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November 24, 2006 Irrigation Workshops Set for December The North Dakota State University Extension Service is holding irrigation workshops Dec. 7 in Bismarck and Dec. 19 in Beulah. Irrigation development and irrigated corn production will be discussed at both workshops, according to Tom Scherer, NDSU Extension water quality and irrigation specialist. For the last 12 years, the irrigated acreage in North Dakota has increased. Between 1994 and 2000, the demand for irrigated potatoes expanded irrigated acreage an average of 5,000 acres per year. Since 2000, irrigation development has increased about 2,000 acres per year. The state has more than 250,000 irrigated acres. “With the construction of ethanol plants, the demand for irrigated corn may lead to an increase in development of irrigated acres,” Scherer says. The workshop on Thursday, Dec. 7, is at the Best Western Ramkota Inn in Bismarck. It will be held in conjunction with the North Dakota Water Users Association convention. The NDSU Extension Service, Missouri Slope Irrigation Development Association and North Dakota Water Users Association sponsor the workshop. The morning program will have presentations on Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) funding for irrigation, center pivot wheel track management, site-specific irrigation equipment, and remote monitoring and control of center pivots. The afternoon program will focus on irrigated corn production. Presentations will be on advances in corn breeding, irrigated corn management, feeding ethanol byproducts to beef cattle and selling corn to ethanol plants. The workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 19, is at the Civic Center in Beulah. This workshop is in response to the construction of ethanol plants in the area. The ethanol plants may increase interest in growing irrigated grain corn in the surrounding area. The workshop focuses on basic issues for successful irrigation development, such as available water resources, suitable soils for irrigation, the water permitting process, water quantity and quality requirements, irrigation financing options, basic irrigated corn production and corn contracts for ethanol. Preregister with the Mercer County Extension office at (701) 873-5195 before Dec. 15 so workshop organizers can get an accurate count of participants for the noon meal. Participants can register at the door at each workshop. Registration in Bismarck will begin about 8 a.m. and the registration fee is $20. The Beulah irrigation workshop has a $10 registration fee. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. For more information, visit the Web site at www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/upcoming.htm, contact any county office of the NDSU Extension Service or call Scherer at (701) 231-7239. ### Source: Tom
Scherer, (701) 231-7239, thomas.scherer@ndsu.edu |
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