Thursday, May 15, 2008

By SANDRA HANSEN
Ag Editor

The introduction of flow meters in the Natural Resources Districts has a lot of farmers upset because of the additional expense and resistance to monitoring their water usage. Dean Yonts, Extension engineer at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center, says they need to look at the situation differently.

"Flow meters are like gas gauges," Yonts said. "You want to know what your mileage is. The same thing applies to water. You should want to know how you're using your water."
According to Yonts, every producer should be concerned about how much of this limited resource he is using and/or consuming. Measuring water production tells a farmer if he is using enough water, or if he needs to apply more.

"The mechanism is there," Yonts said. "Besides knowing the total of what you're pumping, don't let the other information go to waste. Use it the best way you can."

Yonts said water users need to understand that there is a difference between on-farm and water shed efficiencies. A change in an irrigation system isn't necessarily going to save water.

He said the NRDs and state agencies are concerned with the watershed efficiencies, but farmers should be concerned first with their own operations and how much water they are saving or consuming.

"You have two different needs. The NRD is looking at the needs of the people, while the farmer is looking at the needs of his crop," Yonts said. "Either way, though, flow meters help."

Yonts cautions farmers to know if they are saving water or consuming water when they change their irrigation systems.

Furrow irrigation applies water to the soil and the crops, but returns water to the system through deep percolation and runoff. On the other hand, pivot irrigation may apply less water at one pass, but because it is easy to manage, more water could be applied before the season is over.

As an example, Yonts said a furrow irrigator at the end of the season would likely pick up his pipe and call it good. The pivot operator might have a bit of water left and decide to make one more round because it is easy to do. That could result in using more water than necessary.

Yonts said furrow irrigation has a 50 percent efficiency rate, while pivot has a 90 percent rating. As an example, the furrow irrigator might need to apply two inches to meet the needs of a crop that requires one inch. By going to a pivot system, a farmer could save .9 inch because he needs to only apply 1.1 inches.
"But what do you do with that saving?" Yonts asked. Some farmers might irrigate earlier to get the crop up in good shape. More frequent applications could be made because they are so easy to do with the pivots. This reduces stress on the plants, but is it contributing to savings?

Yonts said that if producers are not careful, they could actually use more water than they did before they changed irrigation systems.

"The part we need to understand," Yonts said, "is that the NRDs are looking at the watershed and how much water they can save. The individual farmer needs to know what he puts on and when.
"You really have to stress a crop to save water," Yonts explained. "A system conversion itself is not a water shed savings."

While individual farmers are making decisions on irrigation systems and how to make their water stretch, the deadline for flow meter installation in the North Platte Natural Resources District is just ahead.
The NPNRD's rules and regulations require permanent installation of flow meters on all regulated water wells within the overappropriated area of the District on or before May 1. The overappropriated area, designated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources in July 2004, is the area lying mostly within the North Platte Valley corridor through Scotts Bluff, Morrill, Garden, and southern Sioux counties, and the Pumpkin Creek Basin in Banner and Morrill counties.

According to North Platte NRD General Manager Ron Cacek, flow meters are an effective tool for sound ground water management. Metering can help irrigators determine if their irrigation system is operating effectively and also provide vital information about water use to the NRD. A certified NRD technician will begin reading flow meters and compiling water use data this summer.

"Metering will help quantify ground water use and set a baseline of use for the NRD," Cacek said. "This is a step toward protecting ground water supplies within the district."

Cacek said cost share assistance for the purchase of flow meters is still available. Meter brands that are eligible for cost-share are McCrometer, SeaMetrics, Geyser and Master Meter. Landowners are urged to contact their meter dealer as soon as possible to place orders and arrange for installation dates.

