Jerry A. Wright, Associate Professor and Extension Engineer

Phone:  320-589-1711
E-mail:  jwright@umn.edu

B.S., Agricultural Engineering, North Dakota State University, May 1967
M.S., Agricultural Engineering, North Dakota State University, Feb 1969

Areas of Interest
 
My main focus over the past 30 years at the University has been in the area of irrigation system and water management. Work on irrigation water management research and demonstration projects has been done mainly on sandy soils in central Minnesota with utilizing center pivots and in recent years drip irrigation within high tunnel hort production systems. A variety of crops have been involved over the years including blueberries, melons, tomatoes, corn, lupines, soybeans, dry beans and potatoes. Projects have involved farmers (conventional ag and farmer market growers), crop consultants, local soil and water conservation technicians and numerous University colleagues in agronomy, economics, horticulture, soils, and plant pathology departments. Extension work has involved hosting numerous presentations on irrigation water management, irrigation system options and fertigation for various crops with farmers as well as developing extension publication and conducting energy and water uniformity field tests on center pivots and drip systems.


Selected Publications
 
Wright, J, T. Nennich, N. Krause, D Wildung and L. Zilliox.  2007.  High Tunnel Trellising. Chapter 6b in Minnesota High Tunnel Production Manual for Commercial Growers.  M1218.  University of Minnesota Extension. Website http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/M1218.html 

Rosen, C, J Wright & T. Nennich. February 2007.  2006 Fertility Research in High Tunnels.  Upper Midwest Fruit and Vegetable Growers - 2007 Conference Proceedings. St. Cloud, MN.

Wright, J. February 2006. Drip Irrigation Management for High Tunnel Growers.   Upper Midwest Fruit and Vegetable Growers - 2006 Conference Proceedings. St. Cloud, MN.

Hutchinson, W., F. Pfleger, C. Rosen, L. Hertz, V. Fritz, J. Wright and R. Burrows.  Revised 2006 (1991). Growing Asparagus in Minnesota: A Production Guide. Minnesota Extension Service. Bulletin AG-FO-1861. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1861.html

Wright, J. and T. Scherer. Spring 2005.  Water Usage and Irrigation for Small Grains. In Small Grains Field Guide.  Bulletin # MI-7488-S. ed. J. Wiersma.  University of Minnesota Extension Service http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/cropsystems/DC7488.html

Foster, R., et al.  January 2004.  Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers - 2004. Sections on chemigation equipment management and irrigation water management. University of Minnesota & Purdue University. Bulletin BU-7094 and web site http://www.entm.purdue.edu/Entomology/ext/targets/ID/index.htm

Extension Programs
 
a. Irrigated Pasture and Soil Water Monitoring Project. Central Minnesota Irrigators Annual Meeting. 25th January 2007. Wadena, MN.

b. Irrigation water management educational meeting for producers scheduled 10th July in Morris.

c. Irrigation project update talk at the annual IAM convention in Sauk Centre on Feb 6th . 2007

d. Beginning growers workshop sponsored by Extension and MnFVGA. Feb 2, 2007. St Cloud, MN. Partnered with several Extension colleagues and MFVGA board in developing the program agenda. Made a presentation on irrigation systems.

e. Irrigated Dairy Grazing Pasture Tour. 18th July 2007.

f. Irrigation Management Tour. July 31st, 2007.  University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Hasting, Minnesota.  Presentation on irrigation water management tools.

g. High Tunnel Systems for Commercial Vegetable Production Workshop. Assisted Hort team in organizing workshop in partnership with Mn Extension and Central Regional Partnership.  13 December 2007 in Detroit Lakes on drip irrigation systems.