An Acre Inch of Water

One of the things I learned (and have already forgotten) was the importance of the number 27,154 gallons, or the number of gallons in an acre inch of water. When talking about irrigation, it is important to know (memorize it!) this number.
I found a good article that explains this measurement written by Bill Peacock, Tulare County Farm Advisor called Understanding Water Units. Knowing the number of gallons in an acre inch, or an acre foot will aide in determining how long we have to run our pump to apply a given irrigation amount.
When we planted our vineyard in 2013, we had one of the driest summers that we have experienced. When we went to Brookdale Farm to speak with Trevor, he agreed but also mentioned that he thought that this summer was even drier, albeit a little cooler and less humid. We didn't realize that Connecticut summers can be so dry. The past records show that Connecticut has an average of 4 inches of rain every month, but this average can come from a flash flood or from a hurricane. In order to grow quality grapes, a reliable source of water is an imperative.