Reinke and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) have announced an educational initiative to provide the latest in center-pivot irrigation technology and hands-on training to students enrolled in the Irrigation Technician Concentration. September kicks-off the first official class of students enrolled in the two semester concentration program.
“Today, we salute a public-private partnership between Reinke and NCTA that focuses on educating a future workforce of technicians and supporting the need for agriculture in our communities and around the world,” said Reinke President Chris Roth. “We are excited to be a part of this important educational initiative to train our future agricultural leaders, and we look forward to providing continued support to NCTA.”
Reinke partnered with NCTA in Curtis, Neb., to further enhance the Irrigation Technician Concentration, responding to the demand for skilled technicians across the U.S. and globally. The 34 credit program provides students with necessary skills for service technician positions in the irrigation industry. Key courses in electricity, welding, safety, mathematics and communications are included in the program as well as a culminating course in Mechanized Irrigation Systems. Irrigation courses also focus on best practices in water use efficiency and utilization of key technologies for improved agricultural productivity.
In addition to donating a center-pivot in May 2014, Reinke has provided NCTA with supplies, parts and equipment to enhance the applied, hands-on learning experience offered by the concentration. NCTA will formally dedicate the center-pivot at the campus in Curtis, Neb., on Friday, September 12. Reinke is also offering a $1,000 scholarship to match local Reinke dealerships for tuition, room and board assistance. In turn, student-turned technicians will provide three years of employment after graduation.
“Center-pivot technologies are becoming more advanced as crop production increases domestically and globally. Hands-on experience is critical to developing our future irrigation technicians,” said NCTA Dean Ron Rosati, Ph.D. “With a growing population that will increase another 2 billion by 2050, best practices in food production are vital to ensuring a successful global food supply."
Nebraska leads the nation in total irrigated cropland with more than 8.5 million acres irrigated by groundwater and surface applications. For more information on the Irrigation Technician Concentration and other NCTA programs, log on to http://ncta.unl.edu/.
About Reinke
Headquartered in Deshler, Neb., Reinke Manufacturing Company, Inc. is one of the world’s most recognized manufacturers of center pivot and lateral move irrigation systems. Since 1954, Reinke has developed products designed to increase agriculture production while providing labor savings and environmental efficiencies. Reinke is a continued leader in industry advancements as the first to incorporate GPS, satellite-based communications and touchscreen panel capabilities into mechanized irrigation system management. For more information on Reinke or to locate a dealership, visit www.reinke.com or call 402-365-7251.
