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Newly hired ag engineer to boost Panhandle irrigation programTexas Nich Kenny has been on the job for a month finding out just how the water flows in the Texas Panhandle--irrigation water, that is. Kenny, a Texas AgriLife Extension Service agriculture engineer, joined Leon New in the Amarillo district office in April to learn how the AgriLife Extension system works with county agents and clientele. "My goal is to become very familiar with all the irrigation systems here so I can provide expertise as farmer's needs arise," Kenny said. "Leon is my mentor in the process, with his 40-plus years of experience in this area." New is the AgriLife Extension irrigation specialist in the Panhandle, and has coordinated crop-watering programs ranging from row-water irrigation to center pivot and drip irrigation. "Nich is eager to learn the irrigation systems and crop production practices and get out into the field to work with producers, especially in the area of irrigation power and fuel requirements and pumping costs," New said. "This is where I think he will excel and be a special resource to farmers during this fuel price crisis." Kenny, a native of Yuma, Ariz., earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and most recently served as president and owner of NPK Inc., an engineering and agricultural applications consulting company. In that position, he said he oversaw projects in Arizona concerning effluent reuse facilities, landfill and waste handling operations, wildlife habitats and a variety of irrigation methods, including flood, drip and sprinkler. "Engineering principles are universal, but the implementation is dependent on the local practices and parameters," Kenny said. Soil and weather conditions, crop timing and scale of operations are all different here, as well as water quality and quantity, he said. Another difference is the wide variance between progressive and traditional producers, with the challenge being to meet each operation's unique needs. "Nich has an excellent ag engineering background and has some excellent practical knowledge of irrigation systems, so I am excited about him joining the AgriLife team in Amarillo," said Dr. Galen Chandler, AgriLife Extension district administrator. ------CUTLINE------ Nich Kenny has joined the irrigation program for Texas AgriLife Extension Service in the High Plains. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Kay Ledbetter) 6/16/08 Date: 6/10/08
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