UI Extension Drought Resources
Idaho’s vast Snake River plain is one of the most productive irrigated agricultural regions in the western United States. Without vital irrigation water, farm and ranch producers are unable to provide the crop and livestock resources essential for the economy of Idaho. Without irrigation, the high desert of southern Idaho would revert back the rangeland it was prior to irrigation development in the early 1900’s.
Irrigation Scheduling
- Irrigation Scheduling Tools: Selection & Operation
- Irrigation Scheduling Using Water-Use Tables
- Optimal Performance from Center Pivot Sprinkler Systems
- Spatial Variability Considerations in Interpreting Soil Moisture Measurements for Irrigation
- Using the IDWR Keep-up, Catch-up Slide Rule
System Management/Maintenance
- Interpreting Watermark Sensor Readings
- Irrigation Uniformity
- Winter Maintenance of Sprinkler Irrigation Systems
Potatoes
- Irrigation Water Management in Potatoes: Drought Challenges
- Potato Irrigation Management
- Prepare for the Potato Irrigation Season - 2007
Sugarbeets
- Irrigation Water Management in Sugarbeet Production
- Irrigation Water Management to Minimize Disease Potential in Sugarbeets
- Sugarbeet Irrigation Management Using Watermark Moisture Sensors
Cereals
- The Cereal Sentinel - April, 2001
- Estimating Water Requirements of Hard Red Spring Wheat for Final Irrigations
- Irrigation Management in Small Grains
- Response of Two-Row Malting Spring Barley to Water Cutoff under Sprinkler Irrigation
- Scheduling the Last Irrigation on Wheat and Barley
- Wheat Yield and Quality as Related to Early and Late Season Irrigation Management - Sept., 1999
- Small Grains Management Strategies in Water Short Years - Webinar
Alfalfa
- Alfalfa Irrigation and Drought
- Annual Forage Production in Drought
- Idaho Forage Handbook
- Production of Rain-fed Alfalfa
- Water Allocation Strategies When Irrigation Supplies are Limited
Corn
Livestock and Range
- Current Livestock and Feed Situation-Reports
- Drought Advisory Managing Irrigated Pastures and Grass Haylands
- Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle
- Idaho Forage Handbook
- Rangeland Management Before During and After Drought
- Supplementation During Drought
- Tips for Dealing with Drought on Range
- USDA Cattle Heat Stress Forecast
Lawn & Trees
Other Drought Links
- Evapotranspiration and Consumptive Irrigation Water Requirements for Idaho
- Great Basin Weather and Climate Dashboard
- Idaho Snow Survey
- NOAA Climate Prediction Center
- North Dakota State University Drought Information
- NRCS: Idaho Snotel Sites
- University of Florida Extension: Disaster Handbook - Extreme Heat and Drought
- University of Wisconsin Extension: Drought Preparedness and Response
- USGS Current Water Data for Idaho
- US Bureau of Reclamation: AgriMet
- US Bureau of Reclamation: Hydromet - Reservoir Storage "Teacup" Diagrams
- US Drought Monitor
- Utah State University Extension - Cattle and Beef Market Analysis
- Washington State University Extension: Drought Publications
- Western Regional Climate Center
Irrigation Scheduler Mobile How-to Videos
Signing up - AgWeatherNet
Logging in - Irrigation Scheduler Mobile and Adding a Field
Howard Neibling (UI) and Troy Peters (WSU) are currently working on a joint research project to adapt this irrigation scheduler to Idaho crops and conditions. It was initially developed at the Washington State University (WSU) Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC) in Prosser, Washington by Sean Hill and Cynthia Tiwana under the direction of Troy Peters, Extension Irrigation Specialist and Assistant Professor at Washington State University. It uses grower-specified crop and soil characteristics and downloads information from the specified AgriMet station to estimate root zone soil moisture and the amount of irrigation required to re-fill the root zone on a daily basis.