March 1, 2022
Irrigation, water management schools planned for 2022
By the U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- Three Multiple Inlet Rice Irrigation and surge/sensor schools scheduled; additional classes held on request
- No cost to attend; supplies available for purchase
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STUTTGART, Ark. – The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture irrigation team will host a series of irrigation and water management schools for Arkansas producers seeking to reduce their water use in 2022.
“The schools are small groups with short instruction periods and include practical exercises,” said Chris Henry, associate professor and water management engineer for the Division of Agriculture.
Three Surge and Soil Moisture Sensor Schools are currently scheduled, but instructors will offer additional schools upon request. The schools will cover use, layout and programming of surge valves for different soil types and conditions and will provide participants with the basics of soil moisture sensors, as well as instruction on how to use them to schedule irrigation. Participants will make a set of Watermark™ sensors, a slide hammer installation tool and a manual reader, which are needed to properly install soil moisture sensors. Instructors will demonstrate how to properly use and program Surge Valves through hands-on exercises.
Surge and Soil Moisture Sensor schools each run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. They will be held at the following dates and locations:
- March 8 – Jonesboro – Craighead County Extension Office, 611 East Washington Ave., Jonesboro, AR 72401. To register, contact Branon Thiesse or Chris Grimes at 870-933-4565, or Russ Parker at 870-636-1329.
- March 10 – Colt – Pine Tree Experiment Station, 7337 AR-306, Colt, AR 72326. To register, contact Rick Wimberley at 870-238-5745, Jenna Martin at 870-261-1730, or Russ Parker at 870-636-1329.
- March 15 – Stuttgart – Rice Research and Extension Center, 2900 AR-130, Stuttgart, AR 72160. To register, contact Grant Beckwith 870-673-0070, Phil Horton at 870-659-2058, or Russ Parker at 870-636-1329.
Registration for the school is free. If a participant wants to build the sensors, those supplies cost $500. Registration is required two days before the scheduled school. The cost covers four sensors, a slide hammer installation tool and a manual reader. Industry sponsors have provided a significant discount on the supplies needed to get started with sensors so that participants can get the tools needed to use sensors effectively for irrigation.
“The school is designed for those that want to use sensors in 2022,” Henry said. “We will prepare participants with all of the items needed so they can walk out the door and install and use sensors on their farm.”
The number of participants for each school is limited to 20 people. To have a school hosted in your area, contact your county extension office.
The Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and the Natural Resource Conservation Service support the school.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
@RKHall_