North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service
No. 173, April 1999
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/snouts
Greetings
New Center Pivot for Research at Carrington
North Dakota Irrigation Caucus
Chemigation: Laws and Equipment
This past winter, more political and organizational activity has taken place concerning irrigation in North Dakota than has occurred in the last 10 years. In December, the new North Dakota Irrigation Caucus was formed to address concerns regarding irrigation development. A new center pivot will be installed this spring at the Carrington Research Extension Center for intensive irrigation research. Several bills dealing with irrigation were introduced during the 1999 North Dakota Legislative session. Articles on the North Dakota Irrigation Caucus and the new pivot at Carrington are included in this issue of Water Spouts. Articles about the legislative activity will have to wait until the session is complete.
This issue of Water Spouts begins the 27th year that this irrigation newsletter has been sent to you, the irrigators in North Dakota. The NDSU Irrigation Task Force of which I am chairman selects the topics for articles in Water Spouts. The Task Force comprises the following individuals:
Tom Scherer, Extension Agricultural Engineer
Aung Hla, Extension Area Irrigation Specialist
Duane Berglund, Extension Agronomist
Bob Henson, Assistant Agronomist, Carrington R/E Center
Richard Greenland, Supervisor, Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Dean Steele, Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Dwight Aakre, Extension Agricultural Economist
Dave Franzen, Extension Soils Specialist
Bruce Seelig, Extension Water Quality Specialist
Kevin Sedivec, Extension Rangeland Management Specialist
Rudy Radke, Extension Area Agriculture Diversification Specialist
Dave Hopkins, Assistant Professor, Soil Science Department
Larry Cihacek, Associate Professor, Soil Science Department
Dale Siebert, Extension Agent, Richland County
At the end of each Water Spouts article, the author's name, phone number and email address (if the author has one) are listed. If you have any questions about any article, please contact the author by whichever means is convenient. If you prefer, contact me and I will help you. If you want to look at past issues of Water Spouts, they are available on the Internet at the address shown at the top of this newsletter (under the pumps).
Tom Scherer, (701) 231-7239
Extension Agricultural Engineer
tscherer@ndsuext.nodak.edu
A new two-tower center pivot irrigation system covering approximately 10 acres will be installed this spring at the Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC). The irrigation system will have a 373-ft radius, a capacity of 200 gallons per minute (about 1 inch application per day), and manual control of individual sprinklers. The capacity of 20 gpm/acre per day is much larger than for typical systems but will allow us to individualize the irrigation schedules for several crops.
The objectives of this year's research are:
Research personnel from North Dakota State University involved in the project include:
Blaine Schatz, project leader and Director of the CREC
Chiwon Lee, vegetable crop research
Jim Lorenzen, potato research;
Ken Grafton, dry edible bean breeding
Tom Scherer, Extension irrigation engineer
Aung Hla, Extension area irrigation specialist
Dean Steele, irrigation engineer.
Funds for operating and personnel support for the 1999 and 2000 growing seasons will come from the Alternative Crops Program of the NDSU Experiment Station.
The figure below shows an example arrangement of irrigation water management zones and crop locations. Small plots within each crop and irrigation water management zone will be used to study management practices such as nitrogen fertility levels. By placing different crops in different irrigation zones and controlling the irrigation system accordingly, we can irrigate individual crops according to their specific needs. For example, we will be able to irrigate dry edible beans according to a schedule that is independent of the schedule for potatoes. This crop-specific approach to irrigation will allow us to develop better management recommendations than if we irrigated the aggregate of all crops together. In addition, controlling the water appropriately will provide better disease control.
The Carrington Research Extension Center welcomes visitors interested in this research project. The Center is located 3½ miles north of Carrington on Highway 281. Contact either of us for more information on this project.
Dean Steele, (701) 231-7268
NDSU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
steele@plains.nodak.edu
Blaine Schatz, (701) 652-2951
Director, Carrington Research/Extension Center
bschatz@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Interest in irrigation is popping up all over the state. Low prices for traditional crops have visionary irrigators seeking to turn a profit by producing high-value crops like potatoes and sugarbeets. But taking full advantage of this prime opportunity to diversify isn't something that can be done alone. Irrigation enhancements including favorable financing and loan programs, research, strategic planning, and financial assistance are necessary to fuel economic growth for North Dakota.
That's where the newly formed North Dakota Irrigation Caucus comes in. Irrigation areas and projects in the state, along with irrigation suppliers and other interested parties, have joined together to bring support and ideas to the table.
"So many things are going on in irrigation, but without a united voice advocating those interests. The Irrigation Caucus hopes to fulfill that need," North Dakota Water Users Executive Vice President Mike Dwyer said.
The Irrigation Caucus chose to be part of the North Dakota Water Users Association, a non-profit organization that has been promoting development and management of the state's water resources since 1959. By doing so, Dwyer said the Irrigation Caucus has given itself instant credibility and resources to carry out its mission of "expanding irrigation to build and diversify our economy." Goals of the Caucus include securing federal hydropower for irrigation projects and districts, federal and state funding, favorable financing for irrigators and irrigation districts, agricultural marketing and processing, education, and research.
In 1998, 235,000 acres of land were irrigated in North Dakota, ranking the state last among the 17 Western states. Montana irrigated an impressive two million acres last year and is looking to increase that another half million over the next several years. North Dakota has sufficient amounts of quality ground water and river water sources to sustainably irrigate 600,000 acres.
Irrigators are eager to tap into those resources, especially along the Missouri River. "We have one of the largest rivers in the North American hemisphere running by our doorstep and we're not utilizing it," said Herb Grenz, Irrigation Caucus chairman and Horsehead Flats Irrigation Project farmer. "We are looking for some assistance to take advantage of the opportunities before us."
