This is a dam. 

A metal triangle that the irrigator has to set quickly into several feet of very fast moving water.

Doing so is harder than one can imagine.  Sometimes a orange plastic dam has to be adding in also, but that is another story for another time.

 This is the last dam in a set of 4 dams on up the ditch

Setting tubes at the dam is a skill I just can’t seem to master.  You have to set the tube in at an angle.  You can’t lose the suction of the tube as you move it from the ditch over the edge into the hard to reach row.  I give up.

I just give up.  It isn’t worth the frustration.  Since we all work together then I let Misty or Terry set them.  I join the Grandchildren in the ‘it’s just too hard’ department.

 For a tube to work you must siphon the water from the ditch into the tube then into the furrow.

The little kids have learned to lay the tube clear down in the water (bury it) cover the curved end with your hand (Blade’s is just now large enough to cover the end and seal out the air), pick the tube up out of the water and carefully lay it into the furrow.

It took be forever to get past the ‘get down on your knees, lean over the ditch bank, get your hands and arms in the water’ stage

To where I am now…bending over, pick up the tube, put one end in the water, cup my hand over the end so I can feel the pressure drawing the water up the tube, quickly set the tube into the furrow.  Lots faster than before!  And I don’t ever have to get wet.

But Terry and Misty just walk by pick up the tube pump once, (no hand over the end) and flap into the furrow.  They do 10 to my 6.  DRIVES ME NUTS!

One of these days I’m going to figure it out

I hope!

It’s still cold here, but at least the sun is shining.  I sure missed the sun.

Linda

If you would like to learn about some of the cattle brands in our area head on over here.