Traditional Ditch Irrigation

Here on Puterbaugh Farms we use two different methods of irrigation, traditional ditch irrigation and more modern drip irrigation systems. Currently we are working to transition our acreage from the tradition ditch system to drip systems in order to allow for more water conservation, automation, and better water placement. Our original fields are all planted with the rows running the direction of the fall line so that the water will flow downhill the entire length of the field without pooling up too much. The slope also must be gradual enough to allow enough water into the ground around each hill (where rhizomes are).

All our ditch systems are irrigated by hand (with the help of a shovel). Our goal with water in ditches is to have the water to the end of the rows in 12 hours. Once it has reached the end of the row we let them soak for 24 hours then move the water to a new set of ditches.

Here are some photos to give an idea of how the ditches look:

Water flowing into ditches (top) and water in the ditches of our Tettnang yard (bottom).

Ditch moved by hand with shovel to give care to hops that are just a little behind their peers.

Water entering a ditch in Cascade yard (top) (don't worry we'll find a way to harvest those hops growing up the wire). Water flowing peacefully down by a row of Mt. Hood's (bottom).

Our First Post...

To catch everyone up here is what we have done so far this year on the farm. We have put in new trellis systems, dug rhizomes out of old fields to put into the new ones, planted the new fields with either rhizomes or hops out of greenhouses, have strung our fields (put in the coir twine, which is made of coconut, but as noted we will get back to this in the spring next year). We have also trained all of our hop yards. I know this was a very quick overview, but to go back and explain it all would take a long time.

Right now all of our hops are doing their best to grow, but the baby’s hop yards are lagging behind. Over the past week we have seen triple digit weather four times and are forecast to see more of the same throughout the next week.

Here are a few photos to get things started, enjoy:

Nugget growing past the top of trellis


Views up rows of Nuggets