July 27, 2007

Getting the most benefit from the crop water available will be the topic of an August 9 conference to be held in North Platte. Local, state and regional water and crop experts will discuss how to fine-tune production and irrigation practices, select crops and systems suited to individual farming situations, learn how recent water legislation may impact their operations, and how UNL and government agencies are working to address the state's water issues.

The 3rd Annual Great Plains Conference on Improving Crop Water Productivity will be held at the North Platte Community College South Campus and at UNL's West Central Research and Extension Center, a co-sponsor of the conference.

Presentations include: 

• Nebraska Ethanol Issues: Corn and Water;
• No-Till (Corn on Corn) and GPS Auto Steer;
• Limited Irrigation Forages;
• Distillers Grains in Cow/Calf Operations;
• Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Timing; and
• Drought: Past, Present and Future.

Bob Phares, who represents District 7 on the University of Nebraska's Board of Regents, will be the luncheon speaker. His address will be followed by a presentation from Representative Adrian Smith, of Nebraska's Third Congressional District.

Speakers from UNL Extension include Irrigation and Water Resources Engineer Derrel Martin; Cropping System Specialist Robert N. Klein, Extension Range Specialist Jerry D. Volesky; Beef Range Systems Specialist Aaron Stalker; State Climatologist Allen Dutcher, WCREC District Director Don Adams; and Extension Educators Chuck Burr, Alan Corr and Steve Melvin.

While the conference is free, participants are asked to register by Friday, August 3, to facilitate a count for meal and resource planning. Those registering by that deadline will receive a free CD of the conference proceedings.

For more information, contact Linda Lehmann at the WCREC at (308) 696-6727.