Category: IRRIGATION

The U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, a multibillion-dollar package, on Aug. 7 tackling issues from climate change to health care costs, where $4 billion would go toward drought relief efforts in the Western U.S. These drought funds allocated by H.R. 5376 sponsored by John Yarmuth, D-Kentucky, would remain available for 17…

The farm’s efficient irrigation techniques and management systems increase the cost-effectiveness of crop production, reduce soil erosion and lessen energy requirements. (Photo: Threemile Canyon Farms) The Internet of Things is set to push the future of farming to the next level. Smart agriculture is already more commonplace among farmers, and high-tech farms are quickly becoming the standard…

U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, and John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, along with Congressman Kelly Armstrong R-North Dakota, introduced a bill to amend the Dakota Water Resources Act. The bill, S.461, would allow more North Dakota irrigators to obtain project use power rates through the Bureau of Reclamation. “When the Dakota Water Resources Act passed over 20 years ago, it provided…

When it comes to pivot upkeep, regular preventative maintenance can eliminate future issues and ensure your irrigation system remains operational and efficient for years to come. This goes for your sprinklers, too. While sprinklers are known to last many years, regular maintenance can ensure they stay working at their fullest potential. After all, while it may…

While growers constantly monitor their water use, they generally stop tracking it once it hits the soil. But that’s where Rezaul Mahmood, professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources in Lincoln, Nebraska, has been focused on picking up the trail for the past several years. In his most recent study, with the final results yet…

lash drought is generally understood to be the rapid onset or intensification of relatively short-term agricultural drought. It occurs because of lower-than-normal rates of precipitation accompanied by abnormally high temperatures, winds and solar radiation. Together, these changes increase evapotranspiration and rapidly lower soil moisture. In sandy soils with low water-holding capacity, flash drought may quickly…

The State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, California, released its proposed regulatory text for Making Conservation a California Way of Life on Aug. 18.   The body of regulatory policies and practices is intended to help Californians use water more wisely, eliminate water waste, strengthen local drought resilience and improve agricultural water use efficiency and drought planning, according to information provided by the California Water…

The Irrigation Association, Fairfax, Virginia, voiced its concerns about California Assembly Bill 1573 in a letter submitted to California state senators Dave Min and Kelly Sevarto.  The bill’s provisions prohibit the use of “traditional overhead sprinklers,” defined as including :”spray sprinkler nozzles with application rate greater than 1.0 inch per hour,” in new or rehabilitated landscapes. Additionally, the…

The Irrigation Association, Fairfax, Virginia, will host “From Irrigation to Water Management,” a one-hour webinar on June 20.   The session, presented by DJ Seeger, President, Seeger Water, San Antonio, Texas, covers the technology, industry best practices and business strategies needed to lead the industry paradigm shift from irrigation to water management.  Attendees will be provided a…

The Irrigation Association, Fairfax, Virginia, sent comments to the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program in response to its Notice of Intent to Develop a Draft Specification for Spray Sprinkler Nozzles.  “The WaterSense label is an important tool that helps consumers make informed choices that conserve water,” says Nathan Bowen, Irrigation Association advocacy director. “We are committed to…