YOUR AD HERE »

NDSU to hold irrigation workshops

The workshops are set for Dec. 8 in Bismarck and Dec. 15 in Williston.

Producers will have an opportunity to improve their irrigation management at workshops the North Dakota State University Extension Service is holding Dec. 8 in Bismarck and Dec. 15 in Williston.

“After a dry May and June, most farmers in the southern two-thirds of North Dakota were fortunate to receive well-distributed rainfall for the growing season, but the northern tier of the state received above-average rain that caused many problems,” says Extension agricultural engineer Tom Scherer, who helped organize the workshops. “Yet some areas of the state experienced drought conditions during the growing season, and having the ability to irrigate produced a substantial difference in yields.”



He adds that irrigation provides more consistent crop production on a year-to-year basis, allows producers to grow longer-season crops, diversifies the farm enterprise and provides a consistent supply of forage for animal operations.

The workshops will focus on improved irrigation management technologies.



The workshop on Thursday, Dec. 8, is in the Grand Pacific Room at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck. It will be held in conjunction with the North Dakota Water Users Association convention. NDSU Extension and the North Dakota Irrigation Association are sponsoring the workshop.

An irrigation exposition for suppliers to display their products and services will be held at the same time. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and workshop presentations will start at 8:30 a.m. The registration fee of $30 (payable at the door) includes lunch.

The morning session will include:

Updates on research and new developments at NDSU’s Nesson Valley and Oakes irrigation research sites

An update from the North Dakota State Water Commission on water topics important to irrigators

Presentations on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for agricultural production

A presentation on the master plan for irrigation along the McClusky Canal

The North Dakota Irrigation Association will hold its annual meeting in the same room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The highlight of the afternoon session will be a presentation on features added to the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN). The other afternoon presentations will be on:

Soil moisture measurement

NDSU soil health program

Irrigation scheduling tools

The workshop on Thursday, Dec. 15, is in the Ernie French Building at the NDSU Williston Research Extension Center just west of Williston on U.S. Highway 2. The program begins at 9 a.m. with coffee and rolls. Presentations will start at 9:30 a.m. The event is free of charge.

For more information, contact Scherer at 701-231-7239 or thomas.scherer@ndsu.edu.

–NDSU Extension