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agricultural ponds are mainly used for irrigation. They can also supply a major water source for frost protection, recharge ground water, and provide economic benefits (agwaterstewards.org) .
According to (agwaterstewards.org) many ranchers and farmers use agricultural ponds for their livestock as cattle and horses require 12-15 gallons of water per day. The irrigation is needed for crops to keep them from drying out and if it rains prevent flooding. It is an easy accessible source of water. It allows for clean water for the farm. they also are used to prevent erosion by trapping nutrients before reaching lakes, rivers, and streams. these ponds have a major cut

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Taking the time to plan out a project can save you a lot of frustration, time and money down the road. Building a farm pond is no different. It's tempting to think that building a pond is as simple as digging a big pit in the ground and filling it with water, but there's more to take into account for the best results possible.

Here are the most important things to consider when building a farm pond.

What is your primary reason for digging a pond? Is it purely for aesthetics? Will it serve as a water source for your livestock? Do you want to stock it with fish that you can later catch? Will anyone be using it for swimming?

The answers to all of these questions will determine how large and how deep the pond should be. For example, a fishing pond should have a depth of at least 3 feet (including at the banks of the pond) in order to avoid accumulations of vegetation, although 6 to 8 feet is ideal for fishing ponds.

Ponds for livestock should have graded banks that will allow the animals to safely reach the water. If the pond has steep sides, the livestock may not be able to safely take a drink when the water levels drop.

On the other hand, a pond that is purely for decorative purposes is quite versatile. You may want to enjoy aquatic plants such as lilies, so shallow water may be the ideal choice.

If you own a large piece of land, you may feel like the size of your pond is limited only by the boundaries of your property. However tempting it may be, you can't build a giant lake, though. The watershed of the surrounding area has to be considered.

The watershed is an area in which all of the water eventually drains to a common source. One way that your pond will be continuously renewed with fresh water is by locating it strategically within the watershed so that rainfall runoff drains into the pond.

The general rule of thumb is to have at least 5 acres of watershed for every 1 acre of the pond's surface area, but sometimes that is not enough. So although you might dream of an expansive 5 acre pond stretching across your property, if the watershed can't sustain a pond of that size, you're better off with a smaller pond. Otherwise, you'll end up with an unsightly crater in the ground.

The type of dirt you're digging into.

A good clay-based soil is ideal for retaining water over long periods of time. However, if the area is composed of nothing but porous, well-draining soil, the situation isn't completely hopeless. There are ways to engineer a leak-free pond. Interventions like bentonite cutoff walls or PVC liners are more expensive but will ensure that you actually have a pond, not a mud pit. If you're not sure what type of soil you have, have it examined by experts before you call in any work crews or look for an estimate. It will prevent headaches down the road.

Proximity to pollution.

Be mindful of any nearby pollution sources that could potentially contaminate your farm pond. Avoid chemical or oil spills at all costs, as these can be deadly to fish in the pond and even to livestock and wildlife that drink from it. And you'd never want your kids to swim in a pond contaminated by chemical run-off. Play it safe and don't build a pond where there is any doubt of pollution.

If you live in a very hot climate, such as the groggy, humid summers of Houston, the pond water may evaporate quite quickly. This can be counteracted to some extent by adjusting the surface area and depth of the pond. Since evaporation can sometimes occur at a rate of 1 inch per day or more, you'll lose much less water if the pond is deep but has a small surface area.

Do you have a good idea now of where to build your farm pond? Give us a call and we'll help you do the digging!

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The Most Important Factors to Consider When Building a Farm Pond - Dirtwirx

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Taking the time to plan out a project can save you a lot of frustration, time and money down the road. Building a farm pond is no different. It's tempting to think that building a pond is as simple as digging a big pit in the ground and filling it with water, but there's more ...

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The main things that need to be considered when building an agriculture pond is climate, proximity to pollution, the type of dirt, the local watershed, and the purpose of your pond. The watershed is an area in which all of the water eventually drains to a common source, so you need to know where that is. According to DirtWirx(2020), "A good clay-based soil is ideal for retaining water over long periods of time." And you have to find the purpose of why you want to build your pond. We need to consider determine how large and how deep the pond should be, and how wide, and what is in it. According to DirtWirx 2020, "Ponds for livestock should have graded banks that will allow the animals to safely reach the water. If the pond has steep sides, the livestock may not be able to safely take a drink when the water levels drop." Also climate is really important. During the hot climate, such as the groggy, humid summers, the pond water may evaporate quite quickly.  So that can cause problems. So it may need to have some shade from trees. Also we need to be mindful of any nearby pollution sources that could potentially contaminate the farm pond. DirtWirx 2020, "Avoid chemical or oil spills at all costs, as these can be deadly to fish in the pond and even to livestock and wildlife that drink from it. Play it safe and don’t build a pond where there is any doubt of pollution."  So in conclusion, the things we need to consider to build our agricultural pond is climate, pollution, watershed, type of dirt/clay, and why we want to build our agricultural pond.

