Local ag producers learn how to better optimize their water usage.
Thursday's workshop at the North Platte Natural Resource District addressed water limiting issues and low-water-use crop options.
After an exceptionally dry year in 2012, ag producers have to be mindful of their allotments of water usage.
Currently, they are in the third year of a four year allocation ... and producers can only use 56 inches of water during that four year period.
"Most people did very well during that drought," says Ron Cacek of the N.R.D. "What do we have coming up this next year; this coming growing season? Nobody knows for sure."
Curtis Cloud with the Natural Resources Conservation Service talked this morning about state and federal programs available.
"Most people are well aware of subsurface drip irrigation," says Cloud. "They bury the drip tube in the ground. We also cost draw on above drip system. So if you have a vegetable production or something like that, you can have above ground drip as well."
The Panhandle Research and Extension Center has a free download to help ag producers optimize their water usage.
