By Scout Nelson
Daran Rudnick, a professor at Kansas State University and director of sustainable irrigation, sees a program comparing High Plains farmers' use of water management technologies as more than just a competition. Originating from the University of Nebraska's TAPS (Testing Ag Performance Solutions) program, Rudnick plans to expand the initiative in western Kansas.
TAPS is designed as a series of interactive farm management competitions, focusing on profitability and efficient input usage. Participating producers, hailing from Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Oklahoma, handle major decisions for their test plots with guidance from university researchers and extension staff. The program also garners support from industry leaders, agriculture students, and government regulators.
These competitions allow farmers to experience new technologies and management practices firsthand, rather than through brief demonstrations. It's a safe environment where they can experiment without the fear of failure, benchmarking their practices against others and trying out different approaches.
TAPS covers both irrigated and dryland farming and includes various crops like corn, sorghum, wheat, and cotton. Competitions start in March each year, with farmers vying for awards in profitability, input use efficiency, and grain yield, with cash prizes for the top performers.
For more information on this program, interested individuals can reach out to Daran Rudnick via email at drudnick@ksu.edu or phone at 712-204-6772.
This program symbolizes a shift towards more sustainable and efficient farming practices, providing a unique and engaging platform for farmers to enhance their water management techniques.
Photo Credit:istock-alenamozhjer
Categories: Kansas, Crops, Sustainable Agriculture