High natural gas prices have agricultural producers searching for alternative energy sources for irrigation. The economic feasibility of electric and hybrid (electric/wind) systems are evaluated as alternatives to natural gas powered irrigation. Texas Panhandle and Southern Kansas farms are assessed with a quarter-mile sprinkler system, three crops, and two pumping lifts. Breakeven points identify the price at which conversion from a natural gas irrigation system to an electric or hybrid system is cost effective. Results indicate electricity is a more feasible energy source for irrigation and policy changes such as net metering are necessary to make hybrid systems viable.

HIGHLIGHTSUniversity extension has been playing a larger role, serving a larger number of irrigated farms.Extension programs in irrigation water management (IWM) have been transitioning away from lectures and field tours as the primary means of knowledge transfer.New IWM programs focus on experiential learning, development of practitioner networks, and industry participation.Abstract. Promotion and adoption of irrigation water management (IWM) technology, tools, and best management practices are important as water availability concerns are addressed. Traditional extension programs have relied on lecture presentations, field tours, fact sheets, and on-station demonstrations to promote IWM practices and tools. However, these platforms tend not to provide the experience and opportunity for growers to identify and become comfortable with innovative solutions, such as new technology. To address these challenges and to appeal to an ever-changing client base, innovative and locally relevant extension and outreach programs have been devised to engage and educate growers. This article describes some of these programs that extend beyond previous traditional programs to connect growers with IWM. Keywords: Demonstrations, Experiential learning, Grower competition, Outreach, Practitioner networks.

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This report analyzes the economic and epidemiologic impact of eight alternative bovine brucellosis programs in terms of their costs and benefits to society. consumers, producers and related agricultural industries. BRUSIM. a systems simulation model, was developed to measure the impact of various program components upon selected epidemiologic parameters and for determining associated costs and physical losses of brucellosis control/eradication programs for 1976 through 2005. The UnitedStates was delineated into 16 regions based upon such factors as prevalence, producer characteristics and cattle population.TECHSIM. an econometric model, was used for determining the total and net benefits accruing to society, consumers, producers, and related industries as a result of changes in beef and milk losses from alternative programs compared to a base program.The discounted values and associated program costs were used for determining benefit/cost ratios and related economic decision criteria. Cette itude analyse le choc iconomique et e'pid6miologique de huit programmes alternatifs de la brucellose pour bovine en termes de leurs coots et avantages pour la sociit6, les consommateurs, les producteurs et les industries agricoles reliies. BRUSIM, un mode'le de simulation de systime. a it6 diveloppi pour mesurer le choc de divers composants d'un programme sur les paramstres 6pid6miologiques choisis et pour dgterminer les cocts associis et les pertes physiques des programmes de contr6le ou d'iradication de la brucellose de I'annbe 1976 i travers 2005. Les Etats-Unis ont btQ divisis $n I6 rigions dependant des facteurs tels que la privalance, les caracteristiques de producteur et la population d e b6tail. TECHSIM, un modale iconomitrique. a i t 6 utilisi pour diterminer les b6nCfices totals et nets que retirent la sociiti. les consommateurs, les producteurs, et les industries relibes 2 cause des changements dans les pertes de rendement de viande et de lait dD aux programmes alterna-The research reported in this paper was funded by Veterinary Services, APHIS, U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. Technical Article 21063 of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. tifs en comparaison avec le programme de base. Les valeurs es,compties et les cou^ts associis des programmes ont it6 utilisis pour determiner les rapports cou^ts-bin&fices et les critires de dicisions iconomiques re] iis. The Co-operative State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program, which was established in 1934, has been highly successful in reducing brucellosis infection in United States cattle herds. Bovine brucellosis reactors as identified by the market cattle identification (MCI) program decreased from .97 percent o f the total cattle tested in 1966 to .31 percent in 1984 (Beal 1985). Further, initial follow-up tests o f the brucellosis ring test (BRT) suspicious herds which were found infected declined from 1,653 in I967 to 197 in 1984 (Beal 1985). Canada's brucellosis experience paralleled that of the United States unt...