Irrigation

Climate Change and Future Nebraska Water Challenges

November 10, 2021

Dave Aiken, professor and water and agricultural law specialist in UNL's Department of Agricultural Economics, highlights concerns about climate change for agriculture in Nebraska.

Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie canal collage — Tunnel No. 1 on the Goshen-Gering-Fort Laramie main canal, inside and out, in 2021: (Left) The “ribs” for support and the metal sheeting installed to improve water flow and decrease water turbulence. (Right top) Water flowing into Tunnel No. 1 during the 2021 irrigation season. (Right bottom) Tunnel No. 1 in the fall, when there is no water in the canal.

Update on the 2019 Tunnel Collapse and Canal Washout and 2021 Irrigation Season

October 19, 2021

Water flow through the tunnels were returned to 97% of capacity this summer, resulting in near normal water deliveries by the three major irrigation districts in the North Platte Valley during the 2021 growing season.

Figure 1. Soybean pods collected from stage R7 plants (one mature pod per plant) that were opened to determine if the pod wall interior membrane was still clinging tightly to the seeds (leftmost pod), or if it was beginning to detach from the seeds (second pod), or if the membrane was now permanently attached to the pod wall (third pod). After attaining physiological maturity, seeds undergo a dry-down period from about 60% moisture to about 13% moisture. Note that the Rx.x numbers used here are pod-based stages, not plant-based stages.

Understanding Ending Reproductive Stages in Soybean

August 27, 2021

The timing of the ending R stages in soybean is governed by planting date (PD) and varietal maturity group (MG), though the date of R7 can be hastened if water stress and high temperatures prevail in August — something we are seeing in portions of Nebraska this year.

Scheduling the Last Few Irrigations of the Season Deserves More of Your Management Time Than Earlier Irrigations

August 19, 2021

University of Nebraska irrigation scheduling recommendations encourage irrigators to allow crops to continue using more of the stored soil water starting in August and continuing into September when the crop matures.

Water and Crops Field Day Set for Aug. 26

August 3, 2021

This year’s focus, “Using Technology to Improve Efficiency and Resiliency,” will involve in-field demonstrations of irrigation and nitrogen, chemigation as a pest management tool, and more.

Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie supply canal Tunnel No. 1 — **Image 1.** Irrigation water flows through Tunnel No. 1 on the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie supply canal in 2021.

Update on 2019 Tunnel Collapse and Canal Washout, Irrigation Water Outlook for 2021

July 13, 2021

Water deliveries by the four major irrigation districts (Pathfinder, Gering-Fort Laramie, Goshen and Farmers) are expected to be near normal. The districts hope to deliver water to growers through the first week in September.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Management Strategies for Alfalfa Insects, Irrigation

June 17, 2021

This week, extension educators review seasonal issues for alfalfa — scouting practices for alfalfa pests, when and how to correctly irrigate alfalfa, and harvest guidelines for first-year alfalfa.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Alfalfa Cutting Prep and Weevil Control

May 19, 2021

With alfalfa fields maturing, it's time to consider first cutting strategies and concerns, including irrigation before harvest and scouting for alfalfa weevil.

Explore Tags