i-Wob®2 Reduces Plugging Issues, Increases Corn Yields and Revenue in Idaho

Location:

Lootens Farm, Homedale, ID

United States

View Gallery | 2 Photographs

Profile

Lootens Farm, Homedale, ID

United States

Crop

Corn

Soil Type

Loam, Clay, and Gravel

Operating Pressure

10 psi

“We chose to switch to Senninger because we'd heard good things and I've seen a lot of guys out here going with that type of a nozzle, and it seems like they've been getting good results, so we figured we'd give it a shot.”

Since Challen Lootens installed the i-Wob2s to irrigate his corn field, he is noticing much better yields and increased revenue, along with reduced water consumption and fewer plugging issues.

The Challenge

Sprinklers clogging due to high silt volume in the water has been an old issue in Lootens Farm, located between Homedale and Marsing, Idaho. Farm owner Challen Lootens says “it's a decade-old problem that we've experienced for a long time on these high-silt ditches that we're dealing with down here. A lot of our water is very dirty, and it's always a problem.”

Lootens was using rotating sprinklers but stated that they were plugging regularly. “It was difficult to keep them cleared out. So, we figured we'd try something more known to handle the silt better. You would sometimes not be able to notice that you'd had a plugging issue until you harvested and realized you had a huge circle in your field that was dry, and it became pretty expensive,” he added.

The Solution

Challen Lootens tried different types of sprinklers before installing Senninger’s i-Wob2 with 10-psi pressure regulators on his center pivot. "We chose to switch to Senninger because we'd heard good things and I've seen a lot of guys out here going with that type of a nozzle, and it seems like they've been getting good results, so we figured we'd give it a shot,” he said.

The Result

"So far, what I've seen with these i-Wob2s is they seem to handle the silt much better," said Lootens. In addition to fewer plugging issues, Lootens started to see other benefits with i-Wob2:

Higher Yield and Revenue: "I know that I had some of the best yields last year on corn, after switching to them (i-Wob2). I have noticed some of the highest yields that I had had –much better yields than I'd previously had– and as a result, increased revenue."

Better Water and Fertilizer Application: "With the almost-like-a-rain that comes at raindrop, they seem to soak better. I think that the product has helped result in better yields overall and better application of our water and fertilizer."

Water Savings: "I'm having to use less water overall. I'm losing less from evaporation and things along those lines."

Time and Energy Savings: "Since using the product, it seems to have reduced the amount of overall time that I have to run my machines resulting in less power usage as well as less wear and tear on my pivots and gearboxes."

Easy Nozzle Replacement: "I think overall, they are a really good product and very convenient. To switch jets is one feature that I really liked about them. It's very easy to unplug them if you ever do have a minor issue and if you need to resize a jet, they have spots for jets on the side. So, if you had one spot that needed a little bit more water or a little less, it's a very easy and convenient way to adjust that and switch out jets."