OSU initiating Mastor Irrigator Program

Oklahoma State University has initiated a Master Irrigator Program to provide advanced training on irrigation water management, irrigation equipment maintenance, energy conservation, water conservation and economics of irrigated agriculture. The program includes classroom training, peer-to-peer exchange of information between producers, field demonstrations and freeof-charge services to participants such as energy and irrigation application efficiency audits through mobile irrigation laboratories. Additional incentives include a $2,000 reimbursement on purchase of soil moisture sensors and possible rankings for EQIP. This funding is provided by the Oklahoma Water Resource Board as well as Oklahoma Conservation Commission. The instructors include extension specialists, irrigation specialists, and economists from OSU and adjoining states, producers, crop consultants and NRCS personnel. The training will be provided over the course of four days spread across four weeks. The dates of the program are Jan. 19, Jan. 26, Feb. 2, and Feb. 9 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. each day. The

participant is required to attend all the meetings and scheduled talks to qualify for the incentives.

Use of irrigation scheduling tools to manage irrigation water application can increase water productivity but with less capital cost than installation of new irrigation systems. However, use of irrigation scheduling technologies and tools, such as soil moisture sensors and/or crop growth model-based irrigation schedulers, require advanced knowledge to apply effectively. Prior research in the High Plains region found that using precision irrigation scheduling increased water productivity by 25 percent compared to conventional irrigation application. This was achieved with a 10 percent reduction in water use and a 13 percent yield increase. This suggests that adoption of precision irrigation management could reduce water demand by 76,000 acre-feet/year statewide without impacting, and potentially increasing, productivity. The overall goal of the program is to facilitate improved water use efficiency and farm income via increased farmer adoption of advanced water management strategies and technologies.

To register for this program, the potential participants are requested to use this link:

https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/master-irrigator/index.html and follow the instructions. The registration fee is $100 per participant. Lunch and snacks will be provided during the program. Also, handouts of the presentation will be provided to each participant. For more information please contact Sumit Sharma at sumit.sharma@okstate.edu or at 580-349-5440.