Bird
Rest in Peace
Jim, I don't personally know of any place where the state makes any money from the hay. And of course in our area, too, most of the highway rights-of-way are just mowed with brush hogs by contractors working for the state.
Why did they do this??
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RobS
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One of the reasons for the irrigation is the crop. It's not just corn, but seed corn. There is a lot of it grown in our area (Northern Indiana/SW Michigan). From what I've heard, the seed corn companies are very specific about everything to do with the crop. Prep, planting, fertilizer, weeds, bugs and water. Had a crop duster working the fields around us just last week.
This time of year it's easy to tell the seed corn fields as every sixth row has been knocked down. Those were the polinator rows but won't be harvested. The tassles were taken off the other rows a while back by the famous detassling crews.
I've heard it's very expensive to grow seed corn but the payback is of course, much higher. If anyone knows more about it, please jump in. I'd like to know more myself.
This time of year it's easy to tell the seed corn fields as every sixth row has been knocked down. Those were the polinator rows but won't be harvested. The tassles were taken off the other rows a while back by the famous detassling crews.
I've heard it's very expensive to grow seed corn but the payback is of course, much higher. If anyone knows more about it, please jump in. I'd like to know more myself.
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jimg
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Yes, the brush mowing routine is what Im accustomed to. I just wondered if the state was selling the right to mow and bale vs letting someone do the mowing work for the right to take the hay.
MossRoad
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<font color="blue"> certainly NOT long enough to reach most of the field</font>
You only have to reach the dryest parts of the fields. You will frequently see them on the high ground only as rain runoff concentrates moisture in the low areas, etc... Also, with a square field, you can put a system in the middle that will reach most of the field. The corners will be covered by that large impact sprinkler on the end, if needed or the cornering systems.
Here's a link that explains how many acres you can gain by using the cornering type systems.
You only have to reach the dryest parts of the fields. You will frequently see them on the high ground only as rain runoff concentrates moisture in the low areas, etc... Also, with a square field, you can put a system in the middle that will reach most of the field. The corners will be covered by that large impact sprinkler on the end, if needed or the cornering systems.
Here's a link that explains how many acres you can gain by using the cornering type systems.
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jimg
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I dont remember if these were located on high ground or not. I do know they were WAY smaller than the field and werent centered.
Thanx for thelink!
Thanx for thelink!
RobS
Super Member
A lot of the newer irrigation systems articulate to cover non-round fields. Not sure how they're controlled (GPS?). I can tell you this, they put out a LOT of water. I've ridden my bike through the spray and it's an instant dousing. Sometimes refreshing, sometimes not /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
texbaylea
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In my area along the Farm-to-Market road in to town there are 2-3 farmers that mow and bale the right of way in front of their fields. I don't know if they get permission or not.
I try to keep the 1/4 mile of frontage that I have picked up - never ending job and sometimes mow it if it gets too tall. The county mowing is sporatic.
Vernon
I try to keep the 1/4 mile of frontage that I have picked up - never ending job and sometimes mow it if it gets too tall. The county mowing is sporatic.
Vernon
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jimg
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I saw a few of these setups (west of OH and IN) that were putting out some serious water! It looked like a localized down pour going up instead of coming down. It looked like a great way to cool off!
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jimg
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This is similar to what I saw in SD...some of the mowing/baling started/stopping on field boundaries. I wondered if the farmer was doing the state a favor by keeping the right of way adjacent to the farm mowed.
One other thing...in MN some significant part of the median in places was growing wheat. Im sure this wasnt purposefully planted but I found it sort of interesting.
One other thing...in MN some significant part of the median in places was growing wheat. Im sure this wasnt purposefully planted but I found it sort of interesting.
Glenn9643
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Not trying to hijack the thread, but the talk of things growing in the median struck a chord with me.
I've thought for years that some states would benefit substantially by leasing the median area or planting something that would pay it's way!
In many of the southern states there are thousands of acres that are not used within interstate or other similar highway systems. Because of the way the highways are designed, this is generally a well drained area, and I've thought for a long time that pines could be planted within the medians and harvested easily without disrupting traffic. (Pines would work in the southern states). The timber would normally be harvested before it was large enough to become a problem with blowing over in the road during storms, and there's pretty good return per acre from pine plantations... Just an area that I belive could be better managed.
I've thought for years that some states would benefit substantially by leasing the median area or planting something that would pay it's way!
In many of the southern states there are thousands of acres that are not used within interstate or other similar highway systems. Because of the way the highways are designed, this is generally a well drained area, and I've thought for a long time that pines could be planted within the medians and harvested easily without disrupting traffic. (Pines would work in the southern states). The timber would normally be harvested before it was large enough to become a problem with blowing over in the road during storms, and there's pretty good return per acre from pine plantations... Just an area that I belive could be better managed.
