AGRICULTURE5A

MondAyFEbRUARy 1, 2016

Sidney Sun-TelegraphonLInE:www.suntelegraph.com

W ater conservation in irrigated crop production has to be viewed as a sys-tems approach to conserving water.

As I stated in previous articles I think water conser-vation starts with improving the performance of the soil.

Another key component to a systems approach to water conservation is choosing a dynamic crop rotation for your farm or ranch.

The crops you choose to produce have to be profitable, provide a good agronomic rotation, be relatively high in water use efficiency and require less irrigation for high yields.

On our farm we have chosen an irrigated crop rotation of corn, field peas and winter wheat, followed by a diverse forage crop and edible beans.

We added field peas to our irrigated rotation this past growing season.

I like this rotation for a number of reasons. We now have a rotation which includes all four crop types, warm and cool season grasses and legumes.

This rotation adds a lot of diversity to the rotation which is important. With this rotation we can break up persistent weed and disease cycles and rotate herbicides to lessen herbicide

resistance in weeds.We also have three fairly low water use crops

in our system with the winter wheat, edible beans and field peas. The win-ter wheat and field pea’s water use is also during the portion of the growing season when we receive our most precipi-tation on average. This helps lower our irrigation pumping

requirements for these crops.I also like this rotation from an agronom-

ic perspective. I think this rotation will work well for the crops we grow. Planting our win-ter wheat following field pea harvest allows us to get the winter wheat planted in a timely fashion. There also seems to be a synergism between winter wheat following the field peas where the winter wheat tends to have high yields.

I also like this rotation with the corn follow-ing the edible beans. The corn gets off to a bet-ter start by planting the corn into the edible bean stubble as opposed to planting the corn following the winter wheat stubble like we used to do. I think we will see higher corn yields with this new rotation.

The field peas tolerate the cooler tempera-tures when we plant them into the corn stub-

ble in the early spring. We also graze the corn stubble to eliminate some of the corn residues. The edible beans are planted into the diverse forage stubble which has been grazed. This allows us to manage the winter wheat stubble and forage crop residues as well. We use live-stock within this system to control the amount of residues we are planting into.

I also like the diversity this crop rotation provides from a soil microbe standpoint.

By planting all four crop types we are increasing the diversity and populations of soil microbes in the soil.

As we gain more knowledge of what these microbes can do for us I think this diversity will become increasingly important.

I think water conservation requires a sys-tems approach to get the most out of our water resource.

This systems approach requires soil that performs at a high level. This approach also requires careful consideration to the crops you are growing within your crop rotation.

Next week we’ll look at more components to our systems approach to waterconservation that we are utilizing on our farm.

We are looking at all aspects of water conser-vation to lower our irrigation pumping require-ments.

No Till notes: ‘Water Conservation, Part 3’

Mark WatsonPanhandle no till educator

Grain lower, livestock higher

CHICAGO (AP) — Grain futures were lower Monday in early trading on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Wheat for March delivery was 5 cents lower at $4.7420 a bush-el; March corn was 2 cents higher at $3.70 a bushel; March oats were 25 cents higher at $1.9860 a bushel; while March soybeans was .50 cent lower 8.8160 a bushel.

Beef higher and pork were higher the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

April live cattle was .63 cent higher at $1.3463 a pound; March feeder cattle was .73 cent higher at $1.5798 a pound; April lean hogs was .03 cent higher at $.7073 a pound.

HELP WANTEDC u s t o d i a l Position available Creek Valley School District is accepting applications for a Custodial position. The primary responsibilities will be custodial duties within the school district facilities. Duties and responsibilities may also include some general maintenance. The successful applicant must be able to lift 50 pounds and be able to complete numerous physical tasks throughout the workday. This position will also require the employee to drive a school bus. This is a 12 month hourly position with excellent family health coverage available. A comprehensive vacation and sick leave plan is also provided. Salary will be commensurate with duties and responsibilities. This position will be in the range of 50 hours per week. For more information, please contact the business office at 6th and Hayward Street in Chappell or call 308-874-2911. The district will be accepting applications through the end of the business day on February 9, 2016. The application is also available online at creekvalleystorm.com.

