Don't wait until the field is overflowing to determine water management strategies. 

In times of changing environmental conditions, unmanaged drainage water with a lack of soil conservation practices can impact farm profitability and sustainability of agricultural operations. Understanding management options starts with knowing what’s happening out in the fields and where to turn for resources.

Professionals from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Illinois Extension are partnering up for a two-day workshop scheduled for Feb. 26 and 27. The Integrated Water Management Workshop for Farmers and Landowners will be held at the Farm Credit Illinois Regional Office at 1100 Farm Credit Dr., Mahomet.

Workshop attendees will spend two days interacting with university researchers as well as Extension and Natural Resources Conservation Service staff, learning how to improve water and nutrient management on their farms to enhance crop productivity while minimizing impacts on the environment.

The goal for this workshop is that attendees will leave with sufficient knowledge about agricultural water management practices and their implementation to provide confidence and a better working relationship with their contractor of choice. Presentation topics include the basics of integrated water management, soil drainage, conservation, nutrient loss reduction strategy, surface runoff, erosion, and more.

The cost to attend is $15 and includes lunch on both days for those who register by Feb. 19. There will be 10 Certified Crop Adviser CEUs available for this training.

Integrated Water Management Workshop Agenda

DAY 1: Feb. 26 | 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Theater Room, Central Office Building

• 9:00 AM: Opening Remarks
  Presenters: Travis Burke, Extension program leader, agriculture and agribusiness, and Shibu Kar, Extension program leader, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy
• 9:10 AM: Introduction to Integrated Water Management and Workshop Overview
  Presenter: Bin Peng, assistant professor and Extension specialist, agricultural hydrology
• 9:30 AM: Understanding Your Field
  Presenters: Bin Peng, assistant professor and Extension specialist, agricultural hydrology, and Talon Becker, Extension specialist, commercial agriculture
  • Soil properties and field hydrology.
  • Within-field variability of soil condition, crop growth, and productivity.
• 11:00 AM: Identifying the Problem and Weighing Your Options: Part 1
  Presenters: Luciano Alves de Oliveira, assistant professor and Extension specialist, water management, Bin Peng, assistant professor and Extension specialist, agricultural hydrology, and Talon Becker, Extension specialist, commercial agriculture
  • Poor soil drainage.
  • Surface runoff and erosion.
• Noon: Lunch
• 1:00 PM: Identifying the Problem and Weighing Your Options: Part 2
  Presenters: Luciano Alves de Oliveira, assistant professor and Extension specialist, water management, Bin Peng, assistant professor and Extension specialist, agricultural hydrology, and Talon Becker, Extension specialist, commercial agriculture
  • Nutrient use efficiency.
  • Questions to ask your contractor.
• 2:30 PM: Improving Soil Drainage
  Presenters: Richard Cooke, professor and Extension specialist, soil drainage management, and Luciano Alves de Oliveira, assistant professor and Extension specialist, water management
  • Basics of drainage design and plan implementation.
  • Step-by-step process. 
  • Open discussion.
• 4:30 PM: Adjourn

DAY 2: Feb. 27 | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tom Tracy Collaboration Room, Mahomet Regional Office Building

• 9:00 AM: Integrated Water Management for Sustainable Production and Environmental Quality
  Presenters: Joan Cox, Extension program manager, nutrient loss reduction strategy, Rachel Curry, Extension educator, nutrient loss reduction strategy, and Bin Peng, assistant professor and Extension specialist, agricultural hydrology 
  • Why is integration and systems thinking important?
  • Combining in-field and edge-of-field practices.
  • Lesser-known edge-of-field water management practices.
  • Open discussion.
• 11:00 AM: Surface Runoff Management and Soil Erosion Control
  Presenters: Rabin Bhattarai, associate professor, erosion and sediment control, Luciano Alves de Oliveira, assistant professor and Extension specialist, water management, and Aaron Pryer, assistant state conservation engineer, USDA-NRCS
  • Available practices and their efficacy.
  • Implementation timelines.
  • Open discussion.
• Noon: Lunch
• 1:00 PM: Nutrient Management for Better Nutrient Use Efficiency
  Presenters: John Jones, assistant professor and Extension specialist, soil fertility, and Talon Becker, Extension specialist, commercial agriculture
  • Nutrient cycling.
  • Current recommendations, ongoing research, and decision-support tools.
  • Open discussion.
• 3:00 PM: Workshop Summary and Discussion
• 3:30 PM: Adjourn