LINCOLN, Neb. — The Irrigation Water Management Lab at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center is helping western Nebraska farmers make more informed irrigation decisions through on-farm testing of emerging technology. Its Mobile Irrigation Testing (MIT) Lab works directly with producers to evaluate tools such as soil moisture sensors, satellite-based crop monitoring and irrigation scheduling platforms under real-world field conditions.
With support from Nebraska Extension, the Twin Platte Natural Resources District and irrigation technology companies, the lab helps farmers determine when to irrigate based on data from technology rather than guesswork. Participating farmers have reduced irrigation frequency while maintaining productivity, saving approximately 2.5 inches of water during the growing season through more efficient irrigation management.
Nebraska producers have access to the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the nation’s most important groundwater resources, allowing them to irrigate crops when needed. However, as groundwater supplies face increasing challenges in states such as Texas and Kansas, Nebraska producers have an opportunity to demonstrate proactive management of their water resources…