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<br />001796 <br /> <br />used. This was the period of organization of ditch companies, which <br />were developed to divert water from the rivers. Many of these, he <br />pointed out, found their water supply source inadequate. The early <br />1900's saw the expansion of pumping from underground storage using <br />deeper wells. The use of internal combustion machines and electricity <br />was initiated from 1920 to 1940. Expansion was extremely slow and <br />almost al I was from pumping plants--either streambank or well. From <br />1945 to t~e present. irrigation expanded rapidly, principally by more <br />deep wells and organization of irrigation districts to use the water <br />storage developed by the Bureau of Reclamation. <br /> <br />Mr. Herpich pointed out the beginning of the appl ication of scientific <br />technology probably vias about 1945. However, it was not until thi, <br />early 1950's that land development, rate of application, length of <br />runs. etc., were accepted. That period also was the beginning of <br />the philosophy, according to Mr. Herpich, of "interrelated production <br />input technologies." Begun during this period were greater use of <br />fertilizers, plahting rates, various varieties of plants, and some <br />enterprise managemerit. in the late 1950's, .interest began in <br />scientific water management, the initiation of irrigation-developed <br />farm programs, and greater concern about water appl ication. The <br />mid-1960's was a period of more rapid acceptance of new scientific <br />technologies. These included the use of water measurement (instruments <br />and recording devices), water management (including the techniques of <br />application), tail water management, and drainage. In the late 1960's, <br />more and more irrigators began to appreciate the value of water to <br />both themselves and their community. <br /> <br />Mr. Herpich described the extension education program which has been <br />developed in Kansas. He pointed out that prior to 1949 the program <br />was largely concentrated on irrigation well construction and land <br />development with emphasis placed on a piecemeal approach on small <br />tracts of land. Beginning in 1949 through the late 1950's, emphasis <br />was placed on a coordinated approach. During this period, the <br />irrigation development farm program was initiated. Water measurement <br />on irrigation development farms was initiated. In addition, emphasis <br />was placed on well construction, project type development (Bureau <br />projects), and pipelines for underground and surface water delivery <br />to the field. The emphasis on community benefits from irrigation <br />development and consideration of crop production technology have been <br />stressed from \960 to date. Here the emphasis has been on irrigation <br />development. The principal thrust has been on irrigation water <br />management, including the measurement of water, its application, and <br />drainage (particularly in connection with the rapid expansion in <br />recent years of sprinklers). Emphasis has been placed on problems <br />in irrigation district projects. There have also been studies on the <br />use of feedlot runoff for irrigation. Mr. Herpich cited an example <br />of the efficiency resulting from the installation of a meter. He <br />pointed out in 1964, Dale Will iams irrigated about 189 acres of land <br />in Grant County. He appl ied 78 inches of water to this land, <br />producing sugar beets. In 1965. after he installed a meter, he <br /> <br />5. <br />