For full details about flow meter requirements, contact the North Platte NRD office at (308) 632-2749 or view the district website at http://www.npnrd.org/flowmeters.htm. To apply for flow meter cost-share, contact your local NRCS office or the North Platte NRD

By SANDRA HANSEN
Ag Editor

The introduction of flow meters in the Natural Resources Districts has a lot of farmers upset because of the additional expense and resistance to monitoring their water usage. Dean Yonts, Extension engineer at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center, says they need to look at the situation differently.
"Flow meters are like gas gauges," Yonts said. "You want to know what your mileage is. The same thing applies to water. You should want to know how you're using your water."
According to Yonts, every producer should be concerned about how much of this limited resource he is using and/or consuming. Measuring water production tells a farmer if he is using enough water, or if he needs to apply more.
"The mechanism is there," Yonts said. "Besides knowing the total of what you're pumping, don't let the other information go to waste. Use it the best way you can."
Yonts said water users need to understand that there is a difference between on-farm and water shed efficiencies. A change in an irrigation system isn't necessarily going to save water.
He said the NRDs and state agencies are concerned with the watershed efficiencies, but farmers should be concerned first with their own operations and how much water they are saving or consuming.
"You have two different needs. The NRD is looking at the needs of the people, while the farmer is looking at the needs of his crop," Yonts said. "Either way, though, flow meters help."
Yonts cautions farmers to know if they are saving water or consuming water when they change their irrigation systems.
Furrow irrigation applies water to the soil and the crops, but returns water to the system through deep percolation and runoff. On the other hand, pivot irrigation may apply less water at one pass, but because it is easy to manage, more water could be applied before the season is over.
As an example, Yonts said a furrow irrigator at the end of the season would likely pick up his pipe and call it good. The pivot operator might have a bit of water left and decide to make one more round because it is easy to do. That could result in using more water than necessary.
Yonts said furrow irrigation has a 50 percent efficiency rate, while pivot has a 90 percent rating. As an example, the furrow irrigator might need to apply two inches to meet the needs of a crop that requires one inch. By going to a pivot system, a farmer could save .9 inch because he needs to only apply 1.1 inches.
"But what do you do with that saving?" Yonts asked. Some farmers might irrigate earlier to get the crop up in good shape. More frequent applications could be made because they are so easy to do with the pivots. This reduces stress on the plants, but is it contributing to savings?
Yonts said that if producers are not careful, they could actually use more water than they did before they changed irrigation systems.
"The part we need to understand," Yonts said, "is that the NRDs are looking at the watershed and how much water they can save. The individual farmer needs to know what he puts on and when.
"You really have to stress a crop to save water," Yonts explained. "A system conversion itself is not a water shed savings."
While individual farmers are making decisions on irrigation systems and how to make their water stretch, the deadline for flow meter installation in the North Platte Natural Resources District is just ahead.
The NPNRD's rules and regulations require permanent installation of flow meters on all regulated water wells within the overappropriated area of the District on or before May 1. The overappropriated area, designated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources in July 2004, is the area lying mostly within the North Platte Valley corridor through Scotts Bluff, Morrill, Garden, and southern Sioux counties, and the Pumpkin Creek Basin in Banner and Morrill counties.
According to North Platte NRD General Manager Ron Cacek, flow meters are an effective tool for sound ground water management. Metering can help irrigators determine if their irrigation system is operating effectively and also provide vital information about water use to the NRD. A certified NRD technician will begin reading flow meters and compiling water use data this summer.
"Metering will help quantify ground water use and set a baseline of use for the NRD," Cacek said. "This is a step toward protecting ground water supplies within the district."
Cacek said cost share assistance for the purchase of flow meters is still available. Meter brands that are eligible for cost-share are McCrometer, SeaMetrics, Geyser and Master Meter. Landowners are urged to contact their meter dealer as soon as possible to place orders and arrange for installation dates.
For full details about flow meter requirements, contact the North Platte NRD office at (308) 632-2749 or view the district website at http://www.npnrd.org/flowmeters.htm. To apply for flow meter cost-share, contact your local NRCS office or the North Platte NRD