MSU Extension Irrigation

This presentation was delivered by Stephen Boyer, Superintendent of the Pinney Purdue Ag Center in Wanatah, Indiana, at the Michiana Irrigated Corn & Soybean Conference on February 26, 2024, in Shipshewana, Indiana.

It highlights the importance of data-informed irrigation decisions rather than relying on anecdotal cues like neighboring activity. Boyer introduces practical tools developed by MSU and Purdue—ranging from simple charts to Excel-based schedulers—that help growers determine when and how much to irrigate based on crop growth stage, weather conditions, and soil water holding capacity. The presentation features examples using corn and soybean water need charts and demonstrates how to use the MSU Irrigation Scheduler spreadsheet with real field data from the Mary S. Rice Farm pivot system.