Get the latest information on using water efficiently in farm production at the Central Plains Irrigation Conference and Expo Feb. 20-21 at Colby, Kansas. Celebrating its 30th year in 2018, the conference offers technical and practical information to help farmers manage irrigation and water resources.

Coordinated by the Central Plains Irrigation Association, a joint effort of extension, growers, and the irrigation industry in Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado, this year's conference will be held at the City Limits Convention Center, 2225 S. Range Ave. Primary sponsors are Kansas State University and irrigation-related agricultural companies. Kansas Corn will host a dinner and farmer panel.

“This conference is the place to find out about the latest research and technology advances relevant for agricultural producers across the Plains states,” said Danny Rogers, agricultural engineer with K-State Research and Extension. “There’s never been a more important time for farmers to be aware of ways they can conserve water as they help grow the nation’s and world’s food supply.”

The opening day lunch will feature the showing of "Thirsty Land," a documentary film by producer and director Conrad Weaver about drought, water, and agriculture in the western United States. Weaver will introduce the film and answer questions afterward.

CPIA conference speakers include university researchers and extension specialists, government officials, and farmers who will share their experiences, addressing such topics as

• Using Remote Sensing to Improve Irrigation Uniformity;
• Irrigating Corn under Reduced Well Capacity Conditions;
• Impact of Tillage and Crop Residue on Soil Water Storage and Infiltration;
• Current Research on Maximizing Irrigation Productivity in Corn;
• Center Pivot Maintenance and Preserving Irrigation Pump Performance;
• In-Canopy vs. Above-Canopy Sprinklers — Which is Better for your Field?
• Basic Design, Filtration, and Maintenance of Subsurface Drip Irrigation;
• KSU Crop Management Results from 28 Years of Subsurface Drip Irrigation Research;
• Producers’ Reactions to Water Use Restrictions;
• Center Pivot Safety;
• and more topics.

Nebraska presenters will include Daran Rudnick, Nebraska Extension Irrigation Management Specialist, Derrel Martin, Irrigation and Water Resources Engineer; Steven Melvin, Extension Educator, and Burdette Barker, post-doctorate researcher in water management, all from the University of Nebraska, and Brian Olson, manager of the Monsanto Learning Center at Gothenburg.

Expo vendors will answer questions about the latest irrigation technology and related services.

Registration and Contacts

The conference registration form is available online. Individuals can register for one or both days of the conference.

Additional conference information is available at the Central Plains Irrigation Association website, centralplainsirrigationassociation.org, or by contacting Donna Lamm at 785-462-7574 or donnalamm@yahoo.com. In Nebraska you can also contact Rudnick, Nebraska Extension Irrigation Management Specialist, at 308-696-6709 or daran.rudnick@unl.edu.