2015 Riser Participants Needed.

The RISER program is designed to assist producers in reducing water use while maintaining yield and profitability. Growers participating in the RISER program agree to allow  the MSU researcher to manage the irrigation decisions on one field while the producer manages another field using his management style. We are in the planning process for the 2015 Riser Trials and are looking for growers interested in participating. We would prefer growers that currently are NOT using PHAUCET or any irrigation timing devices or sensors on their fields. If you are interested in participating this year, please contact your County Extension Agent or Jason Krutz at 662 588 8974

Results from the 2014 RISER program, even with the excessive amounts of rainfall, were very impressive.  In 2014, the RISER program continued to emphasize computerized hole selection (PHAUCET or Pipe Planner) as the number one priority. The addition of soil moisture probes continued to prove their utility for irrigation scheduling, while surge valves added to irrigation efficiency.

When averaged over two years and five locations, the RISER soybean trial yields were equivalent to the fields managed by the producer. Water use was reduced by 28% and water use efficiency improved by 27%. Producer profitability was increased by $11.20 per acre.  Similarly, the RISER corn trials consisted of  ten locations during this two-year study. The results from the RISER trials indicated the need for an irrigation timing tool such as moisture sensors. When utilizing moisture sensors to trigger irrigation, MSU researchers were able to reduce water use by 4.8 acre inches, over a 50% reduction, relative to the producer. Corn yields were equivalent, but overall profitability was increased by $37 per acre.