Sign up for the 2014 Drainage Systems Workshop

Learn the tricks to subsurface drainage systems at hands-on workshop

Written by · January 8, 2014

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As extreme weather conditions such as floods and drought keep occurring, more Missouri farmers are looking to integrated water management systems to ensure crop yields.

To learn more about this advancing technology the University of Missouri along with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Missouri Land Improvement Contractors Association (MLICA) host a Drainage Workshop in Columbia on February 12 to 14. The three-day workshop will involve education in the latest techniques involved with the design and installation of integrated water management systems and hands-on design training for landowners and contractors.

Informational talks will include water movement through soils, the importance of on-site evaluations, utility management and industry updates from Missouri’s NRCS engineers. For those looking to get into management systems, a review of planning considerations and engineering standards will be presented.

Highlighted will be the results from studies performed by MU researchers at the Greenley Research Center in northeast Missouri. For the last several years different systems have been tested at the center in northeast Missouri operated by the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) in hopes to help Missouri landowners find which system works best.

The second half of the workshop will involve attendees creating designs based on real-life situations. Panel discussions will allow the attendees to get feedback on their decisions from industry representatives, drainage contractors, landowners and MU experts.

knelson[1]Kelly Nelson, MU research agronomist
“This workshop is a great opportunity for people to come and learn about how the systems work and the real-world scenarios and decisions you will encounter,” said Kelly Nelson, CAFNR research agronomist. “Each year we fill up the workshop with folks from across the Midwest who come out to learn this technology.”

Nelson added that the workshop also is a great time to interact with industry professionals and for contractors to get information on the latest studies and technology.

The workshop will be held at the Holiday Inn East, located at 915 Port Way on the northeast corner of Columbia. The hotel is easily accessible from Interstate 70, off the Lake of the Woods Exit 131 from the highway.

Pre-registration is required by February 5 and can be made by calling 573-634-3001 or emailing MLICA@aol.com. Fees are $50 per person and should be sent to The University of Missouri at 1101 W. High St., Jefferson City, MO 65109.

Hotel accommodations can be made at the Holiday Inn East by calling 573-474-4444. Make room reservations by January 29 and mention the MO LICA group to receive a discounted rate.

For more information about the research being done at Greenley Research Center visit http://aes.missouri.edu/greenley/ or contact Kelly Nelson at 660-739-4410 or by email at NelsonKe@missouri.edu.

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