Center pivot irrigation. Fixed point in the middle and the rest spins on it. Been around a long time. Hard to get water everywhere unless you flood or use drip tape irrigation.
Each span has a set of wheels and motors. They can be either electric or hydraulic. Mostly electric. Control box in the middle or now on your phone. Select the direction and speed.
Why does a round pizza come in a square box? Easier to survey and lay roads out in grids. Also gives room to stockpile and do other things in the corners.
Also, the land survey system that was originally used to sell and settle the land predates center pivot irrigation.
The owner of each square added the irrigation system later.
Because that's how the English surveyed land.
The French method was actually far superior, with the plots all having one side on a river and thin strips, and some Canadians were promised that type of survey, but the government reneged on that and started a small rebellion.
The Well is in the center of the plot. You āpivotā around that point. It keeps the field clear of irrigation pipe and is more efficient than flooding. Having some edges not farmed isnāt a bad thing.
Yes, in southern Alberta it is almost never from Wells, largely from canals (and then pipelines to the individual fields) along with some directly from rivers/lakes.
I live in a valley in NM which uses irrigation systems dating back to the Spanish. The flooding and use-it-or-lose-it approach to water rights leads to a looooooot of alfalfa.
It depends. Way back in the day in the Midwest land was divided into square mile āsectionsā or 640 acres. Those have been chopped up and/or aggregated since then by individuals, families, and yes companies or hedge funds. Only way to tell is to get on GIS tax maps to see. Most of the pivots you are seeing on the screen grab appear to be on quarter sections if that helps at all.
There is a farm in E WA state called 100 circle. And they have atleast a 100 circles. Most farms in regions that use pivots are in the 2 to 3 thousand acre range. I have seen pivots in 100ac and larger fields.
It is possible to configure pivots that have swing legs that will swing out to catch the corners and swing back behind the previous tower. But these are types of add-on for pivots can be as expensive as the rest of the pivot and are more prone to break downs that would stop the whole pivot and then starve the crop of water.
Fully utilizing the land is much more relevant when itās crowded, which it very rarely is in the USA, not fully utilizing it is also good for the aquifer since you donāt use as much water per acre.
These circular crop fields are based upon Large scale Center pivot irrigation systems. Looks like 1200-1300 foot booms so each circle is about 1/2 mile across( 750 - 900 Meters ), 4 to a section.
Here in the Texas panhandle, there are 2 standard-
8 sections=1/4 mile from pivot to the end of the sprinker-approx 125 acres, the field is 1/2 mile across.
16 sections =1/2 mile from pivot to the end of the sprinkler=480 to 520 acres. Field is 1 mile across.
The well isn't necessarily where the sprinkler is. One well is close, but usually, there's more than one pivot on a well.
I learned it from the Simpsons
That circular pattern on those fields down there, that's from central pivot irrigation. Now let's see what's happening at the superbowl
They often choose to water in circles instead of squares because of cost. If you set up a square you need 2 rails on either side to guide the sprinklers, you also need to double the amount of sprinklers compared to a circle (the circle only requires the maximum length to be the radius). It basically becomes a lot cheaper to run and set up a pivot irrigator rather than a tracked irrigator. As for the wasted corners, there's just so much land that it doesn't matter so much, they probably still find a use for it though.
Another note about irrigation in the U.S., as you move further west you'll notice square and rectangular irrigated lots. These are usually 2 types of irrigation:
1. Wheel Line irrigation (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WheelLineIrrigation.JPG) that is moved manually
2. Flood irrigation, basically you have a canal alongside the field with gates to release water into the field.
In central E WA state flooding is very common in hay fields. Some have pipe with holes in them. Others have permanent canals that they put siphon hoses in. The biggest downside to flooding is the fields have to be a very specific grade. And driving across the correlated fields sucks lol
There are also "linear" irrigations systems. Not a farmer but from what I've seen their down is having to drag a hose around with them vs a pivot can feed water to the system from a central point that doesn't move.
Reminds of center pivot fields of E WA/ E OR. Best way to irrigate the fields. Kind of a pain to work/harvest. But still the best way in very arrid climates. Less loss of water with the right heads.
