Editorial message


Keeping focus on ag’s positive future


As I write this editorial for Irrigation Today, the shift to daylight saving time and the pending spring equinox are on the short-term horizon. Spring is upon us and highly anticipated in 2018! The news in some agriculture spaces is good, while not so good in others. Concerns abound with snowpack reports in the western United States, predicted water shortages and the recurrence of drought conditions in multiple locations.


But on a very positive note, I have just participated in an incredible brainstorming session with researchers, mostly agricultural and irrigation engineers, from five of the land-grant universities.


The enthusiasm was contagious with affirmation of existing and new technologies that will be important to irrigated agriculture.


High-level goals of our researchers include: increased food production, increased water-use efficiency, verification of economic suitability of certain new technologies, instrumented irrigation control systems, and detailing of the basic need for actionable data in irrigated agriculture. Of particular related interest in this issue is the article by Drs. Yoshi Osroosh and Diganta Adhikari about the “internet of things” on pg. 6-7.


By Stephen W. Smith, PhD, FASIC, CAIS, CLIA Irrigation Today Editorial Board Chair


Recently, the Irrigation Association organized visits to Capitol Hill to meet with our legislators and promote recommended changes in the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill. The IA’s efforts are more focused than ever before to achieve targeted goals. Those efforts are much appreciated. As you consider further irrigation upgrades, consider how the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program might help with cost sharing of suitable practices.


As we progress into 2018, let us know what you think of recent articles and content in Irrigation Today. We want to provide information that is useful to you. Your feedback is important. Email your comments and suggestions to me at swsmith@buenavidafarm.com or to Editor-in-Chief Anne Blankenbiller at anneblankenbiller@irrigation.org.


Here’s to the 2018 cropping year! The irrigation resource for today’s growers


Published by: Irrigation Association 8280 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive Suite 400 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


deborahhamlin@irrigation.org


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


Art Director Trisha Klaus trishaklaus@irrigation.org


Account Manager Cliff Juretich clifuretich@irrigation.org 805.358.4806


Technical Advisor Brent Q. Mecham, CID, CLWM, CIC, CLIA, CAIS brentmecham@irrigation.org


4 Irrigation TODAY | April 2018


Editorial Board Chair Stephen W. Smith, PhD, FASIC, CAIS, CLIA Principal, Wade Water LLC


Editorial Board Brian P. Frerich, CID Eco-Drip Irrigation Supply Inc.


Charles Hillyer, PhD Texas A&M University


Diann Ilkenhons Senninger Irrigation Inc.


Fred March Eagle Spec Sales Group


Jackie (Jay) W.D. Robbins II, PE, TSP, CAIS, CID Irrigation-Mart Inc.


Warren C. Thoma Warren Thoma & