So, although you will need to invest more initially for an irrigation system, you may actually decrease the total acreage irrigated by yielding more produce per acre. This increases your total efficiency. You should first determine how and on what crops the irrigation system may be used. For instance, you may decide that you need the equipment for irrigation of vegetables in the summer and frost-freeze protection of strawberries in the spring or vegetables in the fall. This information will influence the final equipment selection.
Irrigation is expensive.
Although it is practical for many producers, irrigation equipment may cost as much as the land on which it is used. Therefore, you should obtain professional assistance to determine the most cost-effective irrigation system. Include overhead sprinkler and self-propelled gun traveler systems. One advantage to these systems is that they are relatively inexpensive compared to low-volume systems. Since the technology is rather simple, installation, operation, and maintenance of these systems is easier to learn.