Pivot irrigation in Georgia

In Southwest Georgia there are more than 6,000 center pivots used to water peanuts, cotton and corn. Farmers have control over how much water the irrigation nozzles spray as they pass over fields. Small fields can vary in topography and soil types, with some places wetter or drier than other places in the same field.

VRI technology

The concept is simple: apply water when and where crops need it. Don't apply it where they don't. VRI technology uses computer maps, global positioning systems, soil sensors and software to control where and how much water the nozzles on a center pivot spray on crops.

Growers want to irrigate more precisely, but don't have the time or level with higher-tech gadgets. The more time-consuming technology steps have been eliminated to make the system easier for farmers to use.

Instead of having to create computer maps of fields, this system has a simple "push-button" feature. A farmer can start the center pivot over a field. When it gets to a location he doesn't want to apply water, the farmer pushes the button to train the system not to water that area. Once the system passes this area, he pushes the button again to resume watering only the crop. This can be done in as many as 8 locations in the same field.

The water efficiency of VRI has been tested on farms in Georgia and found it can reduce the water use in a field by as much as 15% annually without sacrificing crop yield.

Four generations harvest corn crop

When Smith’s family got together for harvest this year, they were doing more than picking corn. They were celebrating four generations involved in the harvest on land held by the family for about 200 years.
Smith said actually two more generations should be recognized.
Smith’s father, Bryan Smith, moved his family to land north of Enders, where Smith, 87 next month, resided from 1929-1952. He then moved to his present location near Champion.
The Smiths, including son Lloyd, grandson Nick and great-grandson Allan, 12, farm corn, wheat and soybeans. They began picking high moisture corn Sept. 29, then laid off for three weeks to wait for the corn to dry down. The Smiths completed harvest Dec. 3. Lloyd’s wife Rhonda drove a semi to transport corn. Vilas Smith began farming when he was 10 years old, helping his father and a hired man. He drove a four-horse cultivator. “I can still hear those horses clopping,” he laughed.
When he first began harvesting corn, horses were still used. Then tractors came into play.
Smith remembers the steamer and thrasher used for harvesting wheat. It took a lot of time to cut wheat. He also remembers the corn pickers attached to a tractor or pulled behind one. The corn was harvested on the ear, then stored in a rick. It was scooped by hand into a sheller to remove the kernels from the cob.
The big difference these days, Smith said, is the machinery.
Most of the Smiths’ crops are irrigated by pivot, with just a little gravity irrigated. Smith said he first installed gravity irrigation on the Champ­ion Valley land, using siphon tubes connected to ditch water. Gated irrigation pipes followed, and then sprinkler pivots.