Getting the ground ready is all about tractor work, getting the soil ready to accept seeds is about irrigation.
Terry marks and creases at the same time, which saves on time and fuel.
Then we have to check all the pipes, making sure all the gates are in place and working
The wind has been rather wild this fall, winter and spring filling even the main artery headgate with trash
So the first order of business, after fixing gates and cleaning the ditches
Once everything is clean here, then boards are set to force flow into our main headgate
Water must flow downhill, so just because we are irrigating one field, all the ditches have to be cleaned and ready to go.
Terry makes it look simple here, but a dam must be placed to hold back the water plus each tube has to have the end dug out so the tube lays flat in the row
Success!
Once started the water is never turned off until harvest.
We irrigate and then let the ground dry out until it is at moist stage, then the seeds are planted. Depending on the weather, should be around two weeks from now.
Have a nice weekend!
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
Lots of work. Congrats on getting that first head of water on its way to the land. Good wishes for good planting weather.
LikeLike
Linda
That sure looks like back breaking work for Terry! My back problem
, plus my doctor, would not allow me to even think about it.
So I’m a non starter!
It is amazing the weather in Colorado – snow and wet and then everything seems to have dried out for you to be able to
start the ploughing and then planting so soon. It is blatantly obvious that I am a bit “wet around the ears” when the topic moves to cropping!
However, I find it all very educational, especially the way you photo and then explain – congratulations on a job well done.
Brisbane weather report: 17th April. 15c – 26c ( possible thunderstorms)
Cheers
Colin (HB)
LikeLike
I never get tired of seeing this process. Your pictures always show exactly how things need to be done. Lots of hard work but I’m sure a good feeling once the water flows where it needs to be 🙂
Best wishes for a great growing season!
Have a good weekend ~
LikeLike
Glad your able to get in the fields. We’ve had 2.25 inches of rain since yesterday a.m. and still more predicted to come. Very, very wet, but will be good for planting in May. After looking at your pictures of irrigating prep, I am thankful for our pivot sprinklers. You all have to work very hard to get your water to your fields. We use 5-6 wells per 177 acre farm to get the water to the pivots by underground pipe and then pray that the wells don’t run dry during a dry year. I did see the type of silver tubes here when I first came 27 years ago, but my husband was already using the long pipes with gates in them that hooked up to valves from the wells. Years ago they ran ditches of water and used the silver tubes.
Here’s hoping all continues to go well for you. Blessings!
LikeLike
Farming, you either love it or hate it, I love it. By the way it is snowing here!
LikeLike
Fuzzy must be in heaven. This is his favorite time of year.
LikeLike
So interesting, Linda…. I have never known or seen how this process works. I know it is alot of terribly hard work—but all worth it I’m sure when it is done….
Are things still going according to plan??? Hope the winds and bad weather stay away.
Hugs,
Betsy
LikeLike
Wow and I thought gardening was hard work. A very informative post. God bless farmers.
LikeLike
I guess I will never complain about the water we have here, I am glad that we don’t have to do that on top of all the other work that needs to be done for farmers. I quess if it is something that you have always had to do it is no big thing to have to do every year. More power to you all! I hope you have a good year for your harvest, Linda!
LikeLike
Work, work and more work…….at least we don’t work as hard as you guys do 😉 Glad to see you can finally get in the fields and get some spring work done.
LikeLike
LOVE your tractor!
Nice looking irrigation system. We have the opposite problem, too much water on some of our land.
LikeLike
Very hard work, but so well worth it! We are getting a lot of rain here this week. blessings,Kathleen (also from Eggs In My Pocket)
LikeLike
Who works harder than a farmer? Thanks for feeding us. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank God for the hard working farmers and their families…
really
I mean it (o:
LikeLike
What a tremendous lot of work! And I thought we were busy around here in the spring – next time I want to complain I’ll log on and read this post!
LikeLike
Hi Linda, It looks like spring is finally there..and planting is about to begin..you got water!! Hope the nasty winds stay away.. Fuzzy is looking like he needs his summer haircut!! 🙂
LikeLike
I always love reading about your farming activities in the dry country – so fascinating!
LikeLike
Geez, I’m exhausted just reading about all your hard work. *Phew*!!
LikeLike
I am glad to see Fuzzy is helping Terry.
Cheers,
Bill
LikeLike
It always amazes me how work intense your kind of irrigating is!! Always very interesting!!
Daryl has been checking your blog regularly now to keep up with Terry’s farm progress/process. Being he cant drive by and study it while driving off the road!!
LikeLike
Pingback: Brand New Headgate | Life on a Colorado Farm
Pingback: The Start of April is a Cold–April 2, 2014 | Life on a Colorado Farm