Flood Irrigation

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The newest and most important thing that I have experienced this past week was working on flood irrigation in our pastures. Flood irrigation here at the ranch is a very straight forward method of irrigation where we pull water from the Snake River and other creeks that run through the property. I am still learning how to evaluate which locations need flooded, but I am confident in blocking and unblocking the culverts. I have been able to track the movement of the herd based on how the grass has been growing, so I have a good understanding of the importance of the irrigation system.

One idea that might be challenge is the efficiency and effectiveness of utilizing flood irrigation for a big operation. The ranch has used this method for many years and it has been proven to be effective for the amount of livestock that is ran through its’ pastures, but I have been wondering if using irrigation pivots would make much of a difference in cost effectiveness, work efficiency, and grass growing potential. The only thing that leads me to believe that this is the best option is that most of the other ranches in the area that run similar operations, also choose to do flood irrigation off of the Snake River.

Moving from the reflection to the generalization, one question I still have is how flood irrigation compares to other types of irrigation like running pivots through each section. Flood irrigation isn’t necessarily as directly efficient than an irrigation pivot, but having the Snake River running through the property, it turns out to be a more effective use of resources and a lower maintenance method of irrigation. I don’t foresee the ranch switching irrigation methods any time soon, but I do wonder how things would change if they did.

My plan moving into week six here on the ranch is to pay more attention to the grass in the areas that I have irrigated, since I do not have a consistent irrigation route, I’ll have to keep a general idea as I move through the fields to see when each location gets flooded and when the steers get moved. I plan to ask the irrigation crew more questions and continue to work hard at each location I am in charge of irrigating.

Submitted by: Mack Mlnarik
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team