By Kindra Gordon

At least 50 irrigation pivots are now in operation in the Belle Fourche, S.D., Irrigation District and landowners are interested in adding more, says Sarah Eggebo, Natural Resources Conservation Services district conservationist at Belle Fourche, S.D.

"The pivots are much more efficient allowing operators to save money by using less water and less labor," Eggebo says.

The 2008 Farm Bill provides cost sharing for pivot installation. To be eligible, the land must have been irrigated for two of the last five years and the soil can't have a history of salinity.

Jim and Shelly Sheeler (center) farm with their sons Mike (left) and Scott (right) and their daughter, Alisha (not pictured.)

Jim Sheeler, Vale, S.D., added two pivots last year. Their family farm, purchased by their grandfather, has been flood irrigated for the past 65 years. They raise alfalfa, corn, soybean, dry beans and small grains.

"Our main reason for adding pivots was that they provide more even coverage of water to the crop in a shorter amount of time," Sheeler says.

A pivot only uses about two feet of water from the irrigation ditch and can go over 100 acres in three days. Gated pipe flood irrigation takes about 10 days to cover that same amount of acres. Flood irrigation also requires more labor and uses 2.5 to 3 feet of water.

"When it's hot, the sooner the crop can get water the better. So, even though we may have to run the pivots more often, it saves our crop because we can get water to it right away," he says.

Jim Sheeler checks flood irrigated pinto beans. He installed two center pivot systems last year to reduce irrigation labor costs and water use, and increase yields.

The more efficient use of water with the pivot is also beneficial. Sheeler notes that the biggest challenge with irrigation during a dry year is that everything needs water at once – including the neighbors' crops, too. Regulations only allot permit holders so many feet or inches of water from the irrigation ditch per acre. Once you've used your allotment, you may buy leftover water offered by other permit holders if it is available and if you are willing to pay for it.

Because of the efficiencies and labor savings, the Sheelers say they plan install more pivots over the next five years.