A question not often asked

[le bon paysan]

How to keep water on a farm? A simply description of my farm is both sides of a valley with a fall of about 1 in 40. The fields each side have a fall of about 1 in 15 to the drain ( stream or brook) is to much to describe it. The soil easily compacts and water just runs off. The normal rainfall is around 900 mm but I think I farm with about 700 mm and in the last 24 mths I have fed for 18 mths, just the two springs have the cows grazed as normal.
If this is going to be the new norm I am looking at grazing cover crops as it must be cheaper than making silage or hay.

 

[GTB]

 

[le bon paysan]

I farm both sides of a valley and lose a lot of water as run off, I would like to keep as much as possible to keep the grass growing in the summer.

 

[yellowbelly]

I think something must have been lost in the translation

 

[yellowbelly]

I farm both sides of a valley and lose a lot of water as run off, I would like to keep as much as possible to keep the grass growing in the summer.

Build a reservoir?

 

[le bon paysan]

Build a reservoir?

Small farm and deep pockets and short arms come to mind.

 

[GTB]

Plant hedges across the slope (if you call that a slope)?

 

[le bon paysan]

After the farm in England it' s flat

 

[yellowbelly]

Can you pump it back as irrigation in the summer From the stream? Would you have to dam it to do that?

 

[RushesToo]

this was a great video that addresses this [courtesy of @Kiwi Pete :

 

[le bon paysan]

Can you pump it back as irrigation in the summer From the stream? Would you have to dam it to do that?

The 'stream' only takes road run off and field run off.

 

[bobk]

I suspect you have to live with it , you want the water gone in the winter but not in the summer , it's nature .

 

[Doc]

Contour banks to slow/baffle flow then lead down to a dam. Used in low rainfall areas effectively.

 

[le bon paysan]

this was a great video that addresses this [courtesy of @Kiwi Pete :

Watched it this morning and it's that that got me thinking.

 

[czechmate]

Earthing parallel to the stream?

 

[le bon paysan]

I suspect you have to live with it , you want the water gone in the winter but not in the summer , it's nature .

No need to keep water for the well to water the animals.

 

[czechmate]

No need to keep water for the well to water the animals.

I know cost again , what about a well sort of in the stream.
It's what this place came with (Vodens I think) and there is always water

Probably I'm getting drinking water confused into the mix

 

[le bon paysan]

Earthing parallel to the stream?

Already done but not ' edge to edge' once every 15 metres

 

[czechmate]

Already done but not ' edge to edge' once every 15 metres

I must admit, today I feel like a can't get shot of the bloody stuff fast enough!

 

[Doc]

Check this out.
http://www.scs.nsw.gov.au/conservation-earthworks/contour-banks