Chemigation Safety

Jerry Wright, Associate Professor and Extension Engineer, West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, MN
George Rehm, Gary Malzer, and Carl Rosen, Professors, Soil, Water, and Climate
William Hutchison, Associate Professor and Extension Entomologist
Rick Foster, Extension Entomologist, Purdue University Extension Service
Bruce Montgomery and John Peckham, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Objective

Enhance irrigators’, irrigation suppliers’, and crop advisors’ understanding of the benefits, limitations, safety regulations, and management practices for application of agrichemicals in irrigation water. The goal is to protect groundwater and the general public from potential health risks.

Need or Impact

Chemigation of nitrogen is recognized as a water quality protection best management practice for a portion of the corn plants nitrogen needs. Chemigation, if not properly installed and operated, has the potential of causing degradation to the water supply via backflow or spillage at the site. Chemigation is used by about 1/3 of the irrigation systems in Minnesota. Three extension publications are maintained to provide information to interested farmers and others. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture distributed one bulletin to every irrigating farmer and includes the bulletin in each new requested permit application folder.

Status

Ongoing.