Random Question

[hells_half_acre]

Ok, I was cruising google maps the other day, and I came across all these fields that were in circles in the states. I mean...like, the crops were in circles. Like pies. I looked up in Canada, and we have them too. It's like someone scattered green coins across the country.

I was just wondering if anyone knew if it was a particular crop that people like to grow in circles, or if some people just liked to have circular fields. Where I grew up, people just grew things in rows...but then, mostly everyone just grows corn there. And in New Brunswick, everybody just grows potatoes.

It might be a pretty stupid question, but I am not a farmer - so I'm honestly just curious.

Comments

[auriliawestlake.livejournal.com]

Ah! I know exactly what you're talking about! The fields are in circles because the irrigation system used rotates around a central pivot-point (where the water line connects into the system). The water is carried over the crops in question through a giant sprinkler on wheels that creeps in a giant circle or semi-circle. If you look a little harder, you'll find those circle fields are only in areas which don't receive adequate rainfall for whatever crop they're trying to grow.

And yes, I seem to have an answer for everything. It's a gift.