A series of on-farm demonstrations will show soybean farmers how they can save time and money — as well as water — when irrigating their crop.

The Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board, Mississippi State University Extension Service, and other organizations that are part of the Delta Sustainable Water Resources Task Force, will host a series of summer irrigation “Turnrow Talks” across the Delta in late July.  

Each meeting will demonstrate on-farm water conservation practices that can help farmers be more efficient irrigators.    

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 “We wanted to undertake some follow-up efforts after the successful series of meetings we held this winter, in which we saw an overwhelming interest in water conservation,” says MSPB Chairman Jan de Regt. “Through MSPB’s Sustainable Irrigation Project Initiative, we are committed to a long-term effort to promote water conservation measures. We appreciate the support of the Delta Sustainable Water Resources Task Force on this important effort.” 

Local farmers will be present at the talks, along with Mississippi State University Extension Irrigation Specialist Jason Krutz, and MSU  Soybean Specialist Trent Irby.

 The talks will offer farmers the opportunity to learn how: 

•PHAUCET can help cut irrigation time by 20 percent to 40 percent.

•Surge valves could improve irrigation efficiency by up to 25 percent.

•Soil-moisture sensors could cut in half the number of times a farmer irrigates.

•Using all three tools can reduce water use by 47 percent while maintaining yield

 “The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is excited to be a part of this effort,” says Kay Whittington, director of the department’s Office of Land & Water Resources.  “Promoting and advancing water conservation practices is a high priority for the Delta Sustainable Water Resources Task Force, and the SIP initiative is a great example of a producer-led effort to promote water conservation.”

Farmers and media are invited to attend one of the following irrigation Turnrow Talks. For directions and additional details, call the county Extension office for the listed location, or visit www.mssoy.org/turnrowtalks. The schedule is:

 July 23 — 9:00 a.m., Tunica County, Richy Bibb farm. Extension phone: 662-363-2911; 11:00 a.m., Coahoma County, Pete Hunter farm, Extension phone: 662-624-3070; 3:00 p.m., Quitman County, Chris Talley farm, Extension Phone: 662-326-8939.

July 24 — 9:00 a.m., Bolivar County, Nathan Buehring farm, Extension phone: 662-843-8361;  11:00 a.m., Sunflower County, Harper Ross farm, Extension phone: 662-887-4601;  2:00 p.m., Leflore County, Reese Pillow farm, Extension phone: 662-453-6803; 4:00 p.m., Tallahatchie County, Ray Hardy farm, Extension Phone: 662-647-8746. 

July 25 — 9:00 a.m., Washington County, George King farm, Extension phone: 662-334-2670; 11:00 a.m., Humphreys County, Jeremy Jack farm, Extension phone: 662-247-2915; 3:00 p.m., Sharkey County, Clark Carter farm, Extension phone: 662-873-4246;  6:00 p.m., Yazoo County, Dee Paul farm, Extension phone: 662-746-245.

Please note: Farm locations are subject to change. Visit www.mssoy.org/turnrowtalks for up-to-date information.