CANADIAN RANCH INCREASES YIELDS BY +117%
CANADIAN RANCH INCREASES YIELDS BY +117%
FOSSEN BAR 7 RANCH SWITCH FROM 300 HAND LINES TO SIX PIVOTS
Manually irrigating 250 sloped acres
Fossen is a family-owned cattle ranch in Rock Creek that has 350 commercial cows and grows forage on 250 irrigated acres.
Their irrigated land is on a 13-15% grade slope, which made implementing irrigation difficult.
They irrigated their land with 300 hand lines, which produced good results, but the man-hours needed to operate the machines were extremely high.
FOSSEN BAR 7 RANCH SWITCH FROM 300 HAND LINES TO SIX PIVOTS
Manually irrigating 250 sloped acres
Fossen is a family-owned cattle ranch in Rock Creek that has 350 commercial cows and grows forage on 250 irrigated acres.
Their irrigated land is on a 13-15% grade slope, which made implementing irrigation difficult.
They irrigated their land with 300 hand lines, which produced good results, but the man-hours needed to operate the machines were extremely high.
Extremely high labour costs
300 Hand Lines took 14 days to cross 250 acres
- Hand lines had to be moved once every 24 hours
- With four to five people, it would take five hours a day to move
Installing their first Zimmatic pivot
The Fossen family wanted to save time and reduce the costs of irrigation. They made the switch and installed their first pivot in 2012 on 35 acres. This single Zimmatic pivot sprinkler replaced 70 hand lines.They used the Environmental Farm Plan Grant which helped pay for 20% of the pivot sprinkler and 50% of the mainline costs.
Extremely high labour costs
300 Hand Lines took 14 days to cross 250 acres
- Hand lines had to be moved once every 24 hours
- With four to five people, it would take four hours a day to move
Installing their first Zimmatic pivot
The Fossen family wanted to save time and reduce the costs of irrigation. They made the switch and installed their first pivot in 2012 on 35 acres. This single Zimmatic pivot sprinkler replaced 70 hand lines.They used the Environmental Farm Plan Grant which helped pay for 20% of the pivot sprinkler and 50% of the mainline costs.
YEAR ONE RESULTS
117% yield increase
TOTAL PRODUCTION INCREASED FROM 46 LOADS OF SILAGE TO ~100 LOADS
28 million gallons of saved water
250 GPM X 60 MINUTES X 24 HOURS X 4 DAYS LESS IRRIGATION X 20 WEEKS OF IRRIGATION
350 hours of saved labour
2.5 HOURS OF LABOUR SAVED PER DAY DURING THE 20 WEEK GROWING SEASON
$5,200 of saved electrical
IT COSTS THEM $65 A DAY TO RUN THE FIELD’S 40HP PUMP.
WITH A PIVOT, THE PUMP RUNS 4 DAYS LESS PER WEEK.
Fertigation grant saves time and labour
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS RECEIVED TO INJECT FERTILIZER THROUGH THE PIVOT, SAVING TIME IN A TRACTOR
YEAR ONE RESULTS
117% yield increase
TOTAL PRODUCTION INCREASED FROM 46 LOADS OF SILAGE TO ~100 LOADS
28 million gallons of saved water
250 GPM X 60 MINUTES X 24 HOURS X 4 DAYS LESS IRRIGATION X 20 WEEKS OF IRRIGATION
350 hours of saved labour
2.5 HOURS OF LABOUR SAVED PER DAY DURING THE 20 WEEK GROWING SEASON
$5,200 of saved electrical
IT COSTS THEM $65 A DAY TO RUN THE FIELD’S 40HP PUMP. WITH A PIVOT, THE PUMP RUNS 4 DAYS LESS PER WEEK.
Fertigation grant saves time and labour
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS RECEIVED TO INJECT FERTILIZER THROUGH THE PIVOT, SAVING TIME IN A TRACTOR
“Our first year with our pivot made us realize our production could be way better, and our costs could be way down by installing pivots.”
– Doug Fossen, Fossen Bar 7 Ranch
Adding five more pivots
After the incredible results in year one, the Fossen Bar 7 Ranch implemented five more pivots, including one in 2024.
On one 64-acre field, switching 125 hand lines for two pivots saved them $15,500 per year on pump costs. The 200HP pump used to power the hand lines for $20,000, but now it costs only $4,500 per year.
The pivot being installed in 2024 received financial assistance from the IAF, with the Beneficial Management Practices Program.
This grant covered 70% of the cost of the pivot.
Currently, Fossen is running six pivot sprinklers and only 20 hand lines remain.
Adding five more pivots
After the incredible results in year one, the Fossen Bar 7 Ranch implemented five more pivots, including one in 2024.
On one 64-acre field, switching 125 hand lines for two pivots saved them $15,500 per year on pump costs. The 200HP pump used to power the hand lines for $20,000, but now it costs only $4,500 per year.
The pivot being installed in 2024 received financial assistance from the IAF, with the Beneficial Management Practices Program.
This grant covered 70% of the cost of the pivot.
Currently, Fossen is running six pivot sprinklers and only 20 hand lines remain.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
An IAF grant covered 70% of a pivot in 2024
THE FOSSEN FAMILY MADE USE OF THE BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES PROGRAM IN 2024 FOR SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS
One field is saving $15,500 on energy costs
A 200HP PUMP COST THEM $20,000/ YEAR TO POWER 125 HAND LINES; NOW IT POWERS 2 PIVOTS OVER THE SAME FIELD AND COSTS $4,500/ YEAR
2,800 hours of saved labour across all pivots
PIVOTS ARE SAVING THE FOSSEN FAMILY 20 HOURS A DAY ACROSS ALL FIELDS
FieldNET app gave peace of mind
FIELDNET’S BENEFIT IS RUNNING AND MANAGING A PIVOT ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE ON A PHONE APP
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
An IAF grant covered 70% of a pivot in 2024
THE FOSSEN FAMILY MADE USE OF THE BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES PROGRAM IN 2024 FOR SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS
One field is saving $15,500 on energy costs
A 200HP PUMP COST THEM $20,000/ YEAR TO POWER 125 HAND LINES; NOW IT POWERS 2 PIVOTS OVER THE SAME FIELD AND COSTS $4,500/ YEAR
2,800 hours of saved labour across all pivots
PIVOTS ARE SAVING THE FOSSEN FAMILY 20 HOURS A DAY ACROSS ALL FIELDS
FieldNET app gave peace of mind
FIELDNET’S BENEFIT IS RUNNING AND MANAGING A PIVOT ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE ON A PHONE APP
LEARN MORE ABOUT ZIMMATIC PIVOT IRRIGATION
A long-lasting pivot
Zimmatic irrigation systems are built to last.
Harness unbeatable strength and advanced technology to provide integrated solutions for every grower. Whether you’re tending to small fields or large, multi-field operations, explore how our Zimmatic product line can enhance your field’s potential.
Learn more about Long Lasting Zimmatic Pivots