HELP WANTEDCustomer serviCe rePresentative. HLT Check Exchange: Cash handling, marketing & collections. Must have 6 months cash handling experience and valid drivers license. Paid days & holidays and bonus plan. Email resume to : bstillwell2@aol.com

toP quality Pressmen sought to run our Clovis, new mexiCo Press oPeration. This position includes overseeing the production of two daily newspapers, two weeklies, and several commercial print products. We want an experienced leader capable of handling training, ordering of supplies, and maintaining OSHA standards. Clovis Media, Inc. offers a benefits package (Health insurance, retirement, and vacation time) and a competitive salary. WE WILL PAY YOU WHAT YOU’RE WORTH. To apply, send resume to Patrick Cossel at pcstevenson@actaccess.net

Pt Janitorial/Cleaning, evenings, help needed. Available in Sidney. Must be depend-able, hard working and have a good attitude. Clean background check required. 970-571-3592 for more info.

HELP WANTEDstart your newsPaPer Career with us! The Pine Bluffs Post in Pine Bluffs, Wyo., has an opening for an intelligent, energetic reporter who can produce good, clean copy and create engaging page designs. The position will be responsible for a broad coverage area including city and county government, education, breaking news and will assist with sports. This is an excellent opportunity for recent college graduates or those looking to break into the newspaper industry. Photography and experience in Photoshop and InDesign are helpful but not required. To apply, please send resume and clippings to John Verser at publisher@suntelegraph.com.

exCellent business oPPortunity Very Profitable Home furnish-ings retailer, excellent location, proven sales record, retiring but will train. Located in Western NE For more info email inquiries to mkrening@centurytel.net

HELP WANTED* * r e w a r d i n g worK**Sidney caregivers need-ed to assist individu-als with housekeeping, meals, and light per-sonal care. Weekdays or weekends, AM or PM 3-5 hours per day $9.50/hour plus bonus. Caretech 1-800-991-7006.

APTS FOR LEASEstudio, 1 & 2 bedroom aPartments for lease. $450 & up, all utilities pd. 1 month deposit & background check. 308-254-0913

HOUSES FOR RENT2 bedroom house for rent in Sidney. Nice Location. $650. call 308-879-4523

MISC. FOR SALEfor sale: (2) h a n d C r a f t e d asPen tables. Aspen Table Measures - 58”L X 24” D X 24” H. Aspen Table Measures - 53” L X 21” D X 24” H.Call 308-250-0838. $450.00 each, cash price.

MISC.we buy aluminum Cans. WE PAY CASH. 955 BALL ST, SIDNEY. 254-7115.

STATEWIDESENRICH YOUR life helping international High School students through placing, supervising their American exchange program experience. P/T, flexible hours, travel incentives, extra income. Julia Bazal, midwest@iseusa.org.

STATEWIDESDESIGNER WANTED for Advertising/Graphic Arts position, full-time. Familiar with Adobe Suite, good creative, typing and organization skil ls. Qualif ied applicants wanted, but will train right person. Competitive wages/benefits. Jim or Julie Dickerson, Albion News, Albion, NE. Email: albnnuz@frontiernet.net; phone: 402-395-2115.

STATEWIDESAFFORDABLE PRESS Release service. Send your message to 170 newspapers across Nebraska for one low price! Call 1-800-369-2850 or www.nebpress.com for more details.

QLF TRANSPORTATION — Class A CDL Drivers/Tankers. Great pay, home weekends, and benefits! Potential of $60,000 plus per year! Contact Tony, 608-935-0915 ext. 16, www.qlf.com.

CLASSIFIEdS

SUbSCRIbE OR ADvERTISE TODAy!

ContaCt us at 308-254-2818

Wrestling Head CoaCH

Women’s soCCer Head CoaCH

Northeastern Junior College seeks enthusiastic and qualified

individuals to fill our new coaching positions. We are

excited to get these new programs up and running!

Complete information for these positions may be found on the NJC website at: http://www.njc.edu/Human-Resources or contact Human Resources at

970-521-6661. NJC is an EEO/AA Employer.

Dear Annie: Thank you once again for providing me the opportunity to reach out and thank our citizens for the care and support they provide to our veterans. Each year, Americans partici-pate in the National Salute to Veteran Patients by visiting and volunteering at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and by sending letters of thanks or Valentine’s Day cards to those who have protected our nation. This year’s National Salute is Feb.14-20, and we again encourage commu-nities across the country to take part in this effort to honor our hospitalized veterans.

Last year, 333,871 Valentine’s Day cards were received at VA medical centers, along with 16,279 visits to an esti-mated 99,238 hospitalized vet-eran patients. I thank you and your readers for your work in bringing attention to this wor-thy cause. Of special note, VA Voluntary Service recruited 703 new volunteers during last

year’s Valentines for Veterans Concert Series.

In order to better focus our strengths, VA is undergoing the largest restructuring in the

Department’s his-tory with the sin-gular goal of mak-ing VA easier for veterans to navi-gate. This initiative, called MyVA, will create a more veter-

an-centric organization, with the ultimate goal being to improve care, services and benefits for America’s veterans.

As the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, I encourage your thoughtful readers to again take time this February to honor our veterans. As always, thank you for your support of this outstanding program. For more information regarding the National Salute and volun-teer opportunities, please visit VA’s voluntary service Web page at volunteer.va.gov. Sincerely – Robert A. McDonald, Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Dear Secretary McDonald: Every year, our readers impress

us with their outpouring of grat-itude for our veterans through the Valentines for Vets program. We know they will come through again. The veterans so appreci-ate these valentines and letters. Teachers, scouting groups, com-munity organizations, houses of worship and social organiza-tions have used this program to encourage young people to become involved in their com-munity and learn about the meaning of service from our vet-erans.

Sending a valentine or volun-teering at one of the VA medi-cal facilities is a wonderful way to express our gratitude to those who have served our country. The veterans would be especially thrilled if you could spend a few minutes visiting in person. Start by telling them how much you appreciate their service. Then ask about their families and their hometowns.

Teachers, you have always been so supportive in making this a class project. We hope you will encourage your students to display their creativity and learn firsthand the satisfaction that

comes from doing for others. Every year, the dedicated mem-bers of Camp Fire USA partici-pate and Salvation Army volun-teers distribute valentines, gifts and refreshments at various VA facilities around the country.

If you do not live close enough to a VA facility to drop off your valentines in person, it’s perfect-ly OK to put them in the mail. Look in your phone book for the nearest VA facility, or go to the VA website at www.va.gov.

We can never repay these cou-rageous veterans for the sac-rifices they have made on our behalf, but we can take the time to cheer them up and let them know they have not been forgot-ten. We know of nothing else that costs so little and brings so much happiness. – Marcy and Kathy

Dear Annie: I love your advice and almost always agree with you. But “Tired of Sex, So Blame Me” said her husband is sexually selfish and was like that in his 20s and 30s. She says sex is still all about him.

If he was sexually selfish in his 20s, why did she marry him?

And if she was willing to marry him knowing this, what on earth makes her think he would change? Your advice was sound, but I also think she needs to accept some of the responsibility for her current situation. – B.

Dear B.: We agree that too many spouses marry with the unrealistic expectation that the partner will change. But we also know that it serves no purpose to chastise someone for a poor decision made 30 years ago.

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to annies-mailbox@creators.com, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. You can also find Annie on Facebook at Facebook.com/AskAnnies. To find out more about Annie’s Mailbox and read features by other Creators Syndicate writ-ers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2016 CREATORS.COM

Annie's Mailbox

kathy Mitchell & Marcy sugarcreators Syndicate