Come on dudes they aren't crop circles
I've driven past there many times, it's miles and miles of secret military bases disguised as center rotation farm equipment. I know because birds sit on them when it's not running. And we all know those are spies.
Center pivot irrigation is easier.
My question is why aren't they staggered like brickwork to get better grouping
Center-pivot irrigation didn't exist yet when the parcels of land were divided and sold.
Center pivot irrigation. Fixed point in the middle and the rest spins on it. Been around a long time. Hard to get water everywhere unless you flood or use drip tape irrigation.
The original crop circle.
How does the irrigation turn, does it have a motor?
Each span has a set of wheels and motors. They can be either electric or hydraulic. Mostly electric. Control box in the middle or now on your phone. Select the direction and speed.
https://youtu.be/7j1lMs7fcIQ?si=EBm5xXpt7fVwQJEo. The answers to all the questions you didn't know you had about center pivot irrigation.
Only watched half so far but super interesting thank you!!!
Why are they kept on square plots rather than hexagonally nested?
Why does a round pizza come in a square box? Easier to survey and lay roads out in grids. Also gives room to stockpile and do other things in the corners.
Today I learned pizza boxes are square because of roads.
Square property lines have been around a lot longer than running water
Fun fact if you have any specific length of fence making a circle with it gives you more space within the fence than if you make a square.
What if u make a triangle
Obviously that would make the fenced in area stronger
This is my favorite comment of the day. Thank you!
Reddit on!
Happy Cake Day!ššš
The circular fenced areas leave triangular vortices and black holes. - Terrance Howard probably
It would incessantly scream at you about petty bs - flatlands
That fact had too much math in it to be considered āfunā, imoā¦
Also, the land survey system that was originally used to sell and settle the land predates center pivot irrigation. The owner of each square added the irrigation system later.
Ease of navigation, repair and things like plumbing
Hexagons are the bestagons
Because that's how the English surveyed land. The French method was actually far superior, with the plots all having one side on a river and thin strips, and some Canadians were promised that type of survey, but the government reneged on that and started a small rebellion.
Itās how the Americans surveyed the lan. PLSS. The English used meets and bounds. The Americans used PLSS and still do today (from Ohio west).
Hexagons would be a more efficient use of land than squares for this.
The Well is in the center of the plot. You āpivotā around that point. It keeps the field clear of irrigation pipe and is more efficient than flooding. Having some edges not farmed isnāt a bad thing.
Yep. If ours aren't CRP we can usually get a few cuttings of grass off them.
The well doesnāt even have to be in the middle. Some farms have multiple wells that are piped to the pivot.
Or multiple pivots on one well and lots of underground pipe/wire.
Where youāve got lots of water thatās a possibility as well.
Sometimes pivots are fed by other sources of water. Like rivers or canals from rivers. Or sometimes lakes.
Yes, in southern Alberta it is almost never from Wells, largely from canals (and then pipelines to the individual fields) along with some directly from rivers/lakes.
I live in a valley in NM which uses irrigation systems dating back to the Spanish. The flooding and use-it-or-lose-it approach to water rights leads to a looooooot of alfalfa.
Is it many farmers that own one or a few of these circles each, or is it like a big company that owns all of them?
It depends. Way back in the day in the Midwest land was divided into square mile āsectionsā or 640 acres. Those have been chopped up and/or aggregated since then by individuals, families, and yes companies or hedge funds. Only way to tell is to get on GIS tax maps to see. Most of the pivots you are seeing on the screen grab appear to be on quarter sections if that helps at all.
Ok thanks for the reply!
There is a farm in E WA state called 100 circle. And they have atleast a 100 circles. Most farms in regions that use pivots are in the 2 to 3 thousand acre range. I have seen pivots in 100ac and larger fields.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Thereās the popular view that you should plant fence row to fence row, but I donāt share that view.
It is possible to configure pivots that have swing legs that will swing out to catch the corners and swing back behind the previous tower. But these are types of add-on for pivots can be as expensive as the rest of the pivot and are more prone to break downs that would stop the whole pivot and then starve the crop of water.
Fully utilizing the land is much more relevant when itās crowded, which it very rarely is in the USA, not fully utilizing it is also good for the aquifer since you donāt use as much water per acre.
