This story reminds me of the central WA state where I grew up. They had a similar network of canals. It's the largest irrigation network in the US (according to the internet). Unlike the one in the article, most farmers in central WA aren't flooding their fields directly from the canals. Many of the farmers running at any sort of scale opt for a center-pivot (circle) to water their field. These machines end up being the most water (and labor) efficient way to water a field of 100+ acres.
I worked at for an irrigation supplier for a few years and got to see all the ins-and-outs of how these machines work. The supporting infrastructure is pretty impressive too. The pumps, pipes, valves, and electrical panels that drive these machines is an engineering marvel.
I always wanted to ask, why such circle-crop formations are usually in a square greed, instead of hexagonal? is it because it's easier to move tractors and other stuff between them, or is it because land isn't that scare resource as I imagine it?
TL;DR, simpler mechanics for the irrigation system.
The circular pattern comes from the area irrigated by the simplest configuration of a center-pivot [0], which is a fixed point in the center to access water. "Non-circular" area require linear/lateral movement "center-pivots" that require a way more complex control system, or some kind of booster to cover the "corners of a square".
I think this is not what parent asked. The question was why circles are arranged in square grids but not in haxagons.
Which is great question, and I would like to know the answer too.
The "circular" is clear. But the "square grid" part is not. Why are the circles arranged in a square grid instead of a hexagonal one? Is it property definition difficulty?
I worked at for an irrigation supplier for a few years and got to see all the ins-and-outs of how these machines work. The supporting infrastructure is pretty impressive too. The pumps, pipes, valves, and electrical panels that drive these machines is an engineering marvel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Basin_Project