Wallaces Farmer

After a colder-than-usual winter and with drier conditions this spring, ensure pivots are functioning efficiently and accurately.

April 27, 2021

2 Min Read
Center pivot irrigation system in field
PREPLANT MAINTENANCE: Spring’s drier-than-normal conditions have put additional importance on pivots functioning efficiently and accurately this year. It's not too late for growers to prep pivots for optimal results this season. Courtesy of Zimmatic by Lindsay

As #Plant21 beckons, irrigation professionals from Zimmatic by Lindsay Corp. are encouraging farmers not to skimp on pivot maintenance this season. It is especially crucial this year:

  • Coming out of a brutal winter requires extra diligence. "Pivots are very rugged, reliable machines, but weather can take a toll," said Jonathan Dahmann, from Zimmatic dealer ATS Irrigation in Brenham, Texas.

  • Drier-than-normal conditions this spring place added importance on pivots functioning efficiently and accurately.

  • Favorable market conditions this year exacerbate the cost of leaving yield on the table.

"Properly maintained pivots offer yield advantages and can reduce input costs," says Brad Dunbar, regional sales manager with Lindsay. "Spending a handful of hours ahead of planting could translate to thousands more dollars in growers' pockets come harvest due to reduced downtime and in-season service calls." 

It's not too late for growers to prep their pivots for optimal results this season. Here's what Dunbar recommends prioritizing before planting begins.

6 must-do’s

Take these six actions, even at the last minute:

1. Pay special attention to components. These could have been damaged by prolonged freezing temperatures, ice and snow, including sand traps, drain valves, end gun valves and the automatic valves that control water flow.

2. Lubricate the pivot head. This keeps the pivot point moving freely during operation.

3. Inspect drivelines. Worn joints and driveline bolts are easy to repair at the beginning of the season, but can be challenging to repair later.

4. Inspect sprinkler nozzles. Replace them as necessary to ensure proper pressure, which has a direct impact on water distribution uniformity and, ultimately, yield.

5. Check oil. Inspect the oil in gearboxes and center-drive motors.

6. Check tire pressure. Proper pressure maintains adequate flotation and prevents excessive gearbox wear.

Make sure to take any regional nuances into account and check with your Zimmatic dealer on specific advice for your location.

Future of pivot maintenance

As development of what Lindsay calls its "smart pivot" progresses throughout this growing season, the company will field-test a number of new capabilities to help growers better solve operational challenges, including reducing time spent on pivot maintenance.

Announced late last year, the smart pivot comes to life through two smart streams – Zimmatic machine health and FieldNet advanced agronomics. The machine health stream is designed to reduce risk and operational downtime. In the works is using edge computing and machine learning to streamline these efforts.

This season, beta customers will experience the benefits of the pivot by proactively identifying potential maintenance issues, such as low tire pressure and tower misalignment.

"The goal is to strengthen growers' competitive advantage by making the pivot smarter and more self-sufficient," says Reece Andrews, product manager at Lindsay.

The smart pivot is expected to be available for a limited commercial release in 2022. For more information, visit lindsay.com.

Source: Lindsay, which is responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and its subsidiaries aren't responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

 

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