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K-State updates irrigation FUELCOST software programKansas Kansas State University has updated FUELCOST, the irrigation fuel cost-analysis software program designed for agricultural producers who irrigate cropland. "Energy inputs are such a significant cost to producers and this tool can help them consider fuel source alternatives and analyze pumping costs to determine if they're appropriate to the pumping conditions," said Danny Rogers, agricultural engineer with K-State Research and Extension. The FUELCOST program is on the Mobile Irrigation Lab website at http://mobileirrigationlab.com. By using their farm's irrigation system characteristics and fuel information, the program can help producers evaluate how well their current irrigation pumping plant is performing, compared to a properly designed and operating system. Other options include estimating pumping costs for various conditions, comparing energy sources, and evaluating the economics of upgrades or repairs. FUELCOST is a standalone program that is downloaded onto a farmer's computer, Rogers said. It has been reorganized to allow the analysis features to be accessed in a much more user-friendly fashion. "With the upgrades, a menu-driven program also allows the user to reach the desired analysis option before any field inputs are required," Rogers said. More information about crop irrigation in Kansas is available from K-State Research and Extension at county and district extension offices and online at www.ksre.ksu.edu/pr_irrigate.
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