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More Midwestern farmers are considering subsurface irrigation

An irrigation consultant says farmers are getting better yields and using less water by changing how they irrigate.

Chris Wuethrich from NutraDrip tells Brownfield the low-pressure water and nutrient delivery is common out west but is becoming more popular in the Midwest. “We’re plowing in drip tape about 14 inches deep, and then we have PVC pipe at each end, one to supply the water and the other end to flush the system out.”

Wuethrich says subsurface drip irrigation allows farmers to spoon-feed the perfect amount of water and nutrients throughout the growing season. “Growers can go out and do tissue samples to see what their crops are deficient in, and come back and supply those nutrients right during the growing year. We’re seeing increases of about 85 bushels per acre on corn and 30 bushels per acre on beans.”

Wuethrich says the company is currently doing field studies with dairy and pork producers using the system to deliver manure nutrients during the growing season.

Wuethrich spoke to Brownfield during Farm Technology Days near Eau Claire, Wisconsin.