A stabilizer is used on a tower structure of a center pivot irrigation system. The tower structure has wheels supporting the tower on a ground surface and the wheels are adapted and configured to roll on the ground surface in a direction of travel. The stabilizer has a bracing member with proximal and distal ends spaced apart by a length. The bracing member proximal end is adapted and configured to be operatively releasably connected to the tower structure such that when the stabilizer is mounted to the tower structure, the bracing member is movable from a stored position in which the bracing member distal end is arranged generally adjacent to the tower structure to a deployed position in which the bracing member distal end is arranged outboard of the wheels in the direction of travel and in contact with the ground surface.