The Minnesota Irrigator Program (MIP) is a 3-day, in-person course offered to irrigators and irrigation professionals to help you match irrigation with crop water use, improve water use efficiency, and reduce water costs.
Topics covered include:
- The soil-plant-water relationship
- Irrigation scheduling for your soil and crops
- How to incorporate nutrient management and irrigation best management practices)
- How to select the right sprinkler packages
- And special topics such as variable rate irrigation and use of remote sensors in irrigation
MIP is one of the requirements for the Irrigation Endorsement to the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). Participants are required to attend all three days of the course to become certified.
Certified education credits (CEUs) are offered for Certified Crop Advisers.
The April 2025 program that was scheduled for the Sherburne History Center in Becker has been postponed. Check this page for updates.
Contact Tim Gieseke, [email protected], with questions.
In addition to learning about the most effective irrigation management practices, completing the MIP is one of the requirements to attain the Irrigation Endorsement of the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. Certified farms will receive the endorsement with proof of attendance to this program and the adoption of a new irrigation practice or scheduling method on-farm.
Tim Gieseke, Extension educator
[email protected] or 507-766-9495
Jackie Estrem, Extension educator
[email protected] or 763-765-3075
Vasudha Sharma, Extension irrigation specialist
[email protected] or 612-626-4986
Nutradrip
R.D. Offutt
Nelson Irrigation
Minnesota Department of Ag
Earthscout
Minnesota Corn Growers Association
As a sponsor for the Minnesota Irrigation Program, you will network, gain exposure, and directly support irrigators, their consultants, and local government staff in their efforts to improve water use efficiency and crop and food production.
Our in-person event is designed to educate 25 participants (20 irrigators, 5 local technical staff) each year who are all interested in irrigation water management and its effect on crop production. It consists of three in-class sessions in the spring and a field day in the summer.
As a sponsor, we invite you to share promotional materials and attend the sessions.
Contact Tim Gieseke at [email protected] or 507-766-9495, for more information on becoming a sponsor.