Chemigation Training for 2017

Chemigation is the injection and application of agricultural chemicals into an irrigation system to be applied to soil, crops, or both. Several irrigators across our district use chemigation to apply fertilizers, pesticides, or fungicides to their fields. Chemigation insures that the rate of application is precise and the application timing is exactly when the plant needs it to maximize results.

A benefit of chemigation is that it can be used to apply nitrogen fertilizers. When this method is used, nitrate leaching is reduced as well as the possibility for nitrate contamination.

Chemigation also has its risks, including the protentional for accidental groundwater contamination through backflow into the well. Backflow happens when water and chemicals are siphoned back into the well when normal operations are interrupted. To avoid this contamination, the appropriate chemigation equipment and system must be set-up, operated and maintained. Without the right equipment, a chemigation permit will be denied.

State law requires that irrigators obtain a permit from the local Natural Resource District yearly before chemigation can begin. Permit fees are due by June 1 and expire at midnight May 31 the following year. To view the permit fees through the Upper Loup NRD please visit our website at www.upperloupnrd.org  or call the office at 308-645-2250.

New permits for wells must be inspected before a permit may be issued. If you will be putting in a new system, please contact Shane at 308-645-2250 to set up an appointment for inspection. Current chemigation systems need to be inspected every 3 years. The Upper Loup NRD will be mailing out renewal permits May 1, 2017 and are due back to the office NO LATER than June 1, if permits are not in the office by that date the operator will be considered non-compliant.

If you plan to apply chemicals, you MUST ATTEND one of the courses and pass a written exam to be certified. Certification is good for four years and can be renewed though a course. The local dates for chemigation training this year are:

Feb. 23, 9:00 AM @ Courthouse, Stapleton, contact Chuck Burr 308-696-6783

Feb. 27, 1:00 PM @ Custer County Fair Grounds, contact Troy Ingram 308-754-5422

Feb. 28, 1:00 PM @ West Central Res. & Ext Center, 402 West State Farm Rd, North Platte, contact Chuck Burr 308-696-6783

Mar. 1, 8:30 AM & 1:30 PM @ Extension Office, Alliance, contact John Thomas 308-762-5616

Mar. 10, 1:00 PM @ West Central Res & Ext Center, 402 West State Farm Road, contact Chuck Burr 308-696-6783