01/25/05 Website offers irrigation projections

Over 2 million acres of southern Idaho farm and ranch lands get their irrigation water from snowmelt and reservoir storage. In the past, surface-water irrigators have relied on basin-wide estimates to project their water supplies. Now, University of Idaho agricultural engineer Brad King, along with Ralph Oborn and Chris Intosh has developed a statistical approach that projects the probability and severity of water shortages. King says they have three components on their web site to help potato growers get information down to the irrigation-district level. KING "You could at least have a quantified number on what the probably of a water shortage is, look at different irrigation management scenarios and cultural scenarios in terms of seed spacing and variety and that type of stuff. And then go and look at the economics and try to quantify what you risk is and determine what course of action would minimize your risk" January predictions will be updated for February, March and April. KING "Nobody knows what Mother Nature is going to do. Mother Nature bats last." The water supply estimates will be available to growers every year between January and April. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott