Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Water Balance Alliance will host a field day on the Systems Approach to Cropping and Irrigation Management Tuesday, August 23 at North Platte.

The West Central Water and Crops Field Day will be at the UNL West Central Research and Extension Center at 402 W. State Farm Road, starting with registration at 8 a.m. and presentations at 8:30 a.m.

During the morning and lunch program innovative and practical management strategies will be shared in addition to regulatory and legislative initiative updates. Educators and specialists from Nebraska Extension will be on hand to address water issues affecting farm operations. Presentation topics will include: efficient crop rotations and tillage systems, reducing input costs and leveraging water resources, grazing cover crops, NRD updates, and grain marketing and irrigation mobile apps.

Following lunch, there will be previews of what's available at each of the field sites and an opportunity to visit sites and talk with staff. Field site topics will include:

• soil water sensor comparison
• sorghum weed control & field pea research
• forages/cover crops production plots
• sensors for determining nitrogen requirements
• field to market
• crop rotation and productivity
• managing corn rootworm
• sustainable management of plant pathogens
• pesticide application technology, and
• ethanol powered irrigation engines

More than 30 commercial vendors will be providing live product demonstrations. 

“Water is one of Nebraska’s most valuable resources,” said Extension Educator Chuck Burr. “This field day allow those interested in water to learn on a farm scale about irrigation practices and cropping systems that can maintain or increase crop production while conserving water.”

Schedule and Preregistration

For a more detailed schedule and list of exhibitors who will be available throughout the day, view the field day brochure.

The event is free, but registration is requested by Aug. 19 to plan for food. To register, vist http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/westcentral/fieldday/.