Category: Agricultural

Irrigation is essential for crop or garden growth, but if performed incorrectly, it does more harm than good. Thus make sure to avoid common irrigation blunders, such as:

One of the most common drip irrigation mistakes is to use one emitter per plant. Though not necessarily a problem for small plants, this can be fatal to large ones. Not only do multiple emitters provide more water, but they ensure that if one emitter gets clogged, the others will still work.

Incomplete Coverage

Home and business owners looking to save money on rotor or spray irrigation may try to space the nozzles as far apart as possible, but this will create dry gaps. Instead, space the sprinkler heads at 50% of their diameter of throw. This spacing gives you head to head coverage insuring that you eliminate those dry spots.

Pressure Problems

Make sure that the water pressure is high enough for your system to work effectively. Although most irrigation systems can work with pressure as low as 20 PSI, the sprinkler heads will be operating at their minimum acceptable performance. Keep the pressure above the minimum level so that the system can work under all conditions.

Timing Troubles

Running your irrigation system during the day causes the water to evaporate before it soaks in, while nighttime irrigation encourages the growth of mold. Instead, run it during early dawn.
Contact W. P. Law today to learn more about irrigation and other water maintenance topics in South Carolina.

Farmers and landscapers are in a constant battle with nuisance insects, always looking for ways to eradicate them without having to coat their plants in undue amounts of harmful insecticides. Fortunately, there is an extremely low-risk way to get rid of nuisance insects called Malathion.

What is Malathion?

Malathion is an insecticide that has become widely used thanks to both its effectiveness and its extremely low toxicity to human beings. Farmers use it to keep their crops from being devoured while landscapers spray it on their lawns, golf courses, and sports fields to kill off mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, and other nuisance insects. It is the most common organophosphate insecticide used in the U.S. today.

How to Eradicate Nuisance Insects with Malathion

The best forms of Malathion are formulated for landscaping professionals and are not readily available for general use. However, W.P. Law, Inc carries special formulations of Malathion that can be safely used by the general public. It is one of many insecticides that we carry.

Be sure to contact us today to learn more and to see how we can put Malathion to work for you.

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Having the properly maintained irrigation equipment in place can take a lot of the headache out of irrigating your fields and make the entire process much more efficient. If you are wondering whether it is time for an upgrade, check out these three signs that it’s time to replace your pump:

1. Visible Leaks

When your pump is operating be on the lookout for excessive leaks around the pump shaft and seal (or packing) area. Excessive leaks can be indicative of a seal failure or a damaged pump shaft.  If the latter is the case you may be a candidate for a new pump as pump shaft repairs can be costly.

2. Reduced Performance (It just doesn’t pump like it used to)

Like any mechanical device, a pump will gradually lose some performance as wearable parts age. In many cases these parts can be replaced and pump performance restored to almost new. As a pump gets older and more problems begin to arise, you will eventually come to a point where it’s more cost effective to replace the older pump with a new one instead of continuing to repair the older pump. It is important to note reduced pump performance can also be a symptom of other system components failing and it might be a good idea to have an expert evaluate your entire pumping system before any decisions on repairs are made.

3. Parts for it can no Longer be Easily Attained

Often times finding parts for older pumps can be almost impossible. This means that even if your pump requires a minor repair at some point, it could lead to serious delays and days or weeks of down time. Search for the availability of parts ahead of time, and if they are no longer readily available you are likely better off upgrading to a newer pump.

Water Pumps from W.P. Law

If you decide that it’s time to upgrade to a brand new, high-performance water pump, we’re here to help. At W.P. Law, we sell only the highest quality pumps available today.

Nothing is more essential to a crop’s growth than proper irrigation. Yet many people often overlook the importance of the water source they for their agricultural irrigation. With more and more significance being placed on growing crops with fresh, pure water, now is a better time than ever to reexamine how your irrigation’s water source is affecting your crops.

Water Contamination and Health Concerns

Crops that are irrigated with contaminated water are one of the leading agricultural health concerns today. The most difficult part of this problem is determining the quality of your water. Livestock farms upstream of your water source may be leaching deadly bacteria in the water, and even water from an isolated pond or well can become contaminated. Not only can contaminated water stunt the growth of your plants, it can also lead to some serious health concerns for anyone that consumes the crops.

