Volume 11 Issue 3 March2020
In our cover story this month, Jay O’Brien of the Oroville- Tonasket Irrigation District tell us about how his district is putting its unused water in trust and using it to gain revenue while also helping water users in need downstream. It is a promising setup that will be of interest to other Washington […]
Volume 11 Issue 3 March 2020
Nitrate contamination is a pervasive problem across agricultural regions in the United States and worldwide. In northeastern Nebraska, one area in particular, the Bazile Groundwater Management Area, suffers from nitrate infiltration into its groundwater. In response, four local natural resources districts (NRDs) have joined forces to engage in education and regulation in an effort […]
Besler Industries’ Durable Pickup Flatbeds
Nebraska-based Besler Industries is a family-owned company that builds bale loaders, pivot track closers, tillage equipment, and other machines well known to irrigated farmers. Another of its most popular products is its pickup truck flatbed. The flatbeds are customizable and can accommodate a number of modular boxes according to the user’s needs. Best of all, […]
Dawson Tire’s Mighty RhinoGator Tire
Dawson Tire and Wheel, based in Gothenburg, Nebraska, is well known for its irrigation tires and wheels. Its most famous product is quite recognizable: the bright green polyethylene RhinoGator pivot tire. The solid RhinoGator will never go flat or fill with water or mud, and it is also UV protected. In this interview, Eric MacPherson, […]
Are Goats the Answer to Your Maintenance Needs?
The term goatscaping often elicits a quizzical look and a half smile, followed by the question, “What?” While the word isn’t in the dictionary and has nothing to do with scapegoats, it’s well known among land managers. Goatscaping is the centuries-old technique of using goats to maintain property. [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Headline_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] The term goatscaping often elicits […]
WSWRA Honors Members With Awards at Annual Conference
The Washington State Water Resources Association (WSWRA), the coordinating agency for irrigation districts in Washington state, honored three of its longtime members at its annual conference awards luncheon on December 5 at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington. [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Headline_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] The Washington State Water Resources Association (WSWRA), the coordinating agency for irrigation districts in Washington […]
In-Situ’s Flow Meters: A Practical Choice for Farmers and Irrigators
Founded 40 years ago and originally focused on water level measurement for the mining industry, the Fort Collins, Colorado-based company In-Situ has recently moved decisively into the fields of flow monitoring and water quality solutions for industrial, agricultural, wastewater, and storm water clients. Recent research and development work and strategic acquisitions, including that of the […]
How to Successfully Use Data Analytics to Make HR Decisions
Human resources (HR) is an important field for any organization, irrigation districts included. Finding the right employees and making sure they are performing at the top of their abilities is crucial to an organization’s success. While gut instinct always plays a role in personnel decisions, data analytics are playing an increasingly important role as well. […]
RH2 Engineering: Finding Ways to Make Irrigation Infrastructure More Reliable and Long Lasting
RH2 Engineering, Inc., has been providing civil engineering, planning, and environmental services to municipal and irrigation clients across the Pacific Northwest for 40 years. RH2 can provide irrigation district clients with designs for full facility upgrades or evaluations of their assets that allow them to pinpoint crucial pieces of infrastructure to repair or replace. RH2’s […]
Daren Coon: Insights From a Career at NMID
Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District (NMID) is the largest irrigation district in Idaho, covering 69,000 acres and serving 100,000 water users. Over recent decades, its area has undergone a dramatic process of urbanization, necessitating the construction of a pressure urban irrigation system. It also went through the title transfer process with the Bureau of Reclamation […]