Bowie Co. farmers try new irrigation system
Polypipe is supposed to be the best

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

September 11, 2003 -- Lack of rain is not something new during the summer time, but for farmers, lack of rain can spell a crop disaster. To help prevent this, some farmers utilize some type of irrigation system.

Bowie County farmers Don and Tad Martin have used the traditional irrigation method of levees to water their soybean crop, which is a Group 7 soybean (late maturing). This year, the father-and-son duo, who farm near DeKalb, decided upon a change after Tad saw farmers in Arkansas using a polypipe to water their crops.

"Polypipe is not something new, but it is new to us," Tad began. "The (Worth) Matteson's use it a lot in Foreman (Arkansas) and then I talked to some more farmers in Stuttgart, Ark., and the U.S. Distributor of Irrigation."

The equipment was purchased, and operation with the polypipe began in the Martin's soybean fields. One field is north of DeKalb, at what is known in the area as the Hatchell Place, and another is north of Malta.

"How the system works is water is pumped from a canal via a relift pump. The pump is turned by a tractor motor. The polypipe is hooked up to the pump, and pressure on the line fills the pipe with water," Don explained.

The pipe has punched holes which allows water to flow. The holes, which are strategically placed to coincide with the field's furrows, will shoot water into the furrows, thus watering the 'beans.

The farmers decided to use this system of irrigation because it is suppose to be better than other methods.

"It is some faster and you use less water using this method than the levee method," Don said, and "you can get too much water standing on them," Tad added.

Rain fell in much of the East Texas area Labor Day weekend, and Don said the Hatchell Place is an area where "I can honestly say we do not need any more rain. Now, at Malta, we will begin watering again either today or tomorrow (Sept. 4, 5)."

Since this is the first year to use the polypipe method, Don, who is a retired school principal, knows they still have a lot to learn.

"This has been a learning experience. I think we will do a few things different next year, like getting the ground smoother and flatter, having the furrows deeper, and water sooner if needed," Don said.

Late-maturing soybean harvest in the region will come around the end of October, first of November.

"You like to get 45 to 55 bushels, but if we only get 30 then that's better than 20," Don stated.

"I can't wait to see what the yields are," Tad concluded.