PROGRAM INFORMATION

EQIP-GSWC: The 2007 funds have been allocated.  Should additional funds become available, we will continue to move down the application list for approvals.  Applications for 2008 funds can be taken anytime at your local NRCS office.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT GRANT: Application deadline is May 18.  this is grant money used for improving energy efficiencies.  This includes pivots and sub-surface drip systems when converting from gravity systems.  Also includes new pumps, well upgrades and pivot bridges.  Contact your local Rural Development office (the Tri-Basin NRD is covered by the office in Kearney located at the USDA Service Center).

NSWCP: Applications for cost-share assistance can be taken at your local NRCS office.  The next approval date for irrigation practice applications will be Sept. 11, 2007.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 28: Memorial Day (government offices closed)
June 4: CNPPID Board of Directors meeting, 9 AM
June 12: TBNRD Board of Directors meeting, 7:30 PM
June 26: CNPPID's 4-week delivery schedule begins
* Times are tentative

2007 Irrigation Records Reminder!!!

I would like to remind everyone of Irrigation Water Management (IWM) recordkeeping for crop year 2007. This applies to everyone who has received EQIP and NSWCP cost-share assistance for installing irrigation practices. These records are to be kept on the NE-ENG-80 form on the fields where irrigation practices were installed. This form is available from your local NRCS office. Records to be kept are Soil Moisture, ET, Applied Amounts, Flow Meter Readings and Rainfall. Crop Consultant forms or any other forms are acceptable provided the same information is recorded.

For NSWCP, the NE-ENG-80 forms were previously sent in a packet to the owners with their cost-share approval letters.

For EQIP, the NE-ENG-80 forms will be mailed to the producers in the near future. An Irrigation Scheduling Calendar will also be mailed out as an option.

Irrigation Water Management can help you manage your irrigation scheduling during the growing season. The 2007 season is starting off with a full soil moisture profile. Monitoring the soil moisture to determine when that first irrigation will be could play a large role this year in how much water is applied to the crop.

If you have any questions about IWM or need assistance getting started, call Curtis Scheele at 308-995-6121, Ext. 3.

ACROSS THE TRI-BASIN NRD

Tri-Basin Irrigator Up and Running in 2007:

Hello everyone! My name is Curtis Scheele, Water Management Specialist with the NRCS covering Gosper, Phelps, and Kearney counties. I am located in the Holdrege office (see address and phone below).

We are heading into the third year of this newsletter. The goal is to provide you with irrigation related information across the NRD. Hopefully, you will benefit from the information provided. It will again be sent bi-weekly during the irrigation season. This newsletter and archived copies will also be available on Central’s website, www.cnppid.com, and Tri-Basin NRD’s website, www.tribasinnrd.org.

Feel free to contact your local NRCS office or myself with comments and feedback. Are there other items you would like to see in the newsletter? Would you rather receive this newsletter via email? The addresses and phone numbers of your local NRCS offices will be listed on the backside of each issue. Have a safe 2007 irrigation season.

Stage of Growth:

Corn (Not Planted to Emergence stage): There is corn emerging. A lot of corn still needs planted.

Soybeans (Not Planted to Beginning Planting stage): There are a few planting soybeans right now.

Irrigation:

With all the ICE and RAIN this past winter, we are going into the season with a full soil moisture profile. Monitoring the soil moisture this year to determine when the first irrigation will start could play a large role in saving an irrigation or two. The result: making $4.00 corn feel more like $4.00 corn. - To aide in corn emergence, some pivots have already put on 0.3-0.5 inch of moisture to soften the crust created from the large rains a couple weeks ago and the hot dry weather that followed. On the gravity, some were rotary hoeing.

The water in the canals is natural flow water coming in downstream of Lake McConaughy. This will be shut off shortly. CNPPID is continuing to do their annual repairs and maintenance.

Lake McConaughy is at 38.4% capacity versus 42.1% a year ago. Flows on the North Platte River @ Lewellen are at 618 cfs versus 591 cfs a year ago. Flows on the South Platte River @ Roscoe are at 442 cfs versus 75 cfs a year ago.   You can track these flows on Central's web site.

Rainfall:
At the Tri-Basin NRD office in Holdrege, precipitation for April 2007 = 8.53” (Normal = 2.46”). Precipitation for year 2007 through April 30th = 12.52” (Normal = 4.98”).  The following rainfall amounts (inches) come from NeRAIN which can be found on Tri-Basin NRD's web site www.tribasinnrd.org.

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (ET) and GROWING DEGREE DAYS (GDD) INFORMATION – No data at this time

Additional ET Information Sites:

KRVN radio broadcasts
KRVN.com
Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District
Water Use Hotline: 1-800-993-2507

Check out these web sites:

"Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at will change." - Anonymous

If you would like to receive this newsletter via e-mail, or have any questions, comments or ideas, feel free to contact Curtis Scheele at the NRCS office in Holdrege or your local NRCS office at the addresses or phone numbers listed below.

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