Latest Info, CEUs aAvailable Through Feb. 28 Oklahoma Irrigation Conference in Goodwell

By Donald Stotts

Irrigation efficiency will be one of many topics featured at the Feb. 28 Oklahoma Irrigation Conference in Goodwell. (Photo by Todd Johnson, OSU Agricultural Communications Services)

Southern Plains agricultural producers looking to get the most out of their water-use investment should register now to attend the Feb. 28 Oklahoma Irrigation Conference in Goodwell.

“Water is among the most important and in-demand resources in any state,” said Saleh Taghvaeian, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension water resources specialist. “Participants will not only have an opportunity to hear and interact with some of the region’s top experts but also to compare notes with participating producers and others in their career fields.”

Taking place at the Oklahoma Panhandle Research and Extension Center southeast of Highway 54, the Goodwell conference is essentially “one-stop shopping” where participants – be they certified applicators, agricultural producers or others – can receive the latest research-based insights and information about many irrigation-related subjects.

“We’ve worked closely with the Oklahoma Panhandle Agriculture and Irrigation Association in planning this year’s irrigation conference, and selected the topics for conference sessions based on the organization’s recommendations and needs,” Taghvaeian said.

The conference will kick off with coffee and donuts at 2:30 p.m., with sessions beginning at 3 p.m. and running through to a 6:20 p.m. dinner and business meeting of the Oklahoma Panhandle Agriculture and Irrigation Association. Registration is $15 per participant. Attendees are asked to pre-register no later than Feb. 18 to assist in the planning for refreshments, dinner and conference materials.

Registration forms are available online at http://oces.okstate.edu/caddo/oklahoma-irrigation-conference and through all OSU Cooperative Extension county offices.

Four Certified Crop Advisor continuing education units are being offered to attending certified professionals.

“Certified professionals need to keep written, supporting documentation for all continuing education activities and the conference is an excellent way to prove they are staying up to date on the latest practices, concerns and issues,” Taghvaeian said.

Conference sessions will focus on cotton production in the Oklahoma Panhandle, safety protocols for working with center-pivot irrigation systems, an introduction to industrial hemp production, irrigation pumping energy efficiency, irrigated sorghum, mobile drip irrigation and updates relative to Oklahoma Water Resources Board projects and Oklahoma Mesonet environmental monitoring.

Sessions will be led by scientists and specialists from OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension, and Kansas State University.

David Nowlin, Caddo County Extension director and agricultural educator, said the annual event has increasingly become recognized as the leading conference for irrigation information in the Texas Rolling Plains region and western Oklahoma.

“All levels of the agriculture industry – from local to national – have stepped in over the years to help support the annual conference,” Nowlin said. “We’ve also proven popular with state and regional media who recognize the value of reporting on the timely and relevant information presented at the conference. It’s one-stop shopping for them as well as producers.”

The Feb. 28 conference is sponsored by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and the Oklahoma Water Resources Center. Anyone seeking additional information about the conference should contact Nowlin by email at [email protected] or by phone at 405-247-3376.