Coming Events
- Feb. 12 – Master Gardening Connect Session, 6:30 p.m., Extension Office, York
- Feb. 19 – Extension Board Executive Meeting, 1:30 p.m., Extension Office, York
- Feb. 19 – Master Gardening Connect Session, 6:30 p.m., Extension Office, York
- Feb. 20 – Private Pesticide Training, 9:00 a.m., 4-H Building, Aurora
- Feb. 21-22 – Women in Agriculture Conference, Kearney, http://wia.unl.edu/
- Feb. 25-26 – Hunter Education Training, 4-H Building York
- Feb. 26 – Master Gardening Connect Session, 6:30 p.m., Extension Office, York
- Feb. 26-27 – Central Plains Irrigation Conference, Kearney Holiday Inn, Kearney, http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/irrigate/cpia.htm
- Feb. 28 – March 1 – Hunter Education Training, 4-H Building York
- March 5 – Master Gardening Connect Session, 6:30 p.m., Extension Office, York
- March 11 – Private Pesticide Training, 6:30 p.m., 4-H Building, York
- March 11 – Chemigation Training, 1:00 p.m., 4-H Building, York
- March 12 – Master Gardening Connect Session, 6:30 p.m., Extension Office, York
- March 19 – Master Gardening Connect Session, 6:30 p.m., Extension Office, York
- March 27 – Farm Estate and Transition Planning Workshop, 9:00 to 3:30 p.m., York Country Club, 402-362-5508 to register
Hunter Safety Education Program Planned
Dan Barrett stopped by and wanted me to mention that he and Gene Bergen will again be conducting Hunter Safety Education Training Feb. 25 & 26 and Feb. 28 & March 1. It will be conducted in the 4-H Building. To enroll, go to http://huntsafenebraska.org. For additional information, you can also contact Dan at 402-366-4380 or Gene at 402-366-3308.
Dan would also be a good person to contact about his shotgun club. If you’re interested in other shooting sports programs, also contact Gerald or me at our office (402-362-5508) for more information about clubs in the York area.
If these dates don’t work for you, other sessions across the state can be found the hunt safe Nebraska link.
Private Applicator Training and Chemigation Training Dates
Just a reminder, I have one final Pesticide Safety Education Programs that I will be conducting in York. That date is March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the 4-H Building in York. I’m also doing sessions in Seward on Feb. 15 at 9:00 a.m. and also in Osceola at 1:30 p.m., as well as in Aurora on Feb. 20 at 9:00 a.m., so if your card has expired, get these dates on your calendar. I’ll hope to see you at of these locations.
I’ve also scheduled two Chemigation training dates.  The first is on March 11 at 1:00 p.m. here in York at the 4-H Building and the second is April 11 at 1:00 p.m.  If you need study materials, contact our office.
Women In Agriculture Conference Planned
The theme of the 28th annual “Women In Agriculture Conference†Feb. 21-22, 2013, in Kearney is “Communicating in Challenging Times.”
They’ve got a great list of speakers on a wide variety of interesting and timely topics! For complete information and to register online go to: http://wia.unl.edu. You can also register by calling 1-800-535-3456 or by faxing your forms to 1-402-472-0776. Hard copy registration forms can be sent to Women in Agriculture, UNL Agricultural Economics, 303 Filley Hall, Lincoln, Neb., 68583.
The early-bird fee of $100 per person is due by Feb. 8. Following that date the fee is $120 per person. Fee includes workshop materials, registration and meals. The conference is sponsored by the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the Department of Agricultural Economics.
Central Plains Irrigation Conference & Exposition
This past year was a difficult and long irrigation season for area producers, but those that have irrigation options were extremely thankfully to have them. We also learn a lot about uniform water distribution on many of our pivots and as a result, we’re seeing new sprinkler packages and pivots going up. It’s extremely important to have the proper equipment to get good water distribution.
I’d like to encourage you to attend the Central Plains Irrigation Conference and Exposition planned for Feb. 26 and 27 in Kearney. This conference is designed for irrigators, crop consultants, and other agri-business professionals.
