Pivots Pay: Rather than buy land, farmers install irrigation to enhance productivity

摘要

Rick Murdock, a farmer in Murray, Ky., was so convinced irrigation was the wave of the future, he signed up to be an irrigation equipment dealer. He sold his first pivot in February and has since sold two more systems. "We have 30 quotes out for irrigation systems right now," he says. In a year like this, irrigation systems have returned 30 to 100% of their cost in one year. Murdock's yield difference between irrigated and non-irrigated is at least 160 bushels per acre. "And who knew we'd have $8 corn at harvest time?" Murdock asks.