KSU-TAPS at Kansas State University
KSU-TAPS launched in 2023 and held its first competition in 2024 at the Northwest Research-Extension Center in Colby. Uniquely shaped by Kansas’ Ogallala Aquifer challenges, the program emphasizes profitable decision-making under limited water, giving farmers a way to test strategies that link economics with long-term water sustainability.
Current Competitions
Corn/Forage Sorghum Water Allocation – NWREC, Colby: Teams manage both corn and forage sorghum plots under strict water limits (10 inches or less), testing profitability, efficiency, forage quality, and yield while navigating the realities of Northwest Kansas water allocation.
Corn Water Utilization – SWREC, Garden City: Focused on balancing irrigation with profitability, this contest requires all teams to irrigate at or below the regional Q-Stable threshold (10.95 inches), challenging participants to optimize grain yield and input efficiency in Southwest Kansas.
KSU-TAPS Team
Daran Rudnick
K-State Director of Sustainable Irrigation
Renee Jones
K-State Associate Director of KSU-TAPS
Kelsey Stremel
K-State College of Agriculture, Director of Communication
Contact KSU-TAPS
785-999-1044 | taps@k-state.edu
