PRINEVILLE, Ore. — There are six Irrigation Field and Information Days scheduled for May 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 (see individual event agendas). Much of the focus will be on converting MESA pivots and linears to LESA / LEPA / MDI systems, but there will be some other interesting irrigation technology to see as well, such as VFD pump upgrades, sub-surface drip irrigation, surface drip irrigation, pressurized systems, Agrimet Weather Stations, etc. The stops on each field day are approximate times, if you are not participating the whole day. There will be refreshments for each day. The field days will be informal, with educational and producer experience discussions at each stop.
NRCS, SWCD’s, WY’east RC & D, and Energy Trust of Oregon will have information on cost share programs to improve all irrigation systems. Others present will be BOR, BPA, Watershed Councils, Irrigation Districts, Irrigation Companies, ODA, OSU Extension Service, etc. (Depending upon everyone’s schedule)
Dr. Maria Zamora Re, Extension Irrigation Specialist, and Dr. Abigail Tomasek, Extension Soil Water Quality Specialist, will be attending all of the field days. Both have just joined OSU Extension Service in 2021. Mathew Alongi, NRCS State Irrigation Engineer, also new to Oregon, will also be attending many of the Field Days.
Central Oregon Hay Growers’ Association (COHGA) and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties are hosting the Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson County Irrigation Field Days. Lake County Hay and Forage Association is hosting their Water Summit. Harney County Hay and Forage Association is hosting the Harney County Irrigation Field Day. The Klamath County Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting the Klamath County Irrigation Field Day.
Acronym Definitions: MESA: Mid Elevation Sprinkler Application; LESA: Low Elevation Sprinkler Application; LEPA: Low Energy Precision Application, MDI: Mobile Drip Irrigation, VRI: Variable Rate Irrigation
May 11, Jefferson County (COHGA will have water and donuts)
9:00am Feigner Farm, 7335 NE Ward Dr., Madras (Meet 1/8 mile North at Pumping Station)
- 10 Span MESA Pivot with Corner Arm Using Trimble IQ (VRI)
- 7 Span Converted MESA to LESA/LEPA Pivot Growing Carrots (30-inch Nozzle Spacing)
10:30am COAREC, 850 NE+W Dogwood Ln., Madras
- 1 span pivot with 30-inch nozzle spacing, with 12-inch nozzle height above soil
- 5 span linear with 60-inch nozzle spacing, with 12-inch nozzle height above soil
- Will be converted to VRI in Fall of 2021
- Agrimet Weather Station (Crop Water Use Program Predicting ET for Different Crops)
11:30am Stan Sullivan Farm, 3020 NW Elm, Madras
- 7 Span LESA Pivot New from the Factory, with Swing Arm for Corners, Growing K. bluegrass (30-inch Nozzle Spacing)
12:30PM No Host Lunch (Snacks will be provided JCSWCD.)
1:45pm Whitaker Farms, 6289 SW Bear Dr., Culver
- 11 Span LESA Pivot, New from Factory, Growing Timothy Hay (30-inch Nozzle Spacing)
2:30pm Haystack Farms, 556 SW Holly Ln., Culver
- 7 Span LESA System Linear Growing Timothy Hay (57- inch Nozzle Spacing)
3:15pm Jesse Bounds, 1720 Jericho Ln., Culver
- 3 half Pivots with Mobile Drip Irrigation (MDI)
- 1 full Pivot with Mobile Drip Irrigation (MDI)
(Monty Teeter, Dragon Lines, LLC, Kansas will be attending)
4:00pm Trevor Derstine, 2285 Iris Ln., Culver
- Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) Growing 50 acres of Alfalfa
- Two MESA Pivots Converted to LESA Pivots
- Subsurface Drip Irrigation of a Large Lawn and Garden Area
May 12, Crook County (COHGA will have water and donuts)
9:00am Paul Lutzenburger, 5250 SE 3033 Rd., Madras (Mile Marker 12.5 on Madras and Prineville Highway.)
- 8 Span MESA Converted to LESA with “Modified LESA/LEPA” on either side of Wheel Tracks.
- Growing Orchardgrass Hay (40-inch Nozzle Spacing). Pumping From a Well.
10:45am MC Farmer, LLC, 8215 SW Hwy 126, Powell Butte (Old Experiment Station)
- Surface Drip System Growing Industrial Hemp (65 acres)
- Agrimet Weather Station & Crop Water Use Program for Different Crops
Noon No Host Lunch
2:15pm Sabre Ridge Ranch, 55777 SE Paulina Hwy. (between Post and Paulina)
- 7 MESA Converted (and new) to LESA System 5 – 10 Span Pivots Growing Grass and Alfalfa Hay
May 13 Deschutes County (COHGA will have water and donuts)
9:00am David Hampton, 65475 Tweed Rd, Tumalo (Bend)
- 3 span MESA Converted to LESA Pivot Growing Grass Hay
9:45am Triple S Ranch (Andrew Green & Lindsay Wiseman), 64980 Collins Rd., Tumalo
- 4 Span MESA Converted to LESA Mini-Pivot Growing Mixed Grass Hay (36-inch Nozzle Spacing)
- 5 Span MESA Converted to LESA Linear Growing Mixed Grass Hay (36-inch Nozzle Spacing)
- Both fields are pastured in the Fall.
10:30am Ron Cochran, 18624 Pinehurst Rd., Bend (Tumalo)
- 3 Span LESA Pivot Establishing Orchardgrass Hay
11:15am Connie and Tim Overbay, 18910 Pinehurst Rd., Bend (Tumalo)
- 3 Span MESA Converted to LESA System Pivot. Growing Orchardgrass Hay
Noon No Host Lunch
1:30pm Doyle Arabians, 63295 Johnson Ranch Rd.,
- Alfalfa Two, 3 Span LESA system Pivots, new from the factory, Growing Orchardgrass Hay.
3:15pm Stephen Roth Farm, 41700 E. Hwy 20, Hampton (Meet at the Café, which is closed)
- 15 Span, 395 acre MESA System Converted to LESA Pivot Growing Alfalfa Hay (48-inch
spacing) Short on Water/Pumping from a Well.
May 18 Harney County – JMK Ranch, Crane (Lunch will be hosted)
9:00am MESA vs. LESA/LEPA Irrigation Presentations. An RSVP is encouraged – call 541-589-0938.
May 19, Lake County “Water Summit”– Booster Building, Christmas Valley
5:30pm Opening remarks, followed by a hosted dinner, Followed by much discussion about water in Lake County. RSVP by May 10 to Dan Jansen at jansenfarmscv@gmail.com or, call or text to (503) 551-5138.
May 20 – Klamath County Irrigation Field Day– 19355 Sprague River Road, Chiloquin.
9:00am Focus on Wheel Line Irrigation and dryland Forage. (Lunch will be hosted) (RSVP by May 14 to Bill Lehman, Klamath Watershed Partnership, 541-850-1717.)
— OSU Extension via Central Oregon Agriculture Newsletter
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