March 2, 2016

Updates on irrigation engineering tools and research on new irrigation technologies, variable rate irrigation and fertigation fundamentals, and cover crops will be the focus of the Nebraska Ag Water Management Network Conference on Thursday, March 10.  It will be held in York at the Holthus Convention Center, 3130 Holen Ave. from 9:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., with registration beginning at 9:15 a.m.

Producers, crop consultants, NRD, DNR, NRCS, irrigation districts and other professionals are invited to attend. Participants are encouraged to share their successful experiences with the Nebraska Ag Water Management Network (NAWMN) and any ideas they have for growing the network.

Suat Irmak, UNL soil and water resources engineer, will be sharing information about instrumentation and how to measure crop water use at the Nebraska Ag Water Management Network Conference March 10 in York.

Topics will include:

• Update on status of the NAWMN
• Water-related smart phone apps
• Z-Mag Ag Water Management Guide
• Automated Water Use Database Project
• Cover Crop Research
• NRD Update
• Update from the Upper Big Blue NRD CropTip
• Underground Wireless Sensor Update
• Soil Moisture Sensor Research Update
• Variable Rate Irrigation Science and Engineering and Variable Rate Fertigation Research

For more detail, please see the NAWMN agenda.

Four continuing education units have been applied for in soil/water management.

How the NAWMN Works

The NAWMN goal is to transfer high quality research information to producers to use water and energy resources more efficiently for crop production and to enhance crop water productivity. Started in 2005 with 15 collaborators, NAWMN has grown to nearly 1400 collaborators who implement cutting-edge water management technologies/practices taught in the Network. Many of them regularly contribute water use information to the NAWMN website. In turn, this information is used by growers across the state to fine-tune their irrigation management and application timing to current plant water needs.

The fundamental objective of the NAWMN has been to integrate science, research, and education/outreach principles to provide information to help growers make better informed decisions about irrigation management practices. The practices and procedures taught in the Network are based on scientific and research-based information led by Suat Irmak, UNL soil and water resources engineer and irrigation specialist.

RSVP

The conference and lunch are free, but participants are asked to RSVP by March 7 to aid in planning. RSVP to:

• Extension Educator Jenny Rees at the Clay County Office Extension Office at (402) 762-3644 or jenny.rees@unl.edu;
• Megan at the York County Extension Office, at (402) 362-5508 or york-county@unl.edu;
• Patty at Upper Big Blue NRD at (402) 362-6601 or pkyhn@uperbigblue.org.