Choosing the Right Water Source for Your Irrigation

At W.P. Law, one of the services we offer farmers is helping them identify a proper irrigation water source. Along with designing the right irrigation system for your farm and installing the necessary equipment, part of the process of setting up an irrigation system is to locate a clean water source and ensure that it will provide continual contamination-free water. If you would like to learn more about our irrigation services and discuss how our agricultural design engineers can help you set up the perfect irrigation system, contact the experts at W.P. Law today.

If you’ve found yourself recently in the market for a new submersible, or other pump for your house or farm, you may be overwhelmed by all the available options. From submersible pumps to centrifugal pumps, the choices can seem endless. However, submersible pumps can hold a few unique advantages over other varieties and may be just what you’re looking for.

Energy-Efficient

Submersible well pumps usually operate in a very narrow flow range.  To accommodate for a wide range of well depths, they are always multistage pumps.  The deeper the well (which means for static head) the more stages (greater pressure) are required.  The ability to match the number of stages with a reasonable small flow range allows pump manufacturers to create very efficient pump designs.  The key to getting the most efficient pump for your application is to have the well performance accurately measured by a competent well driller and to have the pump properly sized for your application based in the well information provided

No Priming Necessary

Submersible pumps are also used in applications where priming a standard end-suction centrifugal pump would be difficult.  Since the suction intake of a submersible pump is submerged, priming is not required.  It is important to remember that if you are using a submersible well pump in an application other than a well (such as a pond, wet well, stream, etc) that you must use a flow induction sleeve to force water to flow by the motor in order to keep it from overheating.

Built To Handle Solids

Most submersible sump pumps are designed to handle both solids and liquids without locking up during operation. This can be ideal for pumping out a flooded basement or emptying an old well, and choosing a submersible pump that specifically advertises itself as solids-capable can ensure you’ve made a durable purchase.

For more information on some of the benefits of a submersible pump, contact the experts at W.P. Law. We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have about your fluid handling services.

Everyone who has worked with plants knows that the winter months present an incredible danger for the health of crops due to frost injury. In fact, frost injury could potentially wipe out an entire crop if not protected properly. Many people have heard about using irrigation to protect crops from frost injury but don’t understand why or how this works. Read below to learn more about how irrigation can protect crops from frost injury.

The Water Protects the Plants from Injury

While most people think that the layer of ice provides the protection with irrigation systems, it is actually the process of the water turning into ice that protects the plant from injury. As the sprinklers apply water to the plants and it begins to freeze, heat is released.  The scientific term for this is called the latent heat of fusion.  In other words, for water to turn into ice it must give up (or lose) heat. It is the heat that is lost during the freezing process that keeps the plants from being damaged.

The Water Freezing Keeps Temperatures above a Critical Point

In order for this process to protect the plants, water must be continually changing from a liquid state into a solid state.  Therefor frost protection sprinklers must be continually operated while air temperatures remain below freezing.  Frost protection sprinklers must not be turned off until the air temperature is well above freezing and the ice that has formed on the plants begins to melt.

People looking at using an irrigation system to protect their crops from frost injury should contact W.P. Law for information. Make sure those crops receive the protection that they deserve.

 

Everyone knows that a proper irrigation system is vital to the success of a farm. Crops need quality water to survive and farmers depend on the yield and quality of these crops to support their family and the community. Therefore, everyone should consider these important factors before deciding on an irrigation system.

What are the Needs of the Farm?

This first factor is determining what the needs of the farm actually are because different irrigation systems serve different needs. What kind of crops are on the farm and how much water do they need? How often do they need this water? How much land is there to irrigate? The answers to these questions are important when deciding on the irrigation system for you.

Drip Irrigation: This method is often used on high value crops such as vegetables, small fruits, and orchard crops. This irrigation method utilizes low volume, low pressure, emission devices to apply water directly to the root zone thereby reducing losses due to evaporation and runoff.

Traveler Irrigation: In this form, a giant sprinkler head is moved through the field on wheels watering every crop. This is best used for farms on flat land conducive to this movement.

Solid Set Irrigation: In this system, crops are fed by sprinklers attached to pipes placed underground. This is a common form of irrigation and makes sure that every plant is fed.

What Kind of Water Source is Required?

Farmers will need to consider the amount of water that is required to meet the needs of the farm. Some irrigation systems (traveler and solid set) require a tremendous amount of water over the growing season compared to drip irrigation. The water source (pond, well, stream) needs to be considered and could be a major factor in determining the type of irrigation system the farm requires.

Choosing an irrigation system for a farm is a big decision with multiple factors. Anyone with questions or concerns should contact WP Law for more information today.

