Water conference looks at new issues, technologies

CURTIS -- With the constant stream of issues and new technologies dealing with water today, it's hard to keep track of it all. That is the theme of the 2008 Southwest Nebraska Water Conference, "Making Cent$ of Every Drop … "

"Making Cent$ of Every Drop … " is a conference geared toward area producers and business people looking for a greater understanding of what's going on in the Republican River Basin today. The workshop will be Wednesday, March 5, at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds Community Building in McCook. Registration will open at 8:30 a.m., with sessions running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST; the conference is free and no pre-registration is necessary.

Issues regarding the current status of the Republican River Basin will be addressed by Dan Smith and Robert Merrigan, manager and assistant manager, respectively, of the Middle Republican Natural Resources District.

The future of the basin will also be a topic, with several speakers focusing on new programs and technologies.

Mike Petersen of Orthman Manufacturing Inc., is slated to speak about the ongoing developments in irrigation. Petersen is a Precision Tillage Agronomist whose company firmly believes in farming with the strip-till system, implementing wiser management of fertilizers, timing of tillage and fertility, and water timing for the "biggest bang for each inch applied." Also on hand to discuss irrigation will be Derrel Martin of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with his presentation "Water Management Alternatives with Rapidly Changing Commodity and Energy Prices." UNL Extension Educator Steve Melvin's focus will be soil moisture monitoring, and a cost share program now available for area producers to obtain this equipment.

The development of a drought decision portal will highlight the conference's afternoon sessions.

Water resources scientist Cody Knutson and climatologist Mark Svoboda, both of the National Drought Mitigation Center, plan to inform attendees about an ongoing project in the Republican River Basin that would allow producers access to forecasts, impacts, research and response options via the Internet.

The Red Willow County NRCS Office will provide coffee, snack and lunch for conference attendees. Sponsors for the 2008 conference are Red Willow County and Frontier County Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, The Republican River Water Conservation and Education Coalition and the Middle Republican NRD.

Exhibitors include: Southwest Implement and Reinke Irrigation, Valley Pro Irrigation, Senninger Irrigation, Inc., Great Plains Meter, Inc., Ace Irrigation and Manufacturing, Moorhous Irrigation and Supply, Corey Irrigation and Subsurface Drip Tape, Orthman Manufacturing Inc., and Toro Micro Irrigation.

"For the past 20 years we have tried to bring relevant information to the producers with this conference," MRNRD Manager Dan Smith said.

"Whether the issues be water quality, water quantity, or as in the last few years integrated management, it has always been our goal to provide a clear and unbiased picture of today's issues."

Contact Roger Lawson at the Middle Republican NRD, (800) 873-5613, with questions.