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Contact Lyndon Kelley for all of your irrigation concerns: 269/467-5511
Upcoming Irrigation Meetings:
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 6/10/09, Climax 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
Irrigation Presentations Developed by Lyndon Kelley
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