Steve Melvin - Extension Educator Irrigated Cropping Systems

Steve Melvin

faculty
Work
PO Box 27 1784 Fairgrounds Rd Central City NE 68826-0027
US
Figure 1. Fuel gauges help us determine how long until we need to put fuel in the tank and how much it will hold. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a gauge on your crop to tell you when to irrigate? Learn more about how soil water monitoring equipment can provide you similar information at two workshops on June 19 in Aurora and June 25 in York.

Workshops Focus on Irrigation Scheduling to Save Money, Water Even in Wet Years

June 14, 2019
Installing soil water monitors and making irrigation scheduling decisions based on sensor data will be the focus of two luncheon workshops this month in central Nebraska.

Read more

Figure 1. University of Wisconsin researchers studied drilling cover crops into V5 corn. (Source: University of Wisconsin Integrated Pest and Crop Management)
Figure 1. University of Wisconsin researchers studied drilling cover crops into V5 corn. (Source: University of Wisconsin Integrated Pest and Crop Management)

Interseeding Cover Crops into Corn or Soybean

May 23, 2019
In some years it may be difficult to well establish a cover crop after corn harvest. This article surveys current research on interseeding into an established crop, further considerations, and how to test this practice on your farm.

Read more

Flooded center pivot east of Schuyler (Photo by Aaron Nygren)
Flooded center pivot east of Schuyler (Photo by Aaron Nygren)

Management Recommendations for Irrigation Equipment Affected by Flooding

March 25, 2019
As waters drain and soils dry out, part of the recovery process will include checking irrigation systems for damage and performing maintenance/repair before those systems can be used. Here's what to check in your power unit, irrigation well, and center pivot.

Read more

Early-planted rye

Central Nebraska Cover Crops Conference

February 18, 2019
From seeding to innovative methods to incorporate cover crops to grazing options, the Central Nebraska Cover Crops Conference offers the latest information to help Nebraska growers profitably incorporate cover crops into their operation.

Read more

Soil water measuring guage.
Wouldn’t it be great if our crops had a soil water gauge on them like the fuel tank? We could use them to help us directly determine when we need to irrigate and how much water the soil will hold. Soil water monitoring equipment can be the next best thing.

Field Days to Feature Irrigation Scheduling Equipment Demos

August 16, 2018
Two field days Aug. 27-28 will feature in-field demonstrations of soil water measuring tools designed to provide growers key data for irrigation management. Five of the systems were installed earlier this summer and users can view and compare data and displays online.

Read more

Center pivot irrigating late season field of corn.
Figure 1. As you try to use stored soil water without wasting any new precipitation, the last few irrigations of the season require some of the most important water management decisions of the year. (Photo by Steve Melvin)

How to Schedule the Last Few Irrigations of the Season

August 10, 2018
Final irrigations of the season are some of the most important water management decisions of the year. This guide walks through how to use weather and field information to schedule final irrigations and avoid costly, needless ones.

Read more

In-canopy center pivot sprinkler head entangled in the corn canopy

In-Canopy vs. Above-Canopy Sprinklers: Consider Pros and Cons

April 5, 2018
Center pivot sprinkler packages placed in the canopy have some potential to increase the application efficiency of center pivot and lateral move irrigation systems; however, the challenges of achieving acceptable water application uniformities and preventing local runoff are greatly increased. This is the third of a three-part series helping growers consider in-canopy vs. above-canopy sprinkler packages.

Read more

Wetter diameters of various irrigation sprinkler packages

In-Canopy vs. Above-Canopy Sprinklers: Which is Better Suited to Your Field? (Part 2)

March 26, 2018
Center-pivot irrigation sprinkler package designs need to account for the specific pivot, the available water supply, and various attributes of the field where the pivot will be installed. Learn what to consider in this second article of a three-part series assessing in-canopy and above-canopy sprinklers and which is best for a given operation.

Read more