EDITORIAL MESSAGE


Stay on message I


recently had the opportunity to appear as a guest on a few industry podcasts to discuss various aspects of the landscape irrigation market, particularly high- lighting exceptional contractors in the field. Most of the shows were running


live, so I had to make sure I had my notes right in front of me, plus one additional note that I always keep nearby when connecting with irrigation professionals.


That note is just a phrase on a piece of paper on my desk, written in all caps: STAY ON MESSAGE. It’s a friendly reminder to myself that whenever I’m talking with others in the industry, nothing is more important than sharing the message of how efficient, smart water use impacts our world every day. When it comes to connect- ing with the wider world, it never hurts to have a reminder of just how important it is to share that story.


That’s what Smart Irrigation Month, celebrated each July by the Irrigation Associ- ation, is all about. It’s meant to promote the social, economic and environmental benefits of efficient irrigation in all its forms, whether you’re setting up a sprinkler or calibrating your system to provide exactly the right amount of water to your crops. The month-long initiative raises public awareness of the hard work growers do every day.


This year’s theme, and the message I’d like to get people discussing, is “What’s the value of smart irrigation?” Efficient water use means more than just getting more for less. It impacts everyone on a day-to-day basis. It means global food security and healthy communities. It means creating well-paying, skilled jobs that encour- age community growth and support the national economy.


I’d invite you to see this month as a way to stay on message and remind peoplele of the


way to of what you’re doi g ev


of their own management of a vital resource.


e importance not just doing every day, but ment


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 kylebrown@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 irrigationtoday.org


Publisher Natasha Rankin, MBA, CAE


Associate Publisher Trisha Klaus


Editor-in-Chief Kyle Brown


Managing Editor Anne Blankenbiller


Creative Director Sean Burris


Content Editor Luke Reynolds


Strategic Partnerships & Business Development VP Stephanie Clark, CEM


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


Adam Hauptli adam.hauptli@bock-assoc.com 612.500.8275


4 Irrigation TODAY | Summer 2023


Editorial Committee Chair


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


Vice Chair Jonathan Aguilar, PhD, PE Kansas State University


Past Chair Diann Ilkenhons Senninger Irrigation Inc.


Julie Bushell Paige Electric – Ag


Karin Novotny Antelco Corporation


Sahil Sharma Lindsay Corporation


Kevin Stewart, CAIS Jain Irrigation Inc.


Contributors Basavaraj Amogi Cody Bann Nathan Bowen Charles Burt, PhD, PE, CID, CAIS


Lav Khot, PhD Jim Lauria George Oamek, PhD Brad Rippey Bernardita Sallato Brandon Schumm


Given the challenges that the industry faces across labor concerns and declining water availability, there are plenty of messages already being shared about water and how people are using it, especially in the ag community. It’s easy to get bogged down in those obstacles or sidetracked. I’d invite you to see this month as a way to stay on message and remind people of the importance not just of what you’re doing every day, but of their own management of a vital resource. Check out smartirrigationmonth.org or look on page 32 for some ways you can get that message out.


Irrigation Today Editor-in-Chief Kyle Brown


irrigationtoday.org


Photo: Nikki Avramovich


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