Brothers Adam and Lachlan Marshall operate a dairy partnership at Blighty in the Southern Riverina.
They recently installed the latest in Upton irrigation technology — a 343m span and 420m span SP200 200 series system, respectively covering 45ha and 64.4ha.
This follows on from the success of previous installations.
Adam believes pivot systems are the most effective way to irrigate major fodder crops like corn, while optimising pasture development in a challenging environment in terms of climate, corrosion and wind.
“We chose Upton pivots because they are Australian-made and the best out there for a tough job under local conditions, with parts available locally and quickly.
“They use marine-grade aluminium extensively, which means not only are the pivots easier to position and reposition, but also their corrosion resistance means we can undertake fertigation and insecticide delivery over extended lifespans,” Adam said.
He said prompt back up service was critical when you were applying water to crops at precise times to ensure the best returns.
The high winds which blow across the farm occasionally can wreak havoc on the pivots and result in some damage.
“Even when we strap systems down in preparation for upcoming weather, and align the pivots to minimise the impact of the wind, incidents can happen, and that’s when you appreciate good local service.”
He said when the big system was knocked about by wind, the service team got the system back up and running in 48 hours.
Features of the system include heavy duty galvanised steel fixed centre pivot towers and a 4000 litre mounted diesel tank.
The GPS Pro tracking technology, with full programmable control, features touch screen control and monitoring from your phone.
The system is powered by Fieldwise technology telemetry and is designed to be flexible and upgradable to grow with expanding needs.