By Troy Ingram, Chuck Burr and Aaron Nygren

It was another wet spring for Nebraska, and farmers challenged to wrap up their spring fieldwork may not have started thinking about their irrigation equipment yet.

Now is a good time to do a quick evaluation of the pumping plant, well and center pivot to ensure they are in good working order before relying on them during the heat of the summer. Here are a few quick checks you can do to help ensure a successful irrigation season.

Pumping plants
Electric motors account for about 55% of the pumping plants in Nebraska, according to 2013 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service's Irrigation Survey. Electric motors are relatively maintenance-free but still need to be looked over. It's a good idea to change the oil in the unit every year. Next, open up the junction box and make sure the connectors are tight and have a good ground. Check for frayed wires and damage from rodents.

PUMPING PLANT MAINTENANCE: While electric motors are relatively maintenance free, they still need to be looked over, and it's a good idea to change the oil in the unit every year. (Photos by Troy Ingram)

Internal combustion engines need quite a bit more attention. Change the engine oil and all filters. Check engine hours and refer to the manufacturer's service interval on valve adjustments and other service that may be needed, such as draining, flushing and refilling the cooling system. Also, grease and adjust the clutch and drive shaft between power unit and gear head.

If you are running a gas, propane or natural gas engine, check the sparkplugs and replace as needed.

It's also a good idea to run the Nebraska Extension App IrrigatePump to see how your pumping plant stacks up against the Nebraska Pumping Plant Criteria. This will give you an idea of the efficiency of the power unit and pump. The current economic climate demands efficiency.

WELL-OILED MACHINE: Before you start irrigating in the spring, make sure you start the dripper to lube the line shaft bearings.

Pump
The pump is sometimes overlooked. Before you start irrigating in the spring, make sure you start the dripper to lube the line shaft bearings. It needs 1 gallon of drip oil for every 100 feet of depth. Set the dripper for one drip every five seconds. The pump can only take oil so fast, and you can't over-oil it. Also, make sure the dripper line is attached and the fittings are tight.

Pivot
The pivot will take a little more time to go through. Start by checking each tower:
• Check tire pressure and condition.
• Check driveline knuckles for wear.
• Drain water from gearboxes and top off with appropriate gear oil.
• Inspect the tower box and the alignment system.

Next, start up the pump and center-pivot system. Once the system is up to pressure, check the system for leaks and ensure proper operation of the sprinklers. If you find missing or inoperable sprinklers, refer to the system's sprinkler chart to find the correct replacement. If the system is on rolling or hilly terrain, regulators are needed for uniform application and should be checked. Check for proper operation by making sure no water is squirting from the side of any regulators. Leaks indicate the rubber diaphragm has failed.

Keep in mind that sprinklers and pressure regulators do have a life span. If your system is approaching 10 years old, you might need to take a closer look at them. Uniformity of water application can suffer greatly if your sprinkler package is out of date.

Taking time now to check your irrigation system and perform these maintenance steps should help ensure the system will perform properly when needed.

Ingram is a Nebraska Extension educator in northeast Nebraska; Burr is a crops and water Extension educator at the West Central Research and Extension Center; and Nygren is an Extension educator in east-central Nebraska. This report comes from UNL CropWatch.