You will have many great topics to choose from. Topic include:
General Session A – Nebraska Groundwater & Surface Water Issues – Brian Dunnigan, Nebraska DNR
General Session B – Experiences of the Past and Assessment of Future High Plains Irrigation – Terry Howell, USDA-ARS
Technical Session 1 — Innovations in Irrigation Water Management
Soil Water Monitoring Equipment – Steve Evett, USDA-ARS
Nebraska Water Management Network Update – Gary Zoubek, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Quantifying Spatially Variable Soil Properties – Daran Rudnick, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Technical Session 2 — Water Management Under Limited Conditions
Irrigation Management with Low Capacity Wells – Joel Schneekloth, Colorado State University
Will Preseason Irrigation be Economical? – Alan Schlegel, Kansas State University
Effect of Crop Stress Timing on Corn Grain Yield – William Kranz, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Technical Session 3 — Innovations in Center Pivot Monitor and Control Systems
Lindsay Variable Rate Irrigation Technologies – Steve Melvin, Lindsay Corporation
Valmont VRI & Soil Water Data with Pivot Communication Systems – Dustin Wilcox, Valmont Industries
Impact of VRI on Water Application Uniformity – Susan O’Shaughnessy, USDA-ARS
Technical Session 4 — Future and Sustainability of Irrigation
Impact of Climate Change of Regional Agriculture – Kari Skaggs, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Predictions for 2013 Flow Rate in the Platte River Watershed – Department of. Natural Resources
Effect of 2012 Drought on Interstate Compact Compliance – Department of. Natural Resources
Technical Session 5a — Legislative Issues for Water Management Planning
NRD Integrated Water Management Plans – Ron Bishop, Central Platte NRD
Nebraska Aquifers, Wells, and the Effects of Drought – Dana Divine, Nebraska Geological Survey, UNL
Nebraska Water Legislative Issues – Tom Carlson, Nebraska State Senator
Technical Session 5b — Ensuring Efficient Center Pivot and Subsurface Drip Irrigation
Ensuring Efficient Center Pivot Irrigation – William Kranz, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Ensuring Efficient Subsurface Drip irrigation – Dan Rogers, Kansas State University
Technical Session 6 — Impact of Cropping Systems on Irrigation Management
Effect of Tillage Practices on Crop Water Use – Suat Irmak, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Effect of Crop Residue Cover on Crop Water Use – Simon van Donk, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Water Production Functions for High Plains Crops – Tom Trout, USDA-ARS
Technical Session 7 — Economics of Center Pivot and Subsurface Drip Irrigation
Optimizing Cropping Systems Under Limited Water Conditions – Derek Heeren, Univ. of Nebr.-Lincoln
Using the Water Optimizer for Cropping System Decisions – Chuck Burr, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Irrigated Cropping System Budgets for Nebraska – Roger Wilson, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Technical Session 8 — Pumps, Sprinklers and Water Productivity
New Nebraska Pumping Plant Performance Criteria – William Kranz, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Evaluating Center Pivot Sprinkler Package Performance – Dan Rogers, Kansas State University
Large Scale ET and Crop Water Productivity Analysis – Vivek Sharma, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
For more information about this conference, visit the Central Plains Irrigation Association website: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/irrigate/cpia.htm
A copy of the program & registration form is also on our website: http://york.unl.edu/web/york/crops-future. It’s a great conference for only $75.00 if you register by Feb. 14! I hope to see you in Kearney; let me know if you have any questions or need more information.
Irrigation Equipment Cost Share Opportunities
This Saturday, I went out and checked the two Watermark Sensors I installed in a dryland corn field last fall and they have not changed much from the readings I took on January 9. The second foot continued to read dry while the top foot changed readings from dry to 239 which is slightly wetter than dry or at about 50% depleted. I read them before the rains, but I don’t believe we received much moisture (.10†or less). I sure hope the fog days will bring us much of that needed moisture before spring!
The Watermark Sensors are one of the tools we’ve been using in our Nebraska Agriculture Water Management Network (NAWMN) the past several years. If you’ve not been involved in our effort, I hope you’ll consider getting involved this season. The Upper Big Blue NRD and UNL Extension have teamed up using these economical tools to better help with irrigation timing and amounts. The tool we’re using are ETgages. The NRD cost shares on them both, so you can’t beat that deal. Dan and I or other UNL Educators will also assist you with installing these tools the first year and advise you in subsequent years.
Visit the Upper Big Blue NRD website: http://www.upperbigblue.org/ On the left side of the page, click on water link followed by the irrigation scheduling equipment link. The direct link is:
http://www.upperbigblue.org/nrdwebsite/dept_water/forms_download/FORM_Irrig_Sched_Equip_2013.pdf
It’s going to be more important now than ever to manage our water resources so that we will be able to continue to irrigate our crops. Using these tools and eliminating field trips are ways to save our precious resources. Dan Leininger and I will again be planning some informational meetings about these tools, so watch for more details in upcoming columns! Now’s a good time to get them ordered before funds run out!
