Agricultural Irrigation

The UNL CropWater App. A handy tool for irrigators to use in the field to aid in irrigation scheduling.

Because of a growing concern about manure irrigation, the University of Wisconsin Extension assembled a workgroup to research the concerns. The workgroup included scientists, public health specialists, state agency experts, farmers, conservationists and others. Over the course of two years, the group gathered and studied the science of manure irrigation, which culminated in a report that contains findings, responses and recommendations. This article will review a few of their findings related to bacterial transport as well as highlight some of the reasons why a farmer might opt to apply manure via irrigation rather than other ways.

Do you know how much water your crop is using on a daily basis?  When I ask this question most guys tell me somewhere between 0.20 - 0.40 inches per day.  Sometimes they are close but wouldn’t it be nice to know for sure?  It is rather simple to figure out if you have the right tools.  An atmometer, such as the ETgage®, is what you need to calculate reference ET.  ET stands for evapotranspiration.  This is the amount of water evaporated from the soil and plant surface and transpired through the plant.

Nebraska Extension, the Ogallala Water Project and the Nebraska Water Balance Alliance will host a water and crops field day on Aug. 23 at the West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Road, North Platte.

Center pivots operation below or above the designed water pressure can create uniformity issues across the field and/or increase operating expenses.

Center pivot irrigation systems have several potential hazards, so personal safety is a priority!

Groundwater levels across much of Nebraska continue to rebound from the historic 2012 drought, according to the 2019 Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report. On average, wells measured in spring 2019 saw a 2.63-foot increase in groundwater levels statewide.

Derek M. Heeren1, Associate Professor and Water for Food Global Institute Faculty Fellow Steven R. Melvin2, Extension Educator Aaron Nygren3, Associate Extension Educator Eric Wilkening1, Undergraduate Research Assistant   1 Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln