POSTAL CUSTOMER
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit #36 OMAHA, NE
September 27, 2012 Issue 257-16-20
Pork Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Fall Irrigation . . . . . . . 10-13 Threads Across NE . . . . . 14 Weather Al Dutcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Country Living House Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Lighter Side
Using Irrigation Canals for Groundwater Recharge Might Work
Lee Pitts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Markets Grains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Government Report Government Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Ag Management Nebraska Farmers Compare Current, Former Droughts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Livestock News Heartland Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
A Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District irrigation canal north of Funk was full of water for irrigation in early June. Two natural resources districts have proposed changing the use of Central’s canal system to groundwater recharge that would allow surface water irrigators to switch to wells and also would augment Platte River flows. Lori Potter, The Kearney Hub KEARNEY — There already are bumps in the road for a project proposed by two natural resources districts (NRDS) to convert Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District (CNPPID) irrigation canals to groundwater recharge. At the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts conference in Kearney, CNPPID and NRD officials disagreed Monday about whether all computer models from a project feasibility study have been shared. Brent Cain, supervising hydrologist for the Brown and Caldwell study commissioned by the Grand Island-based Central Platte NRD and North Platte-based Twin Platte NRD, presented an overview of the study done by his Denver firm, which indicates the project is feasible.
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The proposal is to use CNPPID canals to hold water in times of excess Platte River flows to enhance groundwater recharge. Essentially, it would be storing more surface water in an underground reservoir, Cain said. CNPPID’s primary irrigation area is 105,000 acres in Gosper, Phelps and Kearney counties. Cain said the study found that such conjunctive water management would allow about 450 more wells to be drilled within the Central district to provide a more consistent water source for all acres now irrigated with surface water. The changes also could reduce nonconsumptive losses of irrigation water during transport from Lake McConaughy, leave more water in the river during dry times and provide groundwater recharge that augments streamflows. After Cain’s presentation, CNPPID General Manager Don Kraus of Holdrege said his staff
Production News The Value of Irrigation in a Drought Regime: The Case of 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Schedule of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-23
still doesn’t have all the information needed, specifically computer models used for the study, to make conclusions. Kraus said model files were promised within 10 days of a June 22 study presentation in Holdrege to Central board members, staff and water users. Some files were received last month, and another set arrived Sunday night. “We're not going to comment on this study until we have more information,” he said. “... We can't do it overnight. They spent two years on this.” Central Platte NRD General Manager Ron Bishop and Cain both said all model files and supporting materials have been sent to CNPPID. “Maybe what they're wanting doesn't exist,” Bishop said. “That’s why we're offering to help, financially, to do [more] studies." Continued on page 15
MARKET GLANCE Livestock and Products, Weekly Average
Crops, Daily Spot Prices Year Ago 4 Wks Ago 9/14/12
Nebraska Slaughter Steer 35-65% Choice, Live Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$116.80 Nebraska Feeder Steers, Med. & Large Frame, 550-600# . . . . . . . . . . . .150.26 Med & Large Frame, 750-800 # . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137.46 Choice Boxed Beef, 600-750# Carcass . . . . . . . . . .184.27 Western Corn Belt Base Hog Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88.62 Feeder Pigs, National Direct, 50#, FOB . . . . . . . . . . . .* Pork Carcass Cutout, 185#, 51-52% Lean . . . . . . . .95.09 Slaughter Lambs, Ch. & Pr.,Heavy, SD Dir. . . . . . . . .183.50 Nat. Carcass Lamb Cutout, FOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404.92
120.68
126.97
159.00 144.82 190.23 85.32 * 91.82 118.13 320.41
162.91 153.29 191.50 63.46 * 78.05 84.00 317.08
Wheat, No. 1, H.W. Imperial, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.71 Corn, No. 2, Yellow, Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.82 Soybeans, No. 1 Yellow Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.09 Grain Sorg. No. 2 Yellow, Dorchester, cwt . . . . . . . . .11.20 Oats, No. 2, Heavy Minneapolis, MN, bu. . . . . . . . . . .3.60
8.01 8.04 16.96 13.29 4.02
8.58 7.67 17.09 13.07 3.99
Hay (per ton) Alfalfa, Lrg. Sq. Bales Good to Prem., NE Neb. . . . . .185.50 Alfalfa, Lrg. Rounds, Good, Platte Valley, . . . . . . . . .117.50 Grass Hay, Lrg. Rounds, Premium, Neb., . . . . . . . . .92.50 Dried Distillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204.50 Wet Distillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75.50 * No market.
242.50 242.50 220.00 212.50 155.00 185.00 307.50 292.00 120.88 103.63