August 11, 2006

2006 Irrigation Strategies Field Tour Series

Demonstrating management strategies to conserve irrigation water

That’s why UNL established demonstration sites across the state to explore and test irrigation options specifically adapted for Nebraska crops, soils, and irrigation issues. In August and early September UNL Extension will host programs and field days at these sites to show various water-saving strategies.

“The Irrigation Strategies Field Tour Series focuses on showing farmers and crop consultants management strategies to conserve water. The primary focus is on demonstrating research-based irrigation management strategies on farmer fields,” said UNL Extension Educator Steve Melvin. His goal is to make irrigation scheduling and management as easy as keeping fuel in the tank using the fuel gauge.

Field tours will be conducted at seven sites in August and early September at Ainsworth, Arapahoe, Benkelman, Madrid, Holdrege, Axtell and Curtis.

Field tour topics, which will vary by location, include: monitoring crop water use and soil water status; furrow irrigation strategies that improve efficiency for full and limited water use; how time of application and amount of water applied affects crop yield; soil moisture monitoring equipment; yield effects of skip row planted corn; predicting the last irrigation; calculating water applied using a flow meter; viewing the UNL irrigated corn variety test plot; and how amount of water and nitrogen applied affects crop yield.

For more information about the Irrigation Strategies Field Tour Series, contact UNL Extension Educator Steve Melvin at (308) 367-4424 or smelvin2@unl.edu.

Field day schedule

Ainsworth, 6 p.m., Monday, August 14. Location: From Ainsworth, go 7.5 miles north of highways 183 & 20. The plot is on the east side of the road just before the road turns to the west.

Arapahoe, 6 p.m., Tuesday, August 15. Location: A hamburger feed will begin at 6 p.m. at Cargill Ag Horizons (from Arapahoe, go 1.5 miles west). The meeting and tour will start at 7 p.m. at the plot 0.5 mile west of Arapahoe on the south side of Highways 6 and 34.

Benkelman, 6 p.m. MDT, Tuesday, August 22. Location: 12 miles north of Benkelman on highway 61 or 14 miles south of the intersection of highways 6 and 61 (turn at Alsbury sign) and 4 miles west to the intersection of 718 Rd and 334 Ave. Turn south and the plot is 0.25 mile down, on the east side.

Madrid, 6 p.m. MDT Wednesday, August 23. Location: 4.5 miles south of Madrid to the intersection of 756 Rd and 338 Ave. The plot is on the east side of the road.

Holdrege, 10 a.m. Thursday, August 24. Location: From Holdrege, go to the intersection of highways 183 and 6 and go south 3.5 miles. The plot is on the east side of the road.

Axtell, 6 p.m. Thursday, August 24. Location: From Axtell, on highway 6/34, go 1 mile east then 1.25 miles north. The plot is on the east side of the road.

Curtis, 10 a.m. Thursday, September 7. Location: From highway 23 and Center Street (flashing light), go north 6 blocks to dead end, turn east (right) and go 0.5 block, then north (left) and follow road 0.5 mile. The plot is on the east (right) side of the road.

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Copyright 2006 by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. All rights reserved.

Published by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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