Potatoes have been the irrigated crop in the spotlight lately. High demand for frozen French fries is the force behind increased acreage. Potato acreage in 1998 was more than 35,000 acres, triple the amount that was grown just a decade ago.
AVIKO U.S.A., a Netherlands-based potato processing plant in Jamestown, and Simplot, with a potato processing plant in Grand Forks, are driving the need for increased irrigation close to home. These plants want the quality, uniformity and stability found only in potatoes grown under irrigation.
"The quality of potatoes coming out of this area is far superior to any in other parts of the country this year," Steve Galbraith, AVIKO field manager, said. "There is great potential for North Dakota to be the next large growing area for potato processing." AVIKO is doing a feasibility study on doubling its capacity to produce nine to nine-and-a-half million hundred weights of potatoes, requiring about 26,000 acres of irrigated land under contract. "We are going to be looking for farmers within a 200-mile radius of the plant to fill those contracts," Galbraith said.
Simplot is also expanding, with plans to produce 10 million hundred weights of potatoes, up one million hundred weights from 1998. Holly Sugar in Sidney, Montana is working on a two-phase expansion, from 38,800 acres of sugarbeets to 70,000 acres, upon completion of the second phase. This offers farmers in northwest North Dakota even more incentive to irrigate their crops.
"Irrigation and a market go hand in hand," Dwyer said. "Since we have emerging markets, it only makes sense for the state to include irrigation as one of its priorities. It's the best economic development opportunity out there."
The Irrigation Caucus is hoping to get funding for irrigation at both the state and federal level. The caucus identifies low-cost financing as an additional necessity for irrigation investment. What can farmers afford to pay for their irrigation systems? With irrigated potatoes, which must be rotated every three years to prevent disease, a farmer could afford a capital investment of up to $1,000 per irrigated acre for the irrigation system. If potatoes are not in the crop rotation, maximum capital investment for the irrigation system should be about $700 per irrigated acre.
Farmers are working together to form irrigation districts, increasing the ability to secure favorable financing. The Central Dakota Irrigation District is three years old and has 50 members from Kidder, Stutsman and Logan counties. The 15,000-acre development contracts potatoes to AVIKO, and also grows beans, wheat, corn, canola, and alfalfa. The district is seeing a significant impact on local economies.
"Unlike most rural areas, Kidder County development is intense. CRP land is coming out for production, and even absentee landowners are developing their land for irrigation and reinvesting money back into North Dakota," said Bill Van Ray of Pettibone, a farmer in the Central Dakota Irrigation District.
The thirst for irrigation development has been at the pulse of North Dakota for well over a century. But in this time of farm crisis, farmers are looking past breadbasket tradition and changing with the times. With the number of farms decreasing, cost of living increasing and small-town economies suffering, irrigation could be the answer to revitalize rural areas. The Irrigation Caucus hopes to be there every step of the way. If you are interested in joining the North Dakota Irrigation Caucus, please give me a call or send an Email.
Tahni Cullen, (701) 223-4615
North Dakota Water Users
h2oeditor@btigate.com
Chemigation is the process by which chemicals, including pesticides and fertilizers, are applied to land and crops through an irrigation system. In North Dakota, the Commissioner of Agriculture has promulgated regulations concerning proper chemigation procedures under authority of chapter 4-35.1 of the Century Code. Under this law the commissioner was given authority to establish rules for proper chemigation equipment, perform on-farm inspections in cooperation with the state engineer, and establish methods of enforcement with penalties.
Chemigation can be a very cost-effective way to apply some pesticides and fertilizers to a crop. Of course, pesticides have to be labeled to be applied through an irrigation system. The injection of chemicals into a pipeline can pose a serious risk to the local environment and groundwater if safety measures are not followed. State law requires the following equipment to be installed on an irrigation system if chemicals are applied through that system:
1. An antisiphon device. There are several allowable antisiphon devices. One of the following must be installed:
2. An inspection port. An inspection port of at least 4 inches in diameter must be provided to check for malfunctioning of the antisiphon device. If the air gap is used, the system is exempt from the requirement of an inspection port.
3. A correct chemical injection port location. The chemical injection port location into the irrigation water line must be down stream from the antisiphon device.
4. Backflow prevention. Backflow prevention in the chemical line must be a spring loaded, chemically resistant check valve having a minimum opening pressure of 10 pounds per square inch (PSI). It must be located at the injection port of the irrigation system.
5. A pressure sensor in the irrigation water line. A functional pressure sensor switch must be located on the irrigation water line. This device must shut down the injection pump in the event that water flow stops.
6. An interlock device. The irrigation pumping plant and chemical injection unit must have a functional interlocking mechanism that will shut off the chemical injection unit if the irrigation pump shuts down. The interlocking mechanism can be mechanical, such as a belt drive injection pump, or electrical.
7. A chemical injection pump. The chemical injection pump must constructed of materials that are resistant to the chemicals being injected into the irrigation system. It must be designed to prevent leakage and it must have the ability to be calibrated for accurate chemical metering.
Tom Scherer, (701) 231-7239
NDSU Extension Agricultural Engineer
tscherer@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Water Spouts, No. 173, April 1999
NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied
Science, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Sharon D. Anderson, Director,
Fargo, North Dakota. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June
30, 1914. We offer our programs and facilities to all persons regardless of race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, Vietnam era veterans status, or sexual
orientation; and are an equal opportunity employer.
This publication will be made available in alternative formats for people with
disabilities upon request, 701/231-7881.
North Dakota State University
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