NRD water conference to focus on climate, irrigation strategies

Thursday, February 5, 2009

CURTIS -- Local irrigators, producers, farm managers, agronomists and bankers are invited to attend the 23rd annual Southwest Nebraska Water Conference being held Thursday, March 5, 2009 at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds Community Building in McCook. Registration will begin at 9:00 AM with the first session starting at 9:30 AM.

This year's conference focuses on the many special projects and initiatives undertaken in the last two years to address groundwater management in the district. These projects, which leveraged over $3.1 million basin-wide, include: surface water buyout, Acreage Retirement Program, the Western Republican River Riparian project, and a Republican River Augmentation Appraisal Study. In addition, the Conference will feature presentations on water balance studies, climate of the Republican River Basin and strategies for irrigating in drought conditions.

The University of Nebraska -- Lincoln, University of Nebraska's West Central Research and Extension Center, Frontier County Extension, Southwest Weed Management Area, National Drought Mitigation Center and the Middle Republican NRD will talk about climate trends, water balance studies and irrigation strategies in drought conditions to better balance the use of groundwater with our prevailing climate.

District producers Mark Heskett and Kent Weskamp will be honored as the recipients of the 2008 Middle Republican NRD Outstanding Tree Planter Award and Honor Conservation Award respectively.

Coffee and breakfast rolls will be provided by Ag Valley Coop. Lunch will be provided by the Middle Republican NRD and exhibitors for all who attend. Sponsors for this year's conference are Frontier County Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, The Republican River Water Conservation and Education Coalition and the Middle Republican NRD.

The following have been invited to exhibit during the conference: Ag Valley Coop, Great Plains Meter, Senninger Irrigation, Southwest Implement & Reinke, Valley Pro, Moorhous Irrigation & Supply, Olsen's Agricultural Laboratory, Nebraska Forest Service, and the Middle Republican NRD.

The Southwest Nebraska Water Conference began in 1987 as a means to educate irrigators who had water quality problems. During the lawsuit with Kansas, the conference served to update people on the progress of the lawsuit. In the coming years, the conference aims to educate producers on integrated management, bringing to the table the combination of information and practical application suggestions that irrigators and professionals can implement in their businesses.

Contact the Middle Republican NRD at (800) 873-5613 for more information.

rlawson@mrnrd.org

www.mrnrd.org

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