Agricultural Irrigation

Agricultural water users can optimize water use efficiency and protect the quality of water resources by applying basic information about irrigation systems, crop water use and management practices.

Weekly Irrigation Newsletter: Using Soil Water Tension to Schedule Irrigation in East-central Nebraska

In 2024, Nebraska Extension started a new collaboration with three growers located in east-central Nebraska. We installed a set of three watermark sensors at 1-, 2-, and 3-feet soil depth and the sensors were connected to datalogger (IC-10 model from Irrometer) to record and store hourly data at one-hour intervals. The data can also be accessed remotely for quick irrigation decision.
Wednesday August 14, 2024

Irrigation Season Could Run Longer for Dry Bean Crop

Updates on crop progress, irrigation water deliveries and crop water use for growers in the Panhandle and western Nebraska.
Wednesday August 14, 2024

Soil Water Tension Sensors to Schedule Irrigation in East-central Nebraska

Nebraska growers share Week 2 results of their irrigation management decisions based on soil moisture sensor data, as part of a new collaboration with extension educators.
Monday August 26, 2024

Full Soil Water Profile Encouraged to Finish Crops Before Harvest

As surface/canal water usually curtails mid-September, extension recommends that Nebraska Panhandle producers ensure their soil water profiles are full to sustain crops through to harvest.
Wednesday November 27, 2024

Data Shows Limited Economic Impact from Western Bean Cutworm Control in 2024 Sprinkler Corn Competition

During the 2024 growing season, competitors in the sprinkler corn competition were given the opportunity to choose insecticide treatments targeting the western bean cutworm, a moth/caterpillar pest. This decision was based on scouting data gathered by Julie Peterson and her team on July 12, 15 and 19. The scouting report showed that a cumulative 4% of corn plants were infested with either eggs or newly hatched larvae.

Agricultural water users can optimize water use efficiency and protect the quality of water resources by applying basic information about irrigation systems, crop water use and management practices.