EDITORIAL MESSAGE


Smart irrigation takes on new meaning in 2021


I


t’s July, and for many areas of the country it is the hottest, driest time of the year. This has been compounded in the Western part of the country. During the spring and early summer, 98% of California was experiencing drought


conditions and 75% of the state was in extreme drought. In the Western states, that condition extended to about 53% of the region.


As drought creeps across the country, it amplifies the importance of efficient water use in irrigation. It couldn’t be more appropriate that July is Smart Irrigation Month, the Irrigation Association’s initiative to promote the social, economic and environmental benefits of efficient irrigation technologies, products and services in agricultural, landscape and turf irrigation. This year’s theme — Smart irrigation. Sustainable solutions. — reinforces the role that smart irrigation practices can have in providing solutions to our global long-term challenges.


According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statis- tics Service 2018 Irrigation and Water Management survey, 55.9 million acres of agricultural land are irrigated in the United States. With the task of producing more and more food, while being responsible stewards of this important natural resource, efficient ways to irrigate crops becomes a vital conversation in the industry.


As drought creeps across the country, it amplifies the importance of efficient water use in irrigation.


If you have comments, suggestions or an idea for what you would like to see covered in a future issue, please feel free to contact me at anneblankenbiller@irrigation.org.


The irrigation resource for today’s growers


Published by: Irrigation Association 8280 Willow Oaks Corporate Dr. Suite 630 Fairfax, VA 22031-4511 USA Tel 703.536.7080 Fax 703.536.7019 info@irrigationtoday.org www.irrigationtoday.org


Publisher Deborah M. Hamlin, CAE, FASAE


Associate Publisher Trisha Klaus


Editor-in-Chief Anne Blankenbiller anneblankenbiller@ irrigation.org


Creative Director Sean Burris


4 Irrigation TODAY | Summer 2021


Business Development Director Stephanie Clark


National Sales Representatives Tom Schoen Central U.S. tom.schoen@bock-assoc.com 952.905.3214


Tara Schelling East, West & International taraschelling@irrigation.org 215.588.5811


Editorial Committee Chair Diann Ilkenhons Senninger Irrigation Inc.


Editorial Committee Jonathan Aguilar, PhD, PE Kansas State University


Julie Bushell Paige Electric – Ag


Charles Hillyer, PhD, Vice Chair Center for Irrigation Technology, Fresno State University


Susan Hutton Irrigation Innovation Consortium


Michael A. Noftle, CAIS, CID Ideal Design Solutions LLC


Karin Novotny Rivulis Irrigation


Kevin Stewart, CAIS Jain Irrigation Inc.


Bill S. Thornton, Past Chair Watertronics


Contributors Diganta Adhikari, PhD Azadeh Alizadeh, PhD Ashley N. Biles John Farner Andres Ferreyra, PhD John Fox Srikanth Ganesan Sumer S. Johal Kay Ledbetter Forrest Melton George Oamek, PhD Divya Sundaram Saleh Taghvaeian, PhD Jeff Tuel


irrigationtoday.org


Irrigation Today joins with the IA in recognizing Smart Irrigation Month through- out July. This issue focuses on technology advancements designed to help growers make better decisions related to irrigation and to deliver water to their crops in a more precise way, accurately providing irrigation when and where it is needed, without over- or under-watering.


The IA offers numerous other resources on its website about Smart Irrigation Month and efficient irrigation. Go to www.smartirrigationmonth.org to learn more about how you can join in this initiative to promote the value of irrigated agriculture and the importance smart irrigation has in global food production.


Anne Blankenbier Irrigation Today Editor-in-Chief


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