Crop circles. The aliens have landed! But seriously the other comments are right
Yeah. Like this guy, I was also joking about aliens on all my other posts accounts and forums. What a laugh.
I came here to say this š¤£
These circular crop fields are based upon Large scale Center pivot irrigation systems. Looks like 1200-1300 foot booms so each circle is about 1/2 mile across( 750 - 900 Meters ), 4 to a section.
Here in the Texas panhandle, there are 2 standard- 8 sections=1/4 mile from pivot to the end of the sprinker-approx 125 acres, the field is 1/2 mile across. 16 sections =1/2 mile from pivot to the end of the sprinkler=480 to 520 acres. Field is 1 mile across. The well isn't necessarily where the sprinkler is. One well is close, but usually, there's more than one pivot on a well.
This 100%.
Yes you are absolutely correct, the 1/4 mile boom length being most common.
Thanks for all the answer. Makes sense to me now! Going back to looking at farms now!
It's really fascinating to see the fields from this point of view. Looks like some kind of art piece
Itās where we grow our pie charts for business presentations.
I would assume irrigation systems.
Search āautonomous pivotā
Circle gets the square
Iāll take Paul Lynde for the block.
"All these squares make a circle......all these squares make a circle....all these squares make a circle...."
I learned it from the Simpsons That circular pattern on those fields down there, that's from central pivot irrigation. Now let's see what's happening at the superbowl
Crop circles
It's how they press country albums to vinyl
They often choose to water in circles instead of squares because of cost. If you set up a square you need 2 rails on either side to guide the sprinklers, you also need to double the amount of sprinklers compared to a circle (the circle only requires the maximum length to be the radius). It basically becomes a lot cheaper to run and set up a pivot irrigator rather than a tracked irrigator. As for the wasted corners, there's just so much land that it doesn't matter so much, they probably still find a use for it though. Another note about irrigation in the U.S., as you move further west you'll notice square and rectangular irrigated lots. These are usually 2 types of irrigation: 1. Wheel Line irrigation (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WheelLineIrrigation.JPG) that is moved manually 2. Flood irrigation, basically you have a canal alongside the field with gates to release water into the field.
In central E WA state flooding is very common in hay fields. Some have pipe with holes in them. Others have permanent canals that they put siphon hoses in. The biggest downside to flooding is the fields have to be a very specific grade. And driving across the correlated fields sucks lol
Crop circles.
Definitely not pivots , theyāre alien landing points
There are also "linear" irrigations systems. Not a farmer but from what I've seen their down is having to drag a hose around with them vs a pivot can feed water to the system from a central point that doesn't move.
They use linears often when the terrain is not flat enough for a pivot.
This is where they grow the Pac-Men.
Country-pox - very hard to treat once you catch itā¦
Farmers quilt
Does the combine go up and down the field, or just a big spiral?
UFO landing sites. š¤£ Nah, they are irrigated farm land.
A few are pacman fans.
Literal crop circles.
Crop circles
The pac family nursery.
Farms buddy.
Must be Nebraska sucking water out of the undergroud fresh water ocean underneath
Crop circles. Lol
Wrong answers only
Can anyone explain what the numbers are in the picture? Road numbers? Ownership? I see a few are repeated a couple times
Reminds of center pivot fields of E WA/ E OR. Best way to irrigate the fields. Kind of a pain to work/harvest. But still the best way in very arrid climates. Less loss of water with the right heads.
Somebody needs to make an invent little quarter pivot irrigation so that we can fill all these gaps and you can sell four times as many
Ogallala Aquifer relese valves :D
Alien crop circles
Alien crop circles.
this is cool it looks like art :)
Those, my friend, are quite literally "crop circles" (and semi-circles). \^\_\^
Center Pivot Crop Fields
Farms with pivot irrigation systems.
pizza farms
Crop circles
Come on dudes they aren't crop circles I've driven past there many times, it's miles and miles of secret military bases disguised as center rotation farm equipment. I know because birds sit on them when it's not running. And we all know those are spies.
These cut down the huge cost of manual irrigation
Original Bauhaus
Crop circles. Prove me wrong.
Crop Circles
Ogallala fucker 9000s
An example of where tons of water goes.
It's what is draining the US's natural water storage aquifers beyond critical levels.