Water Management

Irrigation and water management information is housed on the Nebraska Extension website Water.unl.edu in the Agricultural Production section. Sub-sections include:

Crops: Managing Water for Crop Production
Irrigation: Agricultural Irrigation
Manure: Livestock Manure Management
Drought: Managing in Times of Drought

Also see the Agricultural Water Management Guide, a Nebraska Extension publication on irrigation management — both why it is used and more importantly, strategies to improve irrigation efficiency. Also included are definitions of basic irrigation terminology and a brief history of irrigation. This publication is targeted to farmers, crop consultants, agriculture educators, science instructors, students, and anyone interested in increasing their knowledge of irrigation management.

Snowpack that feed North Platte River water system — Figure 1. Snowpack on the Snowy Mountain Range that feeds the North Plate River system (archive photo). The US Bureau of Reclamation monitors snowpack to estimate the amount of water in the North Platte Basin likely to be available this growing season. (Photo by Gary Stone)

North Platte River Water System Update April 13, 2018

North Platte River water operations and deliveries are expected to be normal for 2018, with no allocations expected, and an expected demand of 1.1 million acre-feet.

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.

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.

Types of water losses from center pivot irrigation

In-Canopy vs. Above-Canopy Sprinklers: Which is Better Suited to Your Field? March 23, 2018

This is the first of a three-part series on how to decide whether you want to use in-canopy sprinklers or sprinklers at truss rod height or above on a center pivot. Part 1 addresses water losses from a center pivot and when to replace an existing sprinkler package.

Center Pivot Handbook a Comprehensive Guide for Growers March 23, 2018

Center pivot irrigation now accounts for approximately 85% of the irrigated land in Nebraska. To help growers manage and get the most from their system, Nebraska Extension has published the Center Pivot Irrigation Handbook, a 134-page comprehensive guide.

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