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Ec98-770 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Worksheet 5: Fertilizer Storage And Handling, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Fertilizers play a vital role in agriculture. Over the years, fertilizers have increased farm production dramatically. Commercial fertilizer is, however, a major source of nitrate. Your drinking water is least likely to be contaminated if you follow appropriate management procedures or dispose of wastes off the farm site. However, proper offsite disposal practices are essential to avoid risking contamination that could affect the water supplies and health of others.

Ec98-769 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 5: Improving Fertilizer Storage And Handling, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Fertilizer storage practices If stored safely in a secure location, fertilizers pose little danger to groundwater. Common sense suggests keeping fertilizer dry and out of the way of activities that might rip open a bag or allow rain to enter a bulk container.

Ec98-768 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Worksheet 4: Pesticide Storage And Handling, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Pesticides are showing up where they’re not wanted — in our drinking water. If pesticides are not handled and stored correctly around the farm, they can seep through the ground after a leak or spill, or enter a well directly during mixing and loading. Pesticides play an important role in agriculture. They have increased farm production and enabled farmers to manage more acres with less labor.

Ec98-767 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 4: Improving Pesticide Storage And Handling, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

We’ll look at five areas of pesticide management on your farm: 1. pesticide storage practices 2. mixing and loading practices 3. spill cleanup 4. container disposal practices 5. other management practices When handling pesticides, wear proper protective clothing and equipment at all times. See the pesticide label for details.

Ec98-793 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Worksheet 16: Crop Pesticide Application Management, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Pesticides are important agricultural production tools that provide many benefits. Pesticides have been developed and used because human beings compete with insects, weeds, diseases and rodents for food, fiber and habitation. Proper management of these pests requires a responsible, systematic approach, which Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provides.

Ec98-791 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Worksheet 15: Irrigation Wellhead Protection, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Nebraska’s 80,000+ irrigation wells can provide a direct conduit for contaminants to reach groundwater supplies unless properly located, constructed, and protected. Groundwater is the source of drinking water for essentially all of Nebraska’s rural residents and most residents of our towns and cities. It is critical that every effort be made to protect groundwater quality. Irrigation wells can be constructed and maintained to assure that groundwater quality is protected. Improperly constructed or maintained wells can allow bacteria, pesticides, fertilizers, oil products, or other pollutants to contaminate groundwater.

Ec98-790 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Worksheet 14: Crop Nutrient Application Management, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Most Nebraska farmers apply some source of plant nutrients to help improve their crop production each year. Nutrients come from applied chemical fertilizers, manure or sewage sludge, and soil organic matter or legumes. When nutrients move off site or leach out of the root zone, they can pose a threat to the environment and the water we drink.

Ec98-789 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 14: Improving Crop Nutrient Application Management, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Economics, energy and the environment are three primary reasons to be concerned about nutrient management, especially nitrogen (N) management. Nitrogen ranks high on a list of sixteen nutrients needed for the health of most plants, but unfortunately it also ranks high as a contaminant of Nebraska’s surface and groundwater. Most other nutrients occur naturally in the soil. Besides nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the nutrients most often added to Nebraska soils.

Ec98-795 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 17: Improving Stormwater Management At Residential Sites, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Stormwater is water from irrigation, rain or melting snow that does not soak into the ground. It flows from rooftops, over paved areas and bare soil, and across sloped lawns. As it flows, this runoff can collect and transport soil, pet waste, livestock manure, salt, pesticides, fertilizer, oil and grease, leaves, litter and other potential pollutants. A heavy rainstorm isn’t needed to send pollutants rushing toward streams, wetlands and lakes. A garden hose alone can supply enough water.

G98-1363 Container Gardening (Revised September 2004), Anne Streich, Kim Todd, Kelly Feehan

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Container gardening has many advantages. People with physical limitations may appreciate the ability to garden without bending over or kneeling. Container gardens can also bring the garden closer to one's home or outdoor living area, such as along a sidewalk that is accessible from a wheelchair. Container gardens can place culinary herbs close to the kitchen to be snipped and used in cooking. Container gardens on patios or decks give people with limited outdoor space, such as an apartment and townhome dwellers, the opportunity to enjoy plants.

Growing flowers, vegetables, and other plants in containers provides many gardening opportunities to …

G98-1354 Irrigating Corn, Brian Benham

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses corn irrigation strategies options and objectives.

There are over 16 million acres in harvested row crop production in Nebraska. About 8 million of these acres are irrigated. Corn occupies approximately 70 percent of the irrigated acreage, or 5.6 million acres. Given this, improving irrigation management on corn production can have significant positive impacts on the quantity and quality of Nebraska's most precious resource: water.

Nfs-1 Forestry Best Management Practices For Nebraska

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

A reference guide for loggers, landowners and managers.

Nebraska's Forest Resource

Forests cover 947,000 acres in Nebraska. Other land with scattered tree cover, including narrow wooded strips along streams, windbreaks, and wooded pasture lands, occupy an additional 1,252,000 acres. Managing Nebraska's forest lands can produce significant benefits without negative impacts; however, careless activities in woodlands can damage water resources, soils, wildlife habitat, aesthetic values, and even the ability to produce future benefits.

G98-1372 Management Recommendations For Blocked-End Furrow Irrigation, Dean E. Eisenhauer, Brian L. Benham

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Proper blocked-end furrow irrigation management practices can minimize water application, irrigation costs and the leaching of agri-chemicals below the root zone.

The goal of every irrigator should be to apply the right amount of water uniformly to meet crop needs. To do this, irrigators need to know how much water is applied and where it goes. In other words, they need to know how uniformly the irrigation water infiltrates into the soil profile. Achieving a uniform water application is not easy when using furrow irrigation. However, with a better understanding of how irrigation system management affects water distribution and a …