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2022 Webinar Series

Basics of Fertigation/Chemigation & Regulatory Impacts

Jacob LaRue, PE, Independent Irrigation Consultant
Learn the fundamentals of fertigation/chemigation and the situations that are best suited for its use. This session will also cover regulatory and sustainability (economic and environmental) considerations. Explore the hardware and equipment needed to apply with center pivot and liner systems and the potential impact fertigation/chemigation has on irrigation systems, such as chemical interactions, nozzle plugging and the potential of corrosion of center pivot pipelines.
 

Fertigation/Chemigation Application Based on Data

Jacob LaRue, PE, Independent Irrigation Consultant
Building upon the Basics of Fertigation/Chemigation and Regulatory Impacts session, dive into the actual application process and the steps needed for successful implementation, including initial planning through post-application. Explore the needs, techniques, materials and calculations for both fertigation and chemigation used for weeds, insects and diseases. This session will also cover methods of monitoring to determine the need for application using field scouting, remote sensing and previous year yield maps.
 

Introduction to Pumps

Bill Green, Center for Irrigation Technology, and Kaomine Vang, Center for Irrigation Technology
This live, interactive webinar will focus on basic irrigation pump information, including pump types, types of impellers, overall pump efficiency, operating conditions, pump curves, electricity rate comparisons and cost to move water. Flow, pressure and the HPIN equation will all be highlighted. The Center for Irrigation Technology’s Mobile Education Center dynamic pump display will be used to do live demonstrations of pump efficiency, changing flow and pressures, variable versus stable pumping water levels, and how worn pumps affect performance.
 

Introduction to VFDs

Bill Green, Center for Irrigation Technology, and Kaomine Vang, Center for Irrigation Technology
Building on the Introduction to Pumps, this session will include a live demonstration of how variable frequency drives (VFD) work and how they can affect efficiency and pump operating conditions to improve energy efficiency, irrigation system control and performance, while also saving money versus pressure-regulating valves. The Center for Irrigation Technology’s Mobile Education Center will show soft starts, variable pumping water levels, and maintaining system output and pressure to match irrigation system requirements while improving the cost to move water.
 

IoT, Edge-Computing & Deep Learning in Agriculture

Xin Qiao, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
This session will discuss emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), edge computation and deep learning in practical agricultural applications. An on-farm research and extension network that utilizes such technologies in irrigation management, disease and plant health monitoring, and flow meter monitoring in western Nebraska will be discussed. This session will also talk about challenges when implementing these technologies and potential solutions in the future.
 

Panel Discussion: Irrigation Industry Hiring Trends & Needs

Ashley Black, Talent Acquisition and Organizational Development Manager, Senninger; Christine Cottrell, Talent Acquisition, Lindsay Corporation; Patrick Koop, PHR, Human Resources, Jain Distribution Holdings; and Theresa Parra, SPHR, People and Development, Netafim
Join an insightful panel discussion on the characteristics, experiences and skill sets that agricultural irrigation manufacturers are looking for in new hires. Hear directly from hiring representatives on the trends and needs they are seeing in the profession and how you as an educator can best position your students for a lucrative career in the irrigation industry.
 

2021 Webinar Series

Innovations in Surface Irrigation & Conveyance Systems

Darren Fillmore, PE, SWIIM System Ltd.
This session will cover the state of the art of surface irrigation and irrigation distribution systems, including how water accounting is helping to modernize gravity-fed irrigation in the 21st century. Learn about the benefits, challenges and future of these irrigation systems and distribution networks.
 

Navigating Through Different Irrigation Scheduling Tools

Jonathan Aguilar, PhD, PE, Kansas State University
Irrigation scheduling is at the heart of the irrigation management that can make any system effective or a failure. This session will focus on the basics of irrigation scheduling and discuss the different tools available. It will compare the tools against each other with an emphasis on the pros and cons, as well special considerations. The goal of this session is to equip attendees on how to navigate through the process of selecting irrigation scheduling tools widely available for the public.
 

Nursery & Greenhouse Irrigation

Steve McCoon, CID, CLIA, Nelson Irrigation Corp.
Nursery and greenhouse irrigation is perhaps the most diverse application in irrigated agriculture due to the large variety of plants and growing conditions. Learn how irrigation designers use different products and methods to meet the needs of various greenhouse, field-grown and container-grown nursery plants.
 

Preparing Students for the Industry Panel

Tyler Fields, Valmont Industries; Theresa Parra, Netafim; and Sahil Sharma, Lindsay Corporation
This panel discussion will identify the skills needed for an ideal job applicant and what industry recruiters are looking for in their next hire. Learn what challenges and obstacles students are facing as they enter the profession and how you can best prepare them for a meaningful career in the green industry.
 

Soil Salinity: An Old Problem With Modern Solutions

AJ Brown, Irrigation Innovation Consortium/Colorado State University
Salts exist in all natural waters and will inevitably accumulate in soils where water evapotranspiration amounts exceed amounts applied through irrigation and precipitation. It is estimated that nearly 5,000 acres are taken out of production every day worldwide due to salinization and sodification, resulting in an annual loss of $27.3 billion U.S. dollars. These economic and environmental issues will only be magnified as intensive and deficit irrigation around the world continues to expand due to precipitation variability caused by climate change. This presentation focuses on the basics of soil salinity management and also showcases some of the most modern technologies and approaches to this all too common issue.
 

Virtual Tour of the Center for Irrigation Technology

Bill Green, Center for Irrigation Technology, and Kaomine Vang, Center for Irrigation Technology
Tune in to a live tour of the CIT facilities! The tour will give a broad overview of what CIT does. The tour will begin at the Water and Energy Technology Hydraulic Lab, move into the Water and Energy Technology Incubator offices and facilities, and conclude with a short demonstration of the educational capabilities of the Advanced Pumping Efficiency Program utilizing the Pump Mobile Education Center.