In dry years like this year, when there is a lot of uncertainty about how much water irrigators will have to grow their crops, the question becomes,

HOW EARLY IS TOO EARLY TO TURN THE WATER ON?

Mark Volt, MPCD District Conservation Technician, says, "Cold, Wet Water is BETTER than Warm, Dry Water." 

Joe Brummer, a professor of Soil and Crop Sciences at CSU, concurred with Mark Volt when he gave a presentation at Mountain Meadows Hay Day last summer.  Joe said...

A thin layer of water spread over the ground will act as a lens, causing the soil to quickly warm and essentially "irrigate the frost out of the ground".

When water continues to flow over the ground at night, it insulates the ground, thus protecting it from freezing and re-thawing the next day.

Turning water on early can jump start growth by up to two weeks allowing for earlier spring grazing, earlier haying, and more fall regrowth.