During periods of drought, or even in short mid-season dry times, you can easily tell which fields are irrigated and which are not simply by the color and size of the crop. Plant growth in dryland farming may be stunted, and continual wilting of the plant can potentially decrease yield up to 8 percent every day, depending on the growth stage. In extreme cases, an entire crop will be completely unusable and unsellable. Fortunately, most of these problems can be eliminated by providing crops with adequate irrigation all the way through plant maturity. One of the most efficient irrigation methods is mechanized irrigation, or center pivot irrigation.

When you think about what part of your center pivot endures the most wear and tear, the drive train is one of the first things that come to mind. The center drive and gearboxes bear long load hours and rough terrain day in and day out during the irrigation season. The secret to maintaining your machine and extending its life is to make sure these key components are of the highest quality.