Friday, March 29, 2024

Irrigators bear storm’s brunt

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Up to 800 irrigators, both Roto Rainers and centre pivots, suffered damage in September’s wind storm in Canterbury. Irrigation New Zealand (INZ) chief executive Andrew Curtis estimates 600 of those are centre pivots with about 250 of them seriously damaged and off-line until replacement parts are available, often from overseas.
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Watermetrics general manager Andrew Neill conservatively estimated 300 centre pivots out of action for several weeks with an irrigation season that might need to start earlier than usual given relatively dry, cool conditions.

Insurer FMG reported claims by late September on 200 irrigators, totalling $6.5 million.

Curtis said centre pivot operators would have got off lightly if pivots suffered only the loss of corner arms and that had been common.

“But there are operators who are going to have to wait until parts can be brought in from the United States,” he said.

“Some may be able to be temporarily repaired, like clamping the pipe where a corner arm has broken off.”

Neill said supply of parts could be complicated by extensive equipment demand in the US where irrigators in Texas have been ramping up investment in centre pivots over the past three years.

Labour might also prove a challenge once parts are sourced and INZ was working closely with Immigration NZ to ensure special work visas could be easily obtained if and when staff from the US and Australia were required. He knew of one team due to arrive from the US in late September and the possibility of another crew from Australia.

But PGG Wrightson service manager Andrew Driscoll said his company was coping well with the damage its clients experienced.

“We do have our fingers crossed for a reasonably wet October though. That would give us some breathing space to catch up on the repairs.”

The worst damage had come from trees falling onto pivots that had been parked in what farmers had hoped would be sheltered positions.

“However, there was no rhyme or reason to the storm. It hit from all directions in gusts. You would have some machines untouched next to others that were written off.

“Our priority has been to help guys needing to move effluent around. Many have taken care of this themselves by buying or borrowing slurry tankers.”

Neill said given the time of the year, the one bright spot was effluent ponds were at their lowest point and he had no clients facing problems in late September.

Curtis said farmers trying to start irrigators for the first time after the storm should check electrical and mechanical systems and pay extra attention to the INZ start-up checklist provided on its website.

If there was a problem at this stage given the demands on staff to fix equipment damaged by the storm itself “you will be put at the back of the queue”.

For more visit www.irrigationNZ.co.nz.

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