Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

WDC 018 Annual Meeting Prosser, WA July 28-29, 2011 Attendees: Jama Hamel (AgriMet), Peter Palmer (AgriMet), Troy Peters (WSU), Tom Scherer (NDSU), Clarence Prestwich(NRCS), Dana Porter (Texas A&M), Thomas Marek (Texas A&M), Rick Snyder (UC Davis) Thursday July 28 8:40 am Troy Peters called the meeting to order. Attendees introduced themselves. Some discussion during the introductions: Shut down of Texas High Plains ET Network due to budget problems. (CIMIS, 130 ET network stations, 8 people, 1990 $850,000/year budget) Jama Hamil will be replacing Peter Palmer, who is retiring end of September. Jama has been his right hand for 4.5 years. Bureau of Reclamation is supporting the AgriMet 45%. Bonneville Power is largest contributor. 9:10 am Troy Peters welcomed the group to Washington. Pete Jacoby, Director of WSU Center at Prosser, presented an overview of WSU programs: One of 4 WSU Extension centers in state. Master Gardener program started in Washington State. Vegetable seed production is large in state. 1200 acres under irrigation at the Prosser station  tree fruit, 320 acres at Othello (wheat production, seed production, lease to Monsanto). Prosser is main location  upgrading irrigation system, infrastructure. Moving from irrigated crops (alfalfa, etc) to perennial crops  wine grapes, etc. 700 wineries and growing& Viticulture and enology program. Hops production (80% of nations hops)  volatile industry. Plant pathology, ag engineering is growing (automation), cherries, weed science, 18 scientists (WSU), EPA person, W dept of Ag person, USDA-ARS personnel. Good relationships with commodities. Big issue is loss of grant funding, but entrepreneurial programming is helping. Vegetable work is mostly potatoes. A lot of volatility in vegetable production. Automation, innovation to help industries remain competitive in global market. Quality and efficiency are key. 9:30 am Troy Peters - Business items We are not an official project; we are a development project no annual report required, only minutes are required. Our new administrator is Joe Hiller (Arizona); he was unable to attend. Overview of rainfall, irrigated acreage across US. Overview of personnel working in the subject matter across the country. Overview of Washington State water situation. 6 to 140 inches annual rainfall east to west. Palouse region (loess soils)  dryland wheat, rolling hills. Major ag production regions around the state. Populations centers, distribution in state. Washington agricultural statistics: Potatoes  excellent yields (highest in world  low elevation) High value crops (perennials)  market value per acre, few commodity crops  mainly for rotation, except for wheat. Major crops (in decreasing value of production) Applies, potatoes, wheat, hay, nursery, hops, cherries, grapes, pears& Other major crops listed - very diverse agriculture, second only to California. Strong emphasis on high value crops. Washington State more advanced in irrigation technology than other states in region. (62% center pivot). Of drip irrigated, 52% surface. Overview of WSU irrigated ag research and extension center - overall about 200-300 employees Business Meeting: Troy Peters reported that the main objective of this meeting is to develop the revised proposal. Rick Snyder led the discussion of the proposal revision. Discussion addressed reviewers comments, which were mixed. This group is a coordinating group. Value is in sharing ideas. How much is ET used in irrigation scheduling  difficult to quantify, and growers use it at different levels; CA use is up to about 50% of irrigators. One standard for the whole country is not feasible. We have regional concerns, applications. We are a coordinating committee  not a standardizing committee. Coordinating crop coefficients is very difficult  climate effects, etc. Technical issues of locations, conditions represented weather stations, etc. Forecasting of ETo is available in California  very helpful. Troy: we should identify key issues we are all dealing with, put together joint proposals. There are a lot of issues. Should we pursue a large grant as a group? Tom Scherer, Rick Snyder: Crop coefficients  corn breeding example  Kcs cant keep up with varieties. Life span of a variety is 3 years +/-. Research is lacking. No one wants to fund this research. Kc curves are problematic. Crop coefficients  heat unit based, light interception (canopy cover) based, calendar based, hybrid heat unit/calendar&.. CA diverse crops&. Very challenging. Coordination and information sharing is needed  that is why it is in the proposal. Kcs vary with climate. Canopy resistance assumptions issues. Aerodynamic resistance. Is it better to select a reference crop with high, low, or medium canopy resistance? Aerodynamic resistance? Error in irrigation application is greater than errors in ET estimates. Why is Kc different in different regions? Net radiation, canopy and aerodynamic resistance? How much turbulence& wind, surface roughness. Dew contribution to ET is one source of error, especially in humid areas. Tom Scherer: How accurate do you have to be for irrigation scheduling? Relative importance, depending upon irrigation method, frequency, depths. (discussion among group followed) Some users/consultants using NWS forecasted ET in CA. FRET forecast of reference ET http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/evap/FRET/FRET.php?wfo=pdt. Discussion