Soil type is a crucial factor when considering irrigation applications. Soil is broadly classified based on three types of weathered rock described as sandy, loamy or clay. There are six different soil types that are most often identified. All six are simply a different combination of the three types of weathered rock and are as follows:

• Sand
• Silt
• Clay
• Peat
• Chalk
• Loam

Each particular type of soil that makes up your agricultural land has its own unique behavioral characteristics. When comparing samples, three properties are considered important in understanding how soil will react. The particular composition of a soil is what determines to what degree it represents each of these three factors.

Water Retention

Water retention refers to the amount of water that can be absorbed and retained within the soil itself, much like calculating how much water a sponge can hold.

Intake Rate

The intake rate refers to how quickly your soil absorbs water. This would impact, for instance, how quickly water could be applied by an irrigation system. Some soil types require a slow trickle, while others can be quickly watered.

Drainage Erosion

Applying water faster than the soil can absorb it results in the wash off of soil. This is what is termed drainage erosion.

Differences in soil structure affect liquid applications; everything from the type of fertilizer you use to the features of your new irrigation system. Knowing how your land will react based on your soil composition brings accuracy and efficiency to soil applications and equipment. Working with professionals like those at WP Law, Inc., can show just how valuable this knowledge can be for industrial, commercial, and residential applications.

Contact the experts at WP Law, Inc. to determine the best fluid handling equipment that suits your needs and land. W. P. Law, Inc. is one of the Southeast’s leading suppliers of fluid handling equipment for farmers, contractors, and industries. Our reputation to find economical solutions to customer’s needs is due to our efficient and professional team, so you can rest assured that we will get your job done to your particular needs.

Water is necessary for all living things; however, it can have a damaging impact on mechanical equipment.  Below, we have listed three tips for preserving your submersible well pump to ensure it runs efficiently for the lifetime of the pump.

1. Prevent multiple starts- You can extend the life of your well pump by preventing the number of multiple start-ups, also called short cycling.  It is better to allow the pump to turn on and stay running continuously instead of having the pump turn on and off frequently.  Frequent starting and shopping can cause the windings in the motor to overheat causing the motor will wear out faster than it should.

2. Pressure Switch – Frequently check and clean the pressure switch.  The switch can become easily corroded and packed with small ants and bugs.  Regular maintenance performed on the switch will prevent replacement.  A good water pressure to adjust the switch to should be between 40-60 psi.

3. Bladder Tank – Checking the air pressure in the bladder tank is something that is frequently overlooked by well owners, mostly because people simply do not know to include this as a part of their regular maintenance.  The air pressure in the bladder tank should be checked every year.  To perform the check, fist turn off all power to the submersible well pump.  Allow the water to drain by running the faucet.  Then, by using a tire gauge, check the air pressure at the top of the bladder tank located by the air nipple.  A good air pressure should be about 38 psi (or 2 psi below the cut-in pressure).  

Above we have detailed three easy ways to prolong the life of your submersible well pump through regular preventative maintenance and inspection.  If ever you have a question or need an option on your submersible well pump, the experts at W. P. Law, Inc will be sure to help. 

Temperatures are dropping here in South Carolina, which means one of the biggest dangers to our precious crops is frost. The freezing cold conditions that create frost cause ice to form inside plant tissues. As we all know, water expands as it freezes into ice, so this expansion within a plant can cause its cell membranes to burst. This is physically damaging to a plant and can result in its death.

Clearly, frost is not good when it comes to keeping your crops alive and healthy. Irrigation methods, such as sprinkler systems, can help prevent frost from hurting your crops.

The Science Behind Frost Prevention

The method by which irrigation saves crops from frost is actually quite simple. Water is sprayed on the plants, covering the exterior of the crops. The water freezes in the cold weather, and in the process the heat inside the water is released and transfers to the plant, keeping its temperature from dropping below 32°F.
However, the ice that forms on the outside of the plant has to remain wet in order for the plant to stay at the freezing point. This is because if no more water is added to the ice, its temperature will drop below freezing and no more heat will be transferred to the plant, allowing its internal temperature to drop below freezing, as well. As long as water is added to the ice, the mixture of ice and water will remain at 32°F and will keep the plant’s temperature from dropping any further.

What We Can Do for You

Here at W. P. Law, Inc., we specialize in fluid handling equipment for farmers and workers in other industries. We have some of the best irrigation equipment in all of South Carolina, and our agricultural engineering designers will set you up with whatever’s best for you. Find out what we can do for you by contacting W. P. Law’s experts. You can count on us to help you defeat the dangers of frost.