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St. Joseph County Extension
612 E. Main St
Centreville, Michigan
49032
United States

Email Address: msue.stjoseph@county.msu.edu
Phone: 269-467-5511
Fax: 269-467-5641
 
Irrigation

 Contact Lyndon Kelley for all of your irrigation concerns:  269/467-5511

Upcoming Irrigation Meetings:

Managing Irrigated Corn, February 18, 19, 2010, Goshen, Plymouth, South Bend or Wanatah, Indiana.

Irrigation Resources (intended for both Indiana and Michigan unless otherwise noted)

Michigan Rainfall by Dr. Bill Northcott

Irrigation Scheduling - Tools that are available

MSU Agricultural Climatologist Dr. Jeff Andresen and MSU Bio-Systems Engineering Agricultural Water Use Specialist Steven Miller have developed a web based irrigation scheduling system that downloads rainfall and solar radiation data directly from the Michigan Agricultural Weather Network (MAWN).  The system is entirely web based, field data is entered and retrieved in a password protected user id system.  There is no charge for the use of this system.  The initial field setup requires a latitude and longitude for the field to be able to pull weather data from the most local weather station.  Accuracy of the system still relies on collecting and entering rainfall information from rain guages placed in the fields.  The program has the ability to generate the MDA water use reporting form at the end of the season.  Be sure to write down and keep track of your user id, password and field id's.

MSU Irrigation Scheduler (Ver 4.0)   updated (04-20-2006)

Minnesota Checkbook Method

Customizable Excel Version:

MSU Excel Version of the Irrigation Scheduler

2009 System Evaluation Results: Marion site 6/10/09Climax site 6/26/09, Climax Percent Timer Evaluation 6/26/09

2008 System Evaluation Results: New Paris, IN site 7/1/08, Schoolcraft site 6/4/08 arm extended, Schoolcraft site 6/4/08 arm in

2007 System Evaluation Results: Cass County 6/15/07, Pinney Purdue 7/12/07, Schoolcraft 7/16/07 and Tekonsha 8/1/07.  Note: The Pinney Purdue results are not accurate due to windy conditions on day of evaluation.

Other Irrigation Scheduling Programs:

The Michiana Irrigation Scheduler Program was developed jointly by MSU and Purdue Universities in the early 1990's.  The program can be used to schedule irrigation but does not use solar radiation from weather station and is somewhat more limited in ability to adjust soil moisture levels during the growing season.  To download the program onto your computer, you can go to the Purdue University Web Site listed below:

Michiana Irrigation Scheduler

Water Use Reporting for Michigan Producers

The following is a brief summary of water use reporting as it relates to agriculture.

General Information:

  • The need to report is based on having the combined capacity to pump 100,000 gallons per day (70 gallons per minute).  This means all the capacities of wells under the control of one operator are added together to determine if they are required to report.
  • Water use reporting will impact virtually all irrigators that do not use a municipal water supply; including greenhouses, nurseries and golf courses.
  • Water use reporting will impact many medium- to large-livestock producers and may impact larger farm operations that have several wells at various sites that are used solely for human consumption and necessities.

2008 Changes to Water Use Legislation 

Farmers report to MDA:

Michigan Right to Farm Act Irrigation GAAMP's

Irrigation Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices March 2008

Irrigation Costs: Estimating Annual Irrigation Costs (click on title for fact sheet)

160 Acre Center Pivot

40 Acre Center Pivot

Corner Arm System

Two Circle Towable System

Traveler System

Spreadsheet to determine capital investment prepared by Roger Betz, District Farm Educator

Irrigation Resources Developed by Lyndon Kelley

Michigan Large Volume Water Use Requirements #9
Trickle Irrigation in the Eastern United States
Trickle Irrigation for Home Gardens
Good Agricultural Practices - Summary of Guidance on Irrigation Water Quality, August 2009 working copy
How to Get More Out of Your Irrigation System
Harvesting Irrigation Cover Crops as Forage 5/22/09 News Release in cooperation with Dale Mutch
Irrigation Crop-Share or Crop-Share/Cash Farm Lease
Irrigation Crop-Share and Cash Rental Arrangements for Your Farm
Aspects of Irrigation Land Lease Options
Estimating Soil Moisture by Feel and Appearance
Michigan Well Driller List
Michigan Well Code
Michigan Registration for New Agricultural Withdrawals  
Michigan Irrigation GAAMPs Presentation 12/07
Percent Timer Estimator Excel Worksheet 
Using Chemigation Safely and Effectively (E-2099)
Calibrating Irrigation Equipment
Irrigation Calibration Results Letter for Groundwater Stewardship
Indiana Distribution Basics Powerpoint
Indiana Water Souce Irrigation Powerpoint
Irrigation Tools for Stewardship 3.4.07 Powerpoint
Irrigation Application Record Form
Water Use Requirements - Kelley 2-21-07 MI
Evaluating Irrigation System Uniformity
Irrigation Legislation PA177 148 overview - Kelley MI
Irrigation System Uniformity Standard - Kelley
Measuring Well Water Levels EC-1368
Methods of Estimating Water Use for Swine Operations
MSUE Irrigation System Evaluation Tool-Center Pivot - Kelley
MSUE Irrigation System Evaluation Tool-Linear - Kelley and MacKellar
Reducing and Avoiding Irrigation Runoff - Kelley
Water Use Facts
Irrigation Tools for Stewardship - Kelley
Water Use for Beef Farms in Michigan
Water Use for Swine Operations in Michigan
Water Use for Dairy Farms (100 head or less) in Michigan
Water Use for Dairy Farms (1,000 head or more) in Michigan
 
 
 Irrigation Water Management to Protect Ag Resources

 Irrigation Presentations Developed by Lyndon Kelley

Irrigation Scheduling Overview & Tools - Bill Northcott, 6/26/09
Irrigation Management Practices - Kelley 6/8/09
Managing Irrigation Water 2/09
Chemigation and Fertigation 1/09
Irrigation Energy Options
Irrigation Equipment Options
Water Sources for Irrigation - Kelley
2008 Water Use Requirements for Michigan

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St. Joseph County Calendar
Day List View Weekly Grid View Monthly Grid View Yearly View Click here to select a date    Search Event

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Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat/Sun
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Event 2010 MI Corn & Soybean Research and Pest Mgm. Meeting
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Event Overcoming the Barriers to Higher Soybean Yields (A Soybean ...
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Event RUP Training/Testing
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Event PQA - Branch County Farmer's Day
Event Farmers Day
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Event State Bean & Beet Symposium
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Event Managing Irrigated Corn
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Start 708 - 4-H Veterinary Science Teen & Adult Volunteer Leader W...
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Start 709 - 4-H Beef, Sheep & Swine Teen & Adult Volunteer Leader ...
End 708 - 4-H Veterinary Science Teen & Adult Volunteer Leader W...
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End 709 - 4-H Beef, Sheep & Swine Teen & Adult Volunteer Leader ...
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Michiana Irrigation Assoc.

Michiana Irrigation Association Board for 2010

Phil Donahoe - President
Mike Morehouse - Vice-President
Ben Russell- Secretary/Treasurer
Todd Zook 
Kyle Mead
Albert Stutzman
Tom Frank
Dan Ganger
Jeremy Walker

2010 Board meeting dates:  March 5, June 4 and August 6. 

Become a new member of the Michiana Irrigation Association

Take a few minutes to fill out our survey.  Thank you

MIA Newsletter:  November 2009, August 2009, January 2009, October 2008June 2008 

Michiana Irrigation Association By-laws

Affliated member of the Irrigation Association

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NRCS Training Materials
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