of FRET. 10:50 am Rick Snyder led the discussion of the proposal revision (see handout of Statement of Issues and Justification) 3 objectives 1. Coordination of standardization / documentation of crop coefficients used in irrigation scheduling (see also subobjectives) a. Development of database b. Importance of irrigation method on Kc c. Effects of transgenic crops on Kc (significance of related issues: drought tolerance, physiological processes, ) We should take this item out of proposal d. Work with ASCE Kc task committee to develop procedure for standardizing Kc data. 2. Coordinate adoption of irrigation scheduling technology. (need to report against this item in our state/annual reports) We need to post findings on website  need a committee website or listserv (discussion to respond to reviewers comments) 3. Would a NRCS CIG grant help coordinate? Discussion and addressing review comments. Insertions into document to address each item. Break for Lunch& 1:50  3:15 pm Geritt Hoogenboom (Director, Ag Weather Network) Washington Ag Weather Net Presentation and tour of WSU AgWeather Net calibration laboratory 145 weather stations across state Concentrations in fruit producing area near/around Prosser Line item support $800,000 from legislature  based upon commodity pressure 5 dedicated staff on university payroll to maintain network  2 technicians, programmer, metrologist -QA/QC, faculty, travel. Very close observation by commodity groups. Only Oklahoma Mesonet has that level of support. Frost protection, irrigation decision support tools, pest/disease mgt. End-users: grape, cherry growers are important users. Data are free (state support); subscription required. Siting criteria (WMO criteria), but most sites are not irrigated. End users are required to give appropriate credit& Use of data for commercial purposes? Sore subject& (UGA $20/month or $25/month for detailed data access fee) Rick Snyder (CIMIS has local help to maintain stations) 8 people per region + 1 full time technician --- 10 people full time. Peter Palmer  encourages further data dissemination  but network is mostly tax supported. Data liability  Networks are liable for data quality. 3:15 pm State report: Washington State: Tina ET and consumptive irrigation requirements for Washington State (Revised Crop Coefficients) (Her M.S. Project) WA has 1.8 million acres irrigated. Wa State Irrigation Guide (WIG) needs to be updated. -crop coef - updated weather data, methods, equations, crops list Differences in Kc methods: AgriMet (alf ref Kimberly Penman Monteith), WISE (Washington State), FAO56 (grass ref Penman Monteith), California (CIMIS Penman) Need Kcs for the state. Started with AgriMet Current WIG has 76 NWS stations + NWS, Agrimet, and Washington AgWeatherNet Kc(ASCE) = [ETr (Kimberly)]/ETr (ASCE)] X Kc(Kimberly) Use ASCE Standardized method, but AgriMet Kcs -&. This allows for adapting AgriMet Kcs for use with ASCE ETr. Kcs can be presented in several ways: - Percent time from planting to harvest - % time from plant to full cover and days after effective full cover - Days of year - Growing degree days (facilitates transfer of Kcs among regions) --- selected this one How do we handle variety differences? GDD takes out some of the subjectivity of green up determination. Rick Snyder  plot ETr vs ETo for each climate area& slope varies 1.1  1.3+ Tom S&. use GDD to drive Kc until Kc max (canopy closure) then use days&. Discussion of how we determine crop water requirements for irrigation system design (historical water use, ETc , peak water use, well capacity&) 5 pm Adjourn for evening 7 pm Group dinner Friday Morning July 29 8:30 am State Reports AgriMet Update: Peter Palmer - finally implemented ASCE-EWRI ET equation. - ETrs and ETos - Use Kimberly Penman Kcs& developed over years, users are comfortable - back ran data to 2002  Jama will continue to run back further - Instrumentation : cold location stations. Belford® gauges had been used for many years, Rube Goldberg kind of gage, & entire network updated with strain gage load cells  more temperature stable, better - Jama is replacing Peter Palmer; she is experienced, will be implementing changes - Data QA/QC is excellent, recognized as second to none. Automated and hands on daily checks - Dont publish bad data. Develop trust over time, but can be broken quickly& data integrity is critical - AgriMet is in good shape. Funding is stable. - Personal comments  has enjoyed working with this group. Concerned about low turnout for this meeting. Possible teleconference option for future meeting to allow others to participate? (Tom S. indicated this works for another committee. We do need face-to-face for this group. Maybe periodic conference calls would be a good idea.) - Local cooperators (county agents, etc) assist with basic maintenance (clean bird droppings, etc.) - Some can swap out sensors, depending on capabilities - Otherwise one person (full time) manager + local cooperators do basic maintenance - Tom Scherer  North Dakota - Compiled spreadsheet irrigation scheduling program became obsolete& (1998) - Web based tools developed - Dean Steele and Tom developed an EXCEL spreadsheet for use in classroom teaching. - It has no macros so it doesnt have security problems - Web based scheduler extracts soil info off Internet; EXCEL version users enter the soil data - Minnesota and North Dakota sheets - Journal article in Applied Engineering