Time for growers to get agricultural irrigation systems checked and fixed

March is a good time to check conditions and make repairs on water systems Leaky pipes, flat tires and rodent-infested electrical boxes are issues that should be addressed now by farmers with irrigation systems,“you want those irrigation systems up and running when you need them. you don’t want to be midway through the production season, needing to apply water, and all of a sudden have a breakdown. Say you notice a leak in your irrigation system while you’re irrigating corn. Georgia corn growers begin planting in March (sometimes even late February), so the time is now for producers to address any irrigation issues.Farmers are also encouraged to check the power systems. Whether the system is operated by electricity or a diesel engine, it may be time for service. Growers are advised to change air filters and oil filters, check wires to make sure nothing has chewed on them and check to see if any rodents or bees have started nesting inside electrical boxes.Farmers may not realize the tires on the pivot need to be checked, too. Just like the tires go flat on a car that’s left unused for an extended period of time, so too can the tires on irrigation systems that haven’t been used since last fall.“It’s something that can be easily fixed right now when you’re out in an open field away from crops. You get that system in the middle of a crop, it’s really hard to get out there with some tools and get that tire pulled off without being just miserable out there, sitting on your knees. We don’t want (you) to have to do that,” Porter said. College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences University of Georgia — Tifton Campus.