Micro-irrigation

This year we knew we would have to do something different with irrigation management.  Last year we struggled to make sprinkler systems work in the outdoor garden and the high-tunnel.  Given the extreme temperatures and lack of rain, evapo-transpiration rates were great enough that is was hard to keep up with water demand using a relatively conventional sprinkler (i-WOB nozzle on a 6' stand).  In the high tunnel, the same set-up created nonuniform patterns due to droplet contact with the plastic cover.  This led us to look into micro-irrigation.

Micro-irrigation can take several forms; individual emitters, emitter tubing, spray tip, rotors, and more.  It is help to determine what plant species will be grown, then study the growth habitat of that species.  Factors such as height, width, root system, radiant tolerance, and spacing requirements will help determine the proper system and emitter type to ensure a successful system.



Individual emitters were used on the windbreak.  That is because the trees and shrubs were spaced relatively far apart and spacing varied between 6'-8'.

 

Emitter Tubing


For the garden area, I researched emitter tubing and determined that this would be the best fit for that setting.  Emitter tubing as built-in emitters into the wall of the tubing at set intervals.  It also delivers a designed rate of water out of each emitter.  I went with a tubing that has an emitter spacing of 12 inches and is designed to allow 1 gallon of water per hour to flow through the emitter. 

Two zones were created to facilitate the two different management zones; outdoor and high tunnel. 

Three main benefits:
1) Water savings- By accurately placing the water at the base of the plant, maximum water is available for root uptake.
2) Pest and weed management- Reduced pest and weed pressures from no longer watering between the rows.  This should greatly reduce competition for the vegetables and time spent weeding.
3) Ease of use!

  Our entire garden was planted with seed this year, rather than using transplants.  I'm attempting to record the hours of irrigation operation in order to get a better handle on water use and savings.  For germination, I run each zone for about one hour every other day.  As the plants mature, I plan to run the system less often, but for longer periods; possibly 4 hours each zone twice a week.  This will help establish a healthy and greater root system by moving the water down deeper into the soil profile.  Actual irrigation will be determined by a combination of the feel method and appearance of plant vigor.

Windbreaks

It's that time of year again; Spring!  What a wonderful time.  We are definitely excited about the warmer weather and watching everything green up.  We actually have received a little moisture lately and are sitting a lot better than this same time last year. 

With spring comes wind.  This year, we are planting a windbreak to  provide a little more protection from the elements.  You have probably heard the saying about timing of planting a tree; "the best time was 20 years ago, the second best time is now".

The windbreak actually contains quite a variety of shrubs.  Some of the shrubs are not technically valued for their windbreak potential as much as for their dual role for wildlife, or pollinator, habitat.  Being Organic, the flowering shrubs are used to attract beneficial insects to the area and also lure other pests away from the vegetable garden area. 

Types of shrubs planted include:  Eastern Red Cedar, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Skunkbush Sumac, Sand cherry, Lilac, and Chokecherry.

Along with the trees, we also included the practice of adding a weed barrier and microirrigation.  I debated whether I needed weed barrier since there was a good grass stand present?  I may have been able to get by without it, but in the end, I figure I will not need to go out and pull weeds, or grasses, that may try to out compete the trees since grazing will not be taking place in the windbreak. 

Microirrigation is supplied by a 3/4" drip line.  The emitters used are rated at 2 gallons/hour and are placed one per tree. 

Rabbits can be quite a pest and do a lot of damage to the tender bark of young trees in a very short time.  Therefore, we placed rabbit guards around the deciduous shrubs.  Hoping the evergreens will not be affected.

Soil Health

Soil Health is a new spin on incorporating several agronomic and ecological principles to help ensure sustainable and productive systems.  Soil Health takes a holistic approach to managing natural systems and ensuring that processes and cycles mimic natural occurrences.  This will help ensure minimal inputs, sustainable output, increased resiliency, healthy and productive resources, and improved financial sustainability.

I recently went to a NRCS training on Soil Health.  Our instructor was Ray Archuleta from the NRCS East Technical Center.  He is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about improving soil health.  He has several videos on Ray the Soil Guy which are great viewing. 

He asked us some basic questions, like "Why do we care about soil?"; and "What do we want from our soils?".  The bottom line is we expect a lot from our soils and we quickly came to a unified understanding of just how important healthy and functioning soils are.


A living root adds carbon and exudates which feed the soil microbes
and builds soil structure.



Top 4 management tips:

1. Minimize soil disturbance; i.e. plowing



2. Maximize diversity of crops in rotation

3. Have a living root in the soil as often as possible

4. Keep the soil covered with plants and plant residues

I look forward to applying these management tips not only in the High Tunnel, but also in our pasture setting with an improved rotation.



The soil has good cover, a living root, and diversity in type of crop;
 i.e. cool season grass to a warm season broad leaf.



Other great links:



North Dakota Zero Tillage Association

NRCS Soil Biology



Knocking down a cover crop with a roller crimper and no-till planting directly behind it in one operation.

  

Food Dialogues

USFRA – America’s Farmers and Ranchers – Leading constructive and pragmatic conversations about the future of food and agriculture

Harvest Time

We have had a beautiful fall.  After Labor Day, temperatures dropped back to more seasonal, it was a real relief.  I'm looking forward to the transition of seasons and the opportunity to move forward in the new year.