in Ag&. - 1.5 months ago  a lot of downloads early& - Server on university Blackboard system  soon on website - Dean Steele working with METRIC SEBAL looking at effect of flooding - PREVENT PLANT applications - 6.5 million acres of prevent plant acres in 2011 - Tile drainage  a lot of interest in that; monitoring sites o 142 acre site in irrigation scheduling program, measured tile drainage, ET&. Water balance Eddy Correlation on tiled vs not tiled. More in-season ET on tiled crop& healthier root system  whole year about the same (more evap from wet surface early and late) Scintillometer project related- results seem to indicate excessive error LE is always low, especially with wet surfaces / well watered conditions Interviewing for new dept head at NDSU Ag Engineering Funding seems stable  new positions hiring Soil salinity / soil health 12 positions in state, research and extension to address issues 6 research technicians to support these positions Oil boom is contributing to good conditions in ND Light oil Farmers are selling water allocation to drilling&. 1 cent per gallon&. Ag Open annual event - push to increase irrigation& this year energy open Texas State Report  Dana Porter and Thomas Marek Update on shutdown of TXHPET Assessment of ET Networks in Texas Ed Enhancements project Web-based user tool  integrates ET information from network(s), soils information and user inputs Educational resources/website  several projects ongoing. BETS  Bushland Evapotranspiration System Discussion  Smart phone app&.. Maybe our group should pursue a USDA-NRCS CIG grant? Washington State Report  Troy Peters Tools need to be simple, intuitive Simplify life through irrigation automation or irrigation recommendation tools Irrigation scheduler mobile (smart phone) Plan&. We could develop a water management tools suite Discussion of cooperative projects for this group, including Kc curves and smart phone apps. Potential multiple state project&. Stations at various locations, NRCS SCAN sites, & why Texas Kcs higher than CA Kcs, etc. Corn only- $8,000 per station, sonic anemometer, standardized equipment and siting; $20,000 per state  10 states - $200,000. 2 projects to be pursued&. Kc coordinating project - Rick Snyder head up proposal development Smart phone project  Troy Peters head up proposal development To be hosted on NRCS?? (Silverlight??) Back to Troy&. Evaluation of simple irrigation scheduling tools Soil surfactants (only have impact in water repellant soil) New publications& Rick Snyder  California Ken Shackel has early indications that a new continuous stem water potential meter are promising& (see handout) Tree crops Regulated deficit irrigation reduces water use of almonds without affecting yield Refining Kc for almonds Difference in Kc for corn CA vs TX --- wind? Resistance alfalfa and grass references& most crops will be somewhere between alf and grass ET Most people use grass ET  NW US uses alfalafa ref. Climate parameters  Kc or ETref? Kc affected by wind due to aerodynamic resistance Wave theory (rolling) vs. flux gradient theory (average) Log function to determine zero plane Eddy covariance is better& Need to be careful about advocating universal application of Kcs Soil moisture measurements dont always match ET Measure ET from bare soil& rice growers want to do water transfers& cumulative ET  rainfall-soil moisture used = water For rice--- ETrice-ETbaresoil = water difference Good results with RM Young stations Use painter scaffolding instead of station towers& especially good for tall applications Evaporation from farm ponds & net radiation is essentially the same as evap& Rn-G (G is approx 0) ET from rice fields Research needed& Crop coefficients Row orientation Wind timing Separating E & T Irrigation method Wetting frequency Fog, dew and light rain correction Light rain is effective precip& it helps meet ET demand, reduces soil water depletion  its relative importance depends upon how much dew& Water tables  how do you account for this? System Evaluations  irrigation system application rate, application efficiency&. Energy balance equation LE = Rn  G  H Sonic anemometer approx $3,300 Estimate H (?) Net radiometer Surface renewal H, sensible heat flux Timing of wind affects Kc ???? time of day&. Later in day high wind seems to increase Kc; early am wind, not high Kc Table grape ET measurements--- lysimeter  overhead trellis; surfaced renew-curtain Soil affects ET. Root volume, water storage, root length density Wind speed, temperature of wind may contribute to differences in Kc Cold wind tended to lower Kc Moving stations around&. Compare locations to ET Network stations& develop calibrations Kactual = Kc X Kstress Business Meeting Accomplishments Outcomes&. Updated proposal, addressing review concerns Notes to submit Plans to submit 2 proposals for projects (Kc and smartphone apps/national irrig scheduling tool) Kc  Rick Snyder and Jama&. Bureau of Rec Sci and Tech. grants Irrigation sched tool &. Troy &.. NRCS CIG Joe Henggeler is the incoming Chair&. He is setting up meeting for next year in Missouri Dana Porter was elected incoming secretary. Meeting was adjourned.

Accomplishments Outcomes&. Updated proposal, addressing review concerns Notes to submit Plans to submit 2 proposals for projects (Kc and smartphone apps/national irrig scheduling tool) Kc  Rick Snyder and Jama&. Bureau of Rec Sci and Tech. grants Irrigation sched tool &. Troy &.. NRCS CIG