VALLEY — Managing water is key to growing crops in the San Luis Valley. We provide water through irrigation to grow the multitude of crops we do in our high mountain desert. Knowing evapotranspiration (ET) rates can help irrigators know when they need to irrigate or when they can conserve water.

With the lack of winter moisture and rainfall this spring, access to reliable ET values is critical for the sustainable management of our water resources. Now, more than ever, it is easy to receive local crop ET values delivered directly to your cellphone. The source of these ET values is the Colorado Agricultural Meteorological Network (CoAgMet) system, which is administered through Colorado State University (CSU). Now, CSU is making it easy for farmers to access local ET values by way of a text messaging service. This is a FREE service and takes only a few minutes to create a profile that will deliver personalized crop ET values for your specific crop from the nearest CoAgMet weather station.

If you would like to take advantage of this FREE service follow these simple instruction. 1) Visit the website coagmet.colostate.edu, 2) scroll down the page and click on the link titled CoAgMet Text Message Service, 3) click “Sign Up!” button, 4) follow the prompts and enter the necessary information (there is no need to give an SMS address), 5) Select the appropriate information you wish to receive (For example, if you grow potatoes near Monte Vista, be sure to select the correct station and check the box titled “Potatoes”. You can also specify when you want the text delivered to your phone.), 6) be sure to click “Update this account”! To ensure you have set up your account correctly, simply click the “Test” button.

Whether you are interested in irrigation scheduling, or simply wish to stretch you’re water a little farther, ET based irrigation management is a great choice for improving the efficiency of irrigated systems. If you have any questions, or would like any help, please contact: Blake Osborn, Water Resources Specialist, [email protected] or (719) 545-1845.

For more information on crop water use and the ET Stations, contact Blake Osborn, Water Resource Specialist, CSU Extension at [email protected] or the Colorado State University Extension Office in Monte Vista at 719-852-7381.

Please feel free to visit our website at: http://sanluisvalley.colostate.edu for information about services provided.

Extension programs are available to all without discrimination, Colorado State University Extension, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating.