Irrigation Advisory Program and Activities

摘要

An irrigation advisory program was established within the Garrison Diversion Unit(GDU) to develop educational programs and to provide assistance for the development, economic evaluation and management of water and land resources for irrigation agriculture. This program is a cooperative effort among the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Garrison Diversion Conservancy District(GDCD), and North Dakota State University (NDSU). The Advisory program provides for employment of irrigation Advisors by GDCD for each opersting unit of the Garrison Diversion Unit and an Irrigation Agent by NDSU extension service. The basic objectives of the program were: 1)to develop and carry out educational programs that assist landowners and farm operators with the successful integration and operation of irrigated agriculture and their associated dryland agriculture, and other associated community services; and 2) provide liaison among the various agencies, landowners and cooperation for the timely and successful construction of the project. During the early development of the Garrison Deversion Unit there was a definite lack of knowledge and research about irrigation in North Dakota. To develop and disseminate sound, science based information the Agent and Advisors worked with NDSU to develop and evaluate best management practices for irrigated agriculture. Through a combination irrigation station, oakes irrigation field Trials, Karlsruhe irrigation development farm, warwick-McVille Irrigation Development farm and turtle lake irrigation development farm, beneficial production practices were demonstrated to producers. The advisory program was successful in assisting irrigation development in North Dakota, while minimizing adverse impacts. The transition from dryland to irrigated agriculture has allowed many farmers to diversify into high value crops and reduce reliance on government supported production programs.