Oklahoma Irrigation Conference set for March 1 in Altus

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Southern Plains agricultural producers looking to get the most out of their water-use investment should register now to attend the March 1 Oklahoma Irrigation Conference in Altus.

The 2017 Oklahoma Irrigation Conference will take place at Western Oklahoma State College, located at 2801 N. Main St. near the Tamarack Road intersection on State Highway 283, north of State Highway 62. On-site registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with sessions beginning at 9 a.m.

Cost is $15. Although admission is being accepted the day of the event, participants are asked to pre-register no later than Feb. 24 to help aid in the planning for refreshments and conference materials. Online registration is available at http://oces.okstate.edu/caddo/oklahoma-irrigation-conference or through any Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension county office.

Saleh Taghvaeian, OSU Cooperative Extension water resources specialist, said producers should think of the conference as “one-stop shopping” where they can receive the latest research-based information about many irrigation-related subjects, with sessions being led by experts from Oklahoma and Texas.

“Among this year’s sessions will be two that provide insights into the current status of the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District and the complicated effects of drought, land-use change and groundwater development on the lake’s storage,” Taghvaeian said.

In addition, experts at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will be on hand to share their latest findings on the water resources of southwestern Oklahoma. Other presentations will discuss topics such as crop water use, smart irrigation scheduling and water-energy efficiency of irrigation pumping plants.

“We’re also featuring sessions about the agronomics and economics of irrigated cotton, as well as ongoing efforts toward agricultural water conservation in Texas,” Taghvaeian said.

Certified Crop Advisor Certified Education Units and Irrigation Association Tier 1 CEUs will be available for participants who are interested. For more information, contact Taghvaeian online at saleh.taghvaeian@okstate.edu.

Anyone seeking additional information about the March 1 Oklahoma Irrigation Conference should contact Taghvaeian, either online or by phone at 405-744-8395, or David Nowlin, Caddo County Extension agricultural educator, by phone at 405-247-3376.

Participants who need an invoice should contact the Woodward County Extension Office by phone at 580-254-3392 in advance of the conference.