Common scene.  Neighbors harvesing corn.

Our harvest was not up to par.  This was due to extreme heat, wind and lack of precipitation throughout most of the growing season.  Tomatoes clearly did the best, especially in the high tunnel.  It appeared that several varieties remained green and were extremely slow to mature.  Was this because they were heirloom varieties and not hybrids?  Unfortuntely, our signs which marked the varieties did not hold-up (need to do better job a signage next year), so it was difficult to determine varieties of top performers.

One of our better plants outside the high tunnel.

Weeds were a problem in the garden and with organic options being limited, it was a challenge. 


Flaming weeds.  An organic option that helped, but could not get too close to the plastic.

















In an effort to control weeds and improve soil health next year, we planted a cover crop mid-September.  Cover crops can provide a variety of benefits, including; weed suppression, increased infiltration, decrease evaporation, increase percolation, increase microbial activity, increase carbon retention and storage, increase nutrient availability, improve soil structure, and fracturing of hard pans.  The intent is to graze or leave standing in the spring and basically no-till directly into it.  We worked with Green Cover Seeds who provided a mixture of oats, winter pea, Persian clover, BMR forage sorghum, Graza fodder radish, and turnips (purple top, Winfred hybrid, and Hunter hybrid). 




Cover crop nearly 10" tall and growing in November.  Note tomatoes have winter killed.


The high tunnel definetely extended the growing season.  Tomatoes were harvestable for nearly one month longer than outside tomatoes.  Also, the cover crop outside, which was planted on the same day, was not even comparable. 




Cover Crop outside high tunnel, November.  Despite planting on the same day, it appears to be at least 30 days behind cover inside the high tunnel.  August 1 may be a better plant date?




Calf growing well.

 We sold a yearling Jersey bull and a three year old Jersey heifer which would not breed dispite AI and natural service.  This should help alleviate some pressure on tight forage supplies and limit the purchase of $200/Ton hay.


Other challenges this year revolved around weather, namely wind.  



70 mph gusts proved hard on the cover of the high tunnel.  We need to come up with a better option next year as this was designed to last four years and did not make it a full season.



Preparing for cold winter winds with some added windbreaks for the livestock.



Other natural challenges:

No, that is not snow.  It is salt.  Salinity is an issue in our area.  This is what comes to the surface through capilary action following small precipitation events.  This can be a challenge for some types of vegetation and must be monitored and factored into production decisions. 





Summer Shots

Summer in Southeast Colorado proved to be hot and dry, as seen on the US Drought Monitor.  Our county was designated a disaster area due to high temperatures and far below average precipitation.  The This proved challenging to attain production goals on our limited acreage.  Somehow, we have made it through and are looking forward to fall.

A temporary watering facility

 

Weeds around the high tunnel became a battle, so we moved the temporary fence as close as possible so the cattle could help control them.

 

Tomato plants got off to a late start, but finally started taking off and needed stakes and wire to support their vegetative structure.



Jersey's grazing after a series of mid-July rain events.  None involved large amounts of rain, but each were joyfully welcomed. 



A Jersey-Angus cross bull calf was a welcomed sight in early August as well.  He is growing quickly with all that milk to himself. 



Grazing weeds in the high tunnel.  Actually, this is not a planned practice, but we left him in awhile as there were plenty of weeds to graze (just had to keep him out of the tomatoes on the right). More on our growing season wrap-up in a later post. 



Seasonal High Tunnel

Southeast Colorado is an area noted for extremes.  We get as cold as northern climates in the winter, as hot as more southern climates in the summer, with drought and wind events common in-between.

With the intent to be sustainable, we looked closely at optimizing garden production.  In order to accomplish this, we have the following goals:
     1) Improve early growing season conditions; temperatures and high winds.
     2) Improve water use efficiency of limited water resources
     3) Improve plant health and vigor during extreme summer months
     4) Increase late season growing opportunities by protecting from early killing frost

Our goals lead us to apply for a grant offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for a Seasonal High Tunnel.  In Mid-May, we found out that we received the grant.  We are very excited as this is expected to really further our operation.

With the growing season underway, timing was of the essence.  Construction began right away! 

We ordered a Clear Span 30' X 48' Economy High Tunnel from Farm Tek.  They were very good to deal with.

Challenges were:
    1) Growing season was under way, so plants had to be transplanted prior to   construction completion.  This proved difficult to work around as construction required a lot of moving around the area with ladders.
    2) High winds required careful consideration
    3) Irrigation differences from High Tunnel vs. outside area
    4) Pests and other animal impacts

A couple good free standing ladders are necessary.  Help is appreciated as there is a lot of overhead work.  Top height is 13'.

Lots of rafter hangers to secure.  A necessary step.



Reinforcing framework added along with anchor post and attached cable to protect against South winds.



Not two weeks after completion, a storm came through with high winds that tore the 6 mil plastic cover off the structure.  This was a major disappointment.  Major structure was fine, but broke minor boards and bent pipe for roll-up sides.  Cover was taped up and other repairs were made to salvage most parts.  Hoping cover will make it through the season.



Inside view of final product.



Outside view of final product.  Note temporary electric fence to keep cows and sheep out.  Also note rope lashings between rafters to better hold plastic down in high winds.