South Plains farmers always keep a close eye on water use, and to aid in that effort a timely program focusing on irrigation efficiency will be in the spotlight at the 14th Texas Alliance for Water Conservation Field Day in Muncy. The free, annual event takes place at the Floyd County Unity Center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday (Sept. 12) at the rural community some seven miles northwest of Floydada.

"The field day is a great opportunity to learn about new energy and water-saving technologies, and hear first-hand from producers, commodity groups and research leaders," said TAWC Project Director Rick Kellison. Producers, irrigation consultants, and researchers will be on-hand to discuss irrigation management techniques and answer any questions they may have, he said.

Among the scheduled discussion topics are:

• Producer Perspective: Water Management Efficiency Technologies & Cotton Sustainability
• Balancing Conservation & Property Rights: Groundwater Law & Policy Update
• Grazing Options for Rainfed and Reduced Irrigation Scenarios
• Policy Changes, Trade Wars, and Markets
• Upcoming Weather Trends and Conditions
• Texas Water Development Board Update
• Incorporating New Technologies Into On Farm Research: Is this a game changer?

Funded by a grant from the Texas Water Development Board, TAWC operates as a partnership of producers, technology firms, universities and government agencies working to extend the life of the largest subterranean aquifer in the United States. Stretching from the Texas panhandle in the south to the northern boundary of Nebraska, the Ogallala Aquifer lies beneath one of the most important agricultural regions in the United States.

The project uses on-farm demonstrations of cropping and livestock systems to compare the production practices, technologies, and systems that can maintain individual farm profitability while improving water use efficiency with a goal of extending the life of the Ogallala Aquifer while maintaining the viability of local farms and communities. All production-related decisions are made by the more than 20 producers involved in the project.

CONTACT: Rick Kellison, Project Director, Texas Alliance for Water Conservation, Texas Tech University at (806) 292-5982 or rick.kellison@ttu.edu

0828NM19 / Editor's Note: For more information on the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation Field Day, contact Samantha Borgstedt at (806) 789-4177 or samantha.borgstedt@ttu.edu