Water ideas

FarmerDavid · #1 06/19/14, 06:53 PM

I have a chance to rent a pasture that is comin out of CRP. appears that the pasture is in good shape but its lacking for fences and water. I can do electric for the fence easy enough but what about the water? There is a pond on it but its mostly silted in and while it might have water I don't want to count on it. Cleaning out this pond is probably the best option but its putting more money into what would already be high $ rent and I'm not sure how long of a term the rental agreement would be for. Would it Be hard to pump water out of a pond? There is a pond close that he doesn't want cows in but maybe he'd agree to pumping water to cattle? I'd run about 25 pairs on it so I'm guessing I'd have to haul close to 500 gallons a day in does anyone have experience hauling water to that many head? I'm sure it'd be a pain in the butt but it might be worth it for the oppertunity at more pasture.

nosqrls · #2 06/19/14, 07:56 PM

Sounds like he wants his pond cleaned for free. And if he is asking a high rent for pasture in your area pass or keep looking,

Forcast · #3 06/19/14, 09:58 PM

people here have large water tanks they are orange and they truck water to them and fill them up with a tank on the back of the pickup.

FarmerDavid · #4 06/19/14, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nosqrls

Sounds like he wants his pond cleaned for free. And if he is asking a high rent for pasture in your area pass or keep looking,

From my experience oppertunities to rent land don't come around very often, really have to take advantage when they do. If I can get a 3-5 year cleaning the pond out makes since. I'd provide the labor to fix the fences if he'd pay for materials.

idigbeets · #5 06/20/14, 05:40 AM

I wouldn't trust surface water....

ramiller5675 · #6 06/20/14, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idigbeets

I wouldn't trust surface water....

Why?

I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of cattle get their water from "surface water" like ponds and creeks.

Gabriel · #7 06/20/14, 09:02 AM

Well water is surface water that percolated down. Sure, the earth filtered it, but that's no guarantee. If you have doubts about any water source, just have it tested.

FarmerDavid, I know it's rude to ask, but do you mind giving the $ figure on the lease?

Lease + pump + electric + tank = ? Rhetorical question, that's just what comes to mind. Also, how far is it from your place? Cost to check up can really add up over time.

FarmerDavid · #8 06/20/14, 10:24 AM

I don't know if I want to say the amount. I don't know that its what I would say is outragiously high but it is at the very top end of what I've heard pasture renting for. Bad thing is that's pasture with good fences and water. It is approx .5 miles out of the way. I'd have to go a different route but its located between where we live and where my dad lives where our machine shop is. I make that drive every day, just have to go the north route that adds .5 miles. Even if I wasn't running between and just went to check cows its only 3 miles.

FarmerDavid · #9 06/20/14, 12:16 PM

Cash rents very greatly in our area. I know one place that rents fir $20 but that's a family deal. I hear all the way from $35-$65. I would say most is $40

idigbeets · #10 06/20/14, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramiller5675

Why?

I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of cattle get their water from "surface water" like ponds and creeks.

Seeing as how GAP practices require surface water to be fenced off from cattle.... I'd bet not.

I've yet to visit a dairy or beef farm where the cattle drink from pumped out ponds and creeks. Even large lots out west use well water or trucked in water.

ramiller5675 · #11 06/20/14, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idigbeets

Seeing as how GAP practices require surface water to be fenced off from cattle.... I'd bet not.

I've yet to visit a dairy or beef farm where the cattle drink from pumped out ponds and creeks. Even large lots out west use well water or trucked in water.

If that's the case, then I'd also bet that you must not have been to too many farms or you haven't been that far west because I've only seen well water being used in working pens, feed lots, or small farms with only a few head. And, water is only trucked in when a drought dries up the ponds.

Why do you suppose they call ponds "stock tanks" or "stock ponds" if the cattle aren't drinking out of them?

Annoth · #12 06/20/14, 01:59 PM

"Surface water" normally means it's still. Bugs and nasty things will be breeding, it's warmer than an actual running creeking making it easier for them to get sick. Plus there's no garentee it'll forever provide water. A small dry spell may dry it up in days.

There's a company, http://www.behlencountry.com/ that sells big troughs and an automatic water pump but the downfall it has to be hooked into a water supply. Maybe that could work if you could find a more permeate water supply like setting city / water well pipes underground to the pump and boom instant cattle water on demand

FarmerDavid · #13 06/20/14, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idigbeets

Seeing as how GAP practices require surface water to be fenced off from cattle.... I'd bet not.

I've yet to visit a dairy or beef farm where the cattle drink from pumped out ponds and creeks. Even large lots out west use well water or trucked in water.

Missouri is the second largest cattle producing state in the country and they all drink from ponds around here. I don't know what GAP is but around here as soon as the time limit is up in ponds that got gov money most of the fences come down access is always allowed. Stagnant water concerns me but not pond water.

unregistered41671 · #14 06/20/14, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmerDavid

Missouri is the second largest cattle producing state in the country and they all drink from ponds around here. I don't know what GAP is but around here as soon as the time limit is up in ponds that got gov money most of the fences come down access is always allowed. Stagnant water concerns me but not pond water.

Just about all of the numbers shows Missouri at number 6 in cattle production. Still impressive but not number 2.
Surface water would not bother me.

http://www.beefusa.org/beefindustrystatistics.aspx
http://www.cattlerange.com/cattle-gr...e-numbers.html
http://www.beefusa.org/beefindustrystatistics.aspx

FarmerDavid · #15 06/21/14, 12:25 AM

That interesting. When I was in FFA and college it was always 2 behind Texas.

Guess I didn't realize it'd dropped

Found this but its from 07.
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences...yState2009.pdf

Wonder what year it dropped.

07 was when corn prices went up and we started seeing ALOT of traditional pasture acres being planted to corn. Maybe that caused the drop.

idigbeets · #16 06/21/14, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramiller5675

If that's the case, then I'd also bet that you must not have been to too many farms or you haven't been that far west because I've only seen well water being used in working pens, feed lots, or small farms with only a few head. And, water is only trucked in when a drought dries up the ponds.

Why do you suppose they call ponds "stock tanks" or "stock ponds" if the cattle aren't drinking out of them?

I'm on the east coast, where water flows freely I guess. GAP (good agricultural practices) are followed by many states here, the DEP (dept of env. protection) is also involved w/ creeks, ponds, rivers etc. They do not want cattle around them due to the manure flow to the Chesapeake and the corresponding phosphorus load.

And yes, still waters are far worse to drink from IMO than moving. But this is basically off topic and verging on a flame war. So let's drop it.

Wanda · #17 06/21/14, 09:56 AM

Do you have a farm supply or fertilizer company's in the area? Locally in my area (central Ill.) they use tandem trailers with 1000-1500 gallon tanks to haul sprayer water to the fields. They might rent you one to haul water in and hook up with a float valve to a stock tank. It would be simple for you and a chance for them to make a few bucks on an item that just sets in the off season.

FarmerDavid · #18 06/21/14, 02:43 PM

I hadn't ever thought of renting them like that Wanda but something like that is probably best if he won't let me pump out if another pond. If I could bring enough water to them that it'd be a once a week thing it wouldn't be bad. It'd be 3 miles into town where you can fill out of the towns well for almost nothing. Only problem with your suggestion is I don't know that there is really a down season for spraying.

Wanda · #19 06/21/14, 05:33 PM

I guess the term should be ''off peak season''.

If you check they could have an old mild steel tank that you could buy for a decent price. If you think you might find some pasture in the future with no water, you would already be set up for most any location. The main advantage to a trailer is that it really saves a lot of time and fuel.