November 3, 2003

 

Irrigation Workshops Set for November and December

Workshops will be held by the North Dakota State University Extension Service in New Town, Carrington and Bismarck in November and December to teach producers the fundamentals of irrigation and update their skills.

"When it comes to rainfall, the last two growing seasons have been mirror images of each other," notes Tom Scherer, agricultural engineer with the NDSU Extension Service. "In 2002, the growing season was dry early and that affected small grain production especially in the southern half of the state. However, timely rains occurred later in the season and the longer season crops like corn, soybeans and sunflowers did fine. This year, we had timely rains early but almost no rain late in the season. Consequently, small grains did well but corn and soybeans suffered. Both years, those farmers with irrigation had good production especially with the longer season crops. One way to ensure consistent crop production during drought conditions is to use irrigation."

The first irrigation workshop is Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Fort Berthold Community College in New Town. The second is Tuesday, Nov. 25, at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center 3 miles north of Carrington on U.S. Highway 281.

These two workshops are for new irrigators or people exploring the option of adding irrigation to their farm operation. The topics focus on the fundamentals necessary to begin irrigating. They include identifying irrigable soils, locating an adequate water supply, water quality necessary for irrigation, obtaining a water permit, selecting irrigation equipment, irrigation water management, the economics of irrigation and high value crop opportunities.

The third workshop is Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel (formerly the Radisson Inn) in Bismarck. This workshop is for experienced irrigators. The NDSU Extension Service, the Missouri Slope Irrigation Development Association and the North Dakota Irrigation Caucus sponsor the workshop. It will be held in conjunction with the annual North Dakota Water Users convention that also features displays by irrigation equipment suppliers.

Topics will include irrigation financing options, an update on the Natural Resource Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), the irrigation water permitting process, irrigated malting barley, irrigation scheduling, high value alfalfa processing, the NDSU beef center of excellence, onion processing and high value crop marketing.

At each workshop participants can register at the door. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. The number of Certified Crop Advisor Continuing Education Units available to participants will be announced on the day of the workshop. Registration fee is $10 for the Carrington workshop and $20 for the Bismarck workshop. There is no fee for the workshop at New Town.

For more information visit: www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/upcoming.htm,  call NDSU Extension Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at (701) 231-7238.

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Source: Tom Scherer, 701-231-7239, tscherer@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu