May 15, 2018 – How to maintain a pasture and improve water management and system efficiency will be the topic of a free workshop on May 19. The workshop will be held at a private ranch in Penn Valley and feature indoor andoutdoor presentations.

Nevada Irrigation District (NID), Nevada County Resource Conservation District and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources are sponsors of the event.

The primary presenter will be Dan Macon, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) livestock and natural resources advisor. Read more about him here.

Workshop topics will include:

• Understanding the physical and biological characteristics of soil
• Estimating soil moisture
• Types of sprinkler and flood pasture irrigation
• Irrigation management and scheduling to improve efficiency
• Fertilization strategies
• Irrigated pasture forages commonly planted
• Grazing management practices for irrigated pastures

The irrigated pasture management workshop will be held from 8-11:30 am on Saturday, May 19. Participants are asked to bring a chair, walking shoes and sunscreen. Light refreshments will be provided. The workshop is free, but participants must pre-register. For more information or to register, contact Kaycee Strong at NID 530-273-6185 ext. 244 or strongk@nidwater.com

Since 1921, NID has provided agricultural water to support area farms and ranches. Today, the District irrigates more than 31,000 acres in Nevada, Placer and Yuba counties. The water is collected from a high mountain watershed, stored for a period of time in the District’s reservoirs and then released into a canal system that meanders through the counties. Ranchers purchase NID water through service outlets along the canals to irrigate their pastures. Read more here.