Greenville Farmer Turns on PHAUCET to Save Time and Money
When it comes to furrow irrigation of soybeans, corn and rice in the Delta, Tim Clements says the computer program PHAUCET, or Pipe Hole and Universal Crown Evaluation Tool, is a must-have tool. A farmer from Greenville and vice chairman of the Mississippi Soybean Promotions Board (MSPB), Clements says it’s important for Delta farmers to be more sustainable in their irrigation practices. Using PHAUCET is a great way to improve irrigation efficiency, he says. Read on to find out why he began using the program on all of his 4,000 irrigated acres and the results he’s seen.
When did you start using PHAUCET?
PHAUCET has been around a while, and more and more farmers are using it, especially now that MSPB has taken a vested interest in educating farmers about it, which is a great thing. We had some neighbors try it, and we were all dabbling in it. Eventually we committed ourselves to giving it a shot. Ted Smith, my brother-in-law and partner, handled the setup for PHAUCET. We started using it on a couple of our fields a few seasons ago and after positive results, we decided to roll it out on all of our fields in 2011. We’ve been using it ever since on all of our soybean, corn and rice fields. It is a great tool to conserve water.
What has your experience been like?
First and foremost, we’ve seen a significant cost savings. I don’t have specific dollar amounts, but I estimate at least a 20 percent saving on time and fuel costs, not to mention it does a better job and we’re getting more uniform irrigation. Our yields are better and more consistent across the field because our irrigation is more consistent across the field. It has really helped the weaker areas of our fields.
Why did you decide to try it?
Our business is very dependent on irrigation, and doing a better job is better for our business. As a farmer in the Delta, I felt it was important to conserve water and irrigate more efficiently to help preserve aquifer levels for future generations. Using PHAUCET is one step in the right direction. Also, we wanted to get water out to the end of the field quicker and more uniformly, and PHAUCET helps us do that.
Why do you think there aren’t more farmers utilizing PHAUCET?
We tend to be a hardheaded group, and change is not always easy for us. Sometimes it is necessary to break out of your comfort zone. Luckily, PHAUCET has been proven over time, so hopefully more farmers won’t consider it a big risk. I’ve heard the results of other trials conducted by Jason Krutz, the Mississippi State University irrigation specialist, and they are very similar to what I’ve experienced on my farm. I think hearing this over and over will help more farmers adopt the practice.
What would you say to farmers who are thinking about implementing it on their farm?
Yes, there is a time commitment in setting it up since it has to be done on a per-field basis. But you only have to do it once. And the return on investment is well worth the time and effort it takes to set it up. I can’t think of any scenario that it wouldn’t be helpful for a farmer to use PHAUCET. I hope the meetings MSPB sponsored this winter have convinced more farmers to give it a try, at least on a few of their fields to start out.
What else does MSPB have in the works to promote sustainable irrigation to Mississippi farmers?
MSPB started an initiative last year called the Sustainable Irrigation Project, or SIP 2014. The project encourages farmers from all over the state to commit to using sustainable irrigation practices, like PHAUCET or surge valves, on their acres. More than 290,000 acres have already been committed to this project, and we hope that number will continue to increase over the next year. Also, the board funds research with Mississippi State University to continue to find ways to improve irrigation efficiency across the state.