start and stop pivots wirelessly from the Internet, phone or a WAP-enabled device Chart, graph and record irrigation activity from a secure Web Portal Manage personnel and schedule irrigation operations efficiently Significantly reduce rising fuel and labor costs GREENFIELD DEALERS: THE IRRIGATION PROFESSIONALS Stop by your friendly, knowledgeable Greenfield dealer for sales, service, parts or just plain old advice. Remember, no matter what you grow, your Greenfield dealer can probably help you grow it more efficiently. For more information, see your local Greenfield dealer. Lindsay 2707 N 108th St., Suite 102, Omaha, NE Lindsay. All rights reserved. GrowSmart, Greenfield and FieldSENTRY are trademarks of the Lindsay Corporation. GFCONV