Planning Irrigation Around Forecast

Why this matters

Irrigating right before heavy rain wastes water, fuel, and labor. Checking a simple 3-5 day forecast helps you decide when to irrigate and when to wait. This is especially important in regions with unreliable rainfall or expensive diesel pumps.

How to use forecasts for irrigation planning

1. Check the 3-day forecast

Look at basic weather apps (like Torade's field outlook, Google weather, or local radio). You need to know:

• Will it rain in the next 3 days?
• How much rain is expected? (Light drizzle or heavy downpour?)
• What day is it expected?

2. Decide: Irrigate now or wait?

Simple rules that work for most small farms:

• Heavy rain expected within 2 days: Skip irrigation. Let the rain do the work.
• Light rain expected: Irrigate lightly if soil is very dry. Light rain may not be enough.
• No rain for 3+ days and soil is dry: Irrigate now.
• Rain just fell yesterday: Wait 1-2 days. Check soil moisture before irrigating again.

3. Log what you did

Write down or log in the Torade app:

• Date you irrigated
• Which field or section
• Weather forecast at the time
• Did it rain as predicted?

Over a few weeks, you'll learn which forecasts are reliable in your area and adjust your timing.

4. Special case: Using drip or sprinkler systems

If you have drip irrigation or sprinklers:

• Run systems in the early morning (less evaporation)
• Skip scheduled runs if heavy rain is forecast within 24 hours
• Adjust run time based on recent rainfall (shorter if it rained 1-2 days ago)

Quick checklist

• ✓ Check 3-day forecast before every irrigation decision
• ✓ Skip irrigation if heavy rain is coming within 48 hours
• ✓ Log your irrigation dates and forecast accuracy
• ✓ Adjust timing based on what actually happens (not just the forecast)

What to watch out for

Forecast isn't always right: In some areas, forecasts are more reliable than others. Track accuracy over time and adjust your trust level.

Don't wait too long: If crops are wilting and no rain is forecast for 5+ days, irrigate even if there's a small chance of rain. Crop stress is worse than wasting a bit of water.

Next steps

Use the Torade app to log irrigation events alongside weather notes. Over time, you'll build a record that helps you plan better and save resources.