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.

Monday, July 19, 2021

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

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

Irrigation is in full swing for the North Platte Valley in the Panhandle of Nebraska.

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.

Link to full article

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Water Law 101: Part 6, Sharing Water with Other States and Water Use within the State

Smith Falls on the Niobrara River, Cherry County, NE (Photo by Gary Stone)

Water Law 101: Part 6

Friday, October 9, 2020

Planning 2021 Fertilizer-N Application Following a Dry 2020

Anticipated high residual soil nitrate-N levels in NE rainfed crops of dry 2020 can be credited to reduce N rates for 2021

Fertilizer-N is a big investment for crop production in Nebraska and elsewhere. After harvest, growers tend to plan their fertilizer-N management for the next year’s crop. But the question is how much nitrogen can they apply to get the most profit from their fertilizer-N investment?

Friday, August 28, 2020

Now is the Time of Year to Check Pivot Performance

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

Friday, August 28, 2020

Scheduling the Last Irrigation of the Season

What a year 2020 has been. After a year of record flooding over much of the state, we are now in various stages of drought. With limited rainfall over most of the state this year and fairly extended hot, dry periods, many irrigators may be wondering when is the irrigation season going to end? With the price of grain, it is also worth considering do I need to apply that last inch or two of water to get that last bushel or two?