Organizers hope to focus on the newly
revised Illinois Drainage Guide, which will be available in the
summer of 2005. This guide, last revised in 1984, will be introduced
by Richard Cooke, associate professor in agricultural and biological
engineering. Cooke says the current guide will reflect many new
developments related to the use of new equipment and materials, the
widespread use of computers, and water quality considerations.
"The book version of the guide also
includes new information on drainage water management, design of
grassed waterways, design charts for smooth pipes and an economic
calculator," said Cooke. "And there's a Web-based version that
offers depth and spacing information, design of grassed waterways,
and other information found in the book, all in easy-to-use
interactive tables."
Other topics to be discussed at the
workshops are:
"Drainage Concepts," with Bill
Simmons, associate professor in soil and water management. Simmons
will focus on the effects of subsurface and surface drainage on
production and the ecosystem.
"Principles of Conservation
Drainage," with Professor Cooke. His research has focused on the
effect that tile depth and spacing has on drainage performance and
the transport of nitrates.
"Constituents of Tile Water," with
Mike Hirschi, professor in agricultural and biological engineering.
Hirschi will discuss ways to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous loss
through drainage management.
There will also be discussions on
drainage law and new technologies, as well as a contractor's panel
that will discuss local issues and provide an installer's
perspective on drainage systems.
Qualified participants in the
workshop can earn 4.5 Certified Crop Advisor credits for soil and
water management and a half-credit for professional development, for
a total of five credits.
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The seminars run from 9 a.m. to 3:30
p.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. A registration fee of
$25 is due one week before each meeting and includes a noon luncheon
and take-home materials.
Here are the dates, locations and
contact information for each seminar:
Feb. 14 -- Bremer (DACC) Convention
Center, Danville. Send registrations to U of I Extension - Vermilion
County, 25 East Liberty Lane, Suite A, Danville, IL 61832. Phone
(217) 442-8615.
Feb. 15 -- Center for Agriculture,
Sycamore. Send registrations to U of I Extension - DeKalb County,
1350 West Prairie Drive, Sycamore, IL 60178. Phone (815) 758-8194.
Feb. 17 -- Ty's Buffet, Olney. Send
registrations to U of I Extension - Richland Unit, P.O. Box 130,
Olney, IL 62450. Phone (618) 395-2191 or (618) 943-5018.
Feb. 18 -- Knox Agri Center,
Galesburg. Send registrations to U of I Extension - Knox County, 180
S. Soangetaha Road, Suite 108, Galesburg, IL 61401. Phone (309)
342-5108.
For more information, phone Stanley
Solomon, U of I Extension engineering technology educator at the
East Peoria Extension Center, at (309) 694-7501, ext. 223, or e-mail
him at jssolomo@uiuc.edu. You
may also contact your local U of I Extension office.
[University of Illinois news release]
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