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Agriculture ponds work by using water to water the livestock, raise fish, prevent soil erosion, and provide recreation. Even though these ponds have to be man-made, they are still very beneficial. To make sure your pond works properly, you have to first make sure it is filled with water all year round. Some ways to get water would be from surface run-off, groundwater, springs, streams, and wells. You also have to make sure you aren’t taking this water from a protected source. Anything from a lake, stream, or a simple puddle could be illegal to mess with, so before touching any bodies of water near you, call your local EPA to get the regulations of water near you. Then you have to properly design your pond so that it has the right amount of clay/soil and the correct packing/siding. You also have to make sure that your pond is regulated for your area, and you have the correct permits for it. You need to invest in the proper company and insurance to make sure your pond is built correctly. You have to make sure that the pond is built to a certain size and regulation to make sure that your pond works. After researching all of this you can dig your pond and fill it with water, fish, and plants. You can use these ponds to help your farm flourish everyday. If you upkeep your pond correctly, you should see the benefits of it for years to come.

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http://www.ruralsystem.com/2013/10/24/five-benefits-of-rural-ponds/

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The pond owner's nightmare goes something like this: Ropy algae that refuses to go away, water levels that refuse to rise, and a mess of dead fish that make it look as though someone dropped a bomb.

"A pond is a living ecosystem," says Eric Norland, an Extension specialist in pond management at Ohio State University. "There is no single right way to manage a pond and no one wrong way."

The key, says Norland, is to decide what you want out of a pond and how to get it. If repairing that sagging outbuilding or building a patio is taking up all your time, it's perfectly OK just to let the pond go and let it do whatever it wants. Yes, you'll probably get a lot of algae and pond weeds, and any fish that survive won't be particularly desirable, "but it will be a very natural pond."

At the other end of the spectrum is the highly managed pond, with clear water, a perfectly balanced fish population, and an abundance of other wildlife. However, Norland warns, anyone who wants crystal-clear water "should invest in some concrete for an in-ground pool." Pond water will always have a greenish cast from phytoplankton, part of a healthy pond.

Maintain the banks

Beyond controlling algae and pond weeds (see the sidebar below), water can be kept fairly clear by making sure the banks are well planted (trees are ideal, but grass is also very good) to prevent erosion. Also, cattle should not be allowed access because they ruin bank slopes and nearby sod and their waste pollutes the water. If your home has a septic tank, you'll want to make sure wastes don't seep into the pond. You can further assure some degree of water purity by controlling runoff with diversion ditches, tiling, embankments, and grading.

Muddy water can sometimes be treated by applying ground agricultural limestone, agricultural gypsum, or commercial alum, cottonseed meal, superphosphate, and even hay. However, check with your Extension service first to determine the source of the problem.

If the water is reasonably clear and smells fairly good, it's almost certainly fine for swimming, says Norland. If you're concerned about the presence of pesticides, tests are available through your county Extension service, "but you can go broke testing for all possible pesticides," he says. It's best to limit the tests to a handful of the most likely pesticides used in your area.

Animal wastes can also be a problem. For that reason, it's recommended that a pond used for swimming not have more than one pair of domesticated ducks or geese.

The best fishing is in ponds greater than 1 acre where overfishing presents less of a problem. Ponds can be stocked with fish from private dealers or your state department of natural resources. Trout need ponds where water temperatures don't exceed 75° to 80°, but large-mouth bass, channel catfish, bluegills (redear sunfish), and hybrid sunfish do well in warm pond waters. It's usually not necessary to feed fish.

The average depth for best fishing in a pond 1 acre or larger is 6 to 8 feet with a maximum depth of no more than 12 feet. It's tough to control fish populations in a stream-fed pond, where the stream brings along fish from the outside, but in a watershed pond, you can periodically seine to both check your fish population and correct it. You can also control populations by setting limits on size and type of fish and by setting fish traps.

Create an underwater shelter

As long as you fish regularly in your pond, "You can get a pretty good idea of the health and fish population," says Stratford Kay, aquatic specialist at North Carolina State University. To help fish breed and survive, create an underwater shelter in your pond. This will also concentrate fish for easy fishing.

Brush piles of evergreens (including old Christmas trees), beds of wooden stakes, and even slashed and bound automobile tires all work well.

Small ponds often have problems with oxygen depletion. An aerator made specifically for the purpose will help oxygenate the water and will have the side benefit of keeping water open during the winter, helping fish survive.

Fountains are often believed to aerate the water as well as control algae. However, their contribution to those objectives is minimal.

Wildlife is a large part of the pleasure of a pond. A large body of still water attracts quail, rabbits, raccoons, turtles, songbirds, ducks, and deer. You can increase wildlife populations by providing plenty of cover in the form of grasses, trees, and shrubs, especially those that bear small fruits. Large clumps of evergreens nearby will provide winter cover. And predator-proof duck boxes will encourage wood ducks in most areas.

Wildlife can also be the undoing of a pond. Canada geese can create a nuisance with droppings, while muskrats, groundhogs, and beavers can dig into dams, compromising the stability of the pond, and do other burrowing damage.

Your local Extension office will have recommendations for trees and plants that thrive alongside ponds. Nearly any tree that doesn't drop excessive fruit (such as some crab apples) is fine. Willows are a classic choice, but can spread rapidly and become a nuisance.

A number of aquatic perennials also are lovely and do well either right alongside the pond or in areas a few inches deep, including most yellow flags, Louisiana irises, calla lilies, cardinal flower, and various rushes. Water lilies, a wonderfully romantic pond plant, are also beautiful, but in warmer climates they can overtake small, shallow ponds. Most water lilies do best when planted in pots set on the pond's bottom 1 to 2 feet deep. Cold hardiness of water lilies varies radically, so read labels carefully.

Heed these cautions

Be careful if planting rapidly multiplying plants sold for water gardens, especially water hyacinth and parrot feather. These plants can escape into the wild and overrun natural waterways.

Also, plants bought in garden centers may contain other unwanted, invasive plants tucked in among the leaves, such as duckweed, mosquito fern, salvinia, and hydrilla. These little plant hitchhikers can overrun small ponds.

Soil types, pH levels, aquatic weeds, fish, and rules and regulations all vary widely by state. What works (or is allowed) in one state may not work in the next. Contact your state or county Extension service for loads of free or low-cost information on pond management.

Always keep a life buoy and long pole mounted in a clearly visible place near your pond to prevent drownings. It's also important to keep the pond free of trees, stumps, and brush that might be a hazard to swimmers. For the same reason, trash, bottles, and cans should be cleaned up. It's also smart to establish clear rules for swimming and boating on the pond to prevent any problems.

A pond can be a beautiful asset to your property and a source of great pleasure. It takes a bit of research and work to keep it attractive and clear, but it's well worth the extra effort.

How green was my pond

Algae, especially the ropy filamentous algae, is probably the biggest problem for pond owners, says Stratford Kay, North Carolina State University aquatic specialist. This problem is followed closely by duckweed and duckweed-like floating weeds.

The most effective thing you can do to control these problem plants is to control the amount of fertilizer and nitrogen that washes into the pond. It's best to avoid using fertilizer at all on the watershed for the pond. If that's not possible, don't fertilize on at least a 40- to 50-foot area surrounding the pond.

Other tips for controlling algae and weeds:

Do not keep livestock on the surrounding watershed. Check with neighbors who may be fertilizing the watershed. Excess nitrogen is a leading cause of algae and weed problems.

Make sure the pond has an average depth of at least 3 feet (6 feet is better) to discourage the growth of water weeds.

In small areas where rooted plants are a problem, simply pulling them may be sufficient. Scooping out algae and floating plants is usually not effective.

Triploid grass carp may be introduced to eat submersed weeds; however, they are banned in some states so check before stocking.

If the problem is severe and chronic, you may want to consider chemical control. However, chemicals treat the symptoms rather than the problem. If possible identify and remedy the root cause of the algae and weeds.

If your pond is larger than 1 acre and equipped with a drainpipe, you may want to do a winter drawdown. Drain the pond by one third to one half from November until March to expose submerged aquatic plants to freezing and drying. This works only in climates where winters go down to 20 degrees or colder for at least three months. This is a dramatic step, so check with your county Extension office first.

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Understanding how to Maintain a Perfect Pond

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The pond owner's daydream goes something like this: It is evening and the sun is setting, spiking golden rays onto the crystal surface of the water. Earlier in the day, a string of prize-worthy fish was caught and now you're watching the kids jump off the dock near a small flock of ducks that have taken up residence in the reeds.

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Agricultural ponds have been known to be very beneficial for the environment. They’re good for erosion prevention, nutrient recycling, wildlife, and fire preparedness. These ponds when placed in the right spot can trap or slow the flow of water on properties which will then be reducing the displacement of sediment. Ponds are especially useful in hilly areas to prevent gully formation. Uses for these ponds can also add vegetation along the banks which acts as an added barrier for catching sediment. Agricultural ponds can trap nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen which are commonly found in agricultural areas as either soil additives or as a byproduct of livestock waste. This provides a serious risk to waterways due to agricultural runoff being known to cause eutrophication which is  a condition where excess nutrients leads to aquatic plant overgrowth and eventual lack of oxygen in the water. By trapping these nutrients a natural filter is essentially added to the area where the pond is located. Another benefit to these ponds is a good and stable habitat for wildlife. Agricultural ponds provide a home for fish, frogs, possibly snakes, and other various organisms. Adding these ponds can also be a good way to control pest control such as mosquitoes and rodents from staying on your property. To add, agricultural ponds are capable of providing the quantity of water needed to suppress large fires involving rural buildings. This can be useful in case you live in a rather dry area or an area surrounded by pine trees or where severe thunder and lightning storms are common because they can be used to extinguish the flames. Overall agricultural ponds would be an asset to have on a property because they are more useful than the eye can see.

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Full Product Description

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Farm Pond Treatment keeps all large ponds and farm ponds healthy and balanced. This all natural product is odorless, and contains no toxic chemicals. Farm Pond Treatment is the best treatment to get natural results in ponds that are 1/4 acre or larger. Timetable of Results "

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Farm Pond Treatment is the perfect way to make your pond clear. BUY NOW

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The Farm Pond Treatment 2-part multi purpose biological kit includes one gallon of ultra-concentrated liquid bacteria for fast action (PondPerfect), plus one slow-release, powder-based biodegradable EcoSock for long-lasting protection. Farm Pond Treatment keeps all large ponds and farm ponds healthy and balanced. This all natural product is odorless, and contains no toxic chemicals.

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Agricultural ponds do not need numerous items most of the time to  be treated. They can be treated with one simple “Farm Pond Treatment” from TLC products. One unit of their item is $59.95. It can “treat ponds that are ¼ acre or larger, clean and clear up water, destroy foul odors, [and] it reduces sludge and muck” (TLC Products, 2020). It is additionally all national and contains no toxic chemicals. Adding vegetation along the edge of the pond helps treatment especially. It prevents debris from entering the water and “reduce[s] the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that make it into the pond water” (Bioverse, 2020). It can also help to prevent erosion at the edges of the pond. Buffering the edge with rocks will also help to limit debris and runoff from entering into the pond. Although they may be more expensive to upkeep, they are more attractive to the naked eye. Starting to use a different fertilizer can cause a healthier pond. The pond caretakers should start to use fertilizers that are phosphorus free on the grounds around the pond to prevent runoff. If fertilizer is not able to be eliminated, it can be beneficial to use beneficial bacteria. Numerous companies sell this type of bacteria for agricultural use. As soon as the grass around the pond is mwed, the clippings should be removed. The clippings may be causing more phosphorus to enter the pond. They can use the clippings for compost. The grass clippings cause muck and sludge to be created at the bottom of the pond. The muck reduces oxygen levels causing organic floating materials, weeds, and in extreme cases, death of animals and plants. Investing in a bottom diffusion aerator will help to maintain healthy oxygen levels. Farmers should invest in a good quality pond rake to rake out debris in the pond. There are countless other ways to treat an agricultural pond, and they should be done as soon as possible. Benefits of treating an agricultural pond are endless.

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	Agricultural ponds do not need numerous items most of the time to  be treated. They can be treated with one simple “Farm Pond Treatment” from TLC products. One unit of their item is $59.95. It can “treat ponds that are ¼ acre or larger, clean and clear up water, destroy foul odors, [and] it reduces sludge and muck” (TLC Products, 2020). It is additionally all national and contains no toxic chemicals. Adding vegetation along the edge of the pond helps treatment especially. It prevents debris from entering the water and “reduce[s] the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that make it into the pond water” (Bioverse, 2020). It can also help to prevent erosion at the edges of the pond. Buffering the edge with rocks will also help to limit debris and runoff from entering into the pond. Although they may be more expensive to upkeep, they are more attractive to the naked eye. Starting to use a different fertilizer can cause a healthier pond. The pond caretakers should start to use fertilizers that are phosphorus free on the grounds around the pond to prevent runoff. If fertilizer is not able to be eliminated, it can be beneficial to use beneficial bacteria. Numerous companies sell this type of bacteria for agricultural use. As soon as the grass around the pond is mwed, the clippings should be removed. The clippings may be causing more phosphorus to enter the pond. They can use the clippings for compost. The grass clippings cause muck and sludge to be created at the bottom of the pond. The muck reduces oxygen levels causing organic floating materials, weeds, and in extreme cases, death of animals and plants. Investing in a bottom diffusion aerator will help to maintain healthy oxygen levels. Farmers should invest in a good quality pond rake to rake out debris in the pond. There are countless other ways to treat an agricultural pond, and they should be done as soon as possible. Benefits of treating an agricultural pond are endless. 