As winter sets in, now is a good time to inspect, winterize and perform some preventative maintenance on center pivot irrigation systems.
According to guidance from the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, “Irrigation system maintenance during the winter months is very important because it can ensure a system’s longevity, and regular maintenance can also potentially reduce the risk of experiencing downtime at critical crop stages during the next growing season.”
The University of Georgia recommends checking the following when performing winter maintenance on pivots:
- Conduct a pivot uniformity catch can test to verify that the system is applying water uniformly.
- Drain the irrigation system and check panel boxes after you have conducted a uniformity test and are certain you will not be using your irrigation system until the next growing season.
- Service required parts and test the metering equipment, including wheel gearboxes and gear motors, pivot point bearing, towable hubs, corner legs and rollers, and flow meter.
More detailed information about performing these maintenance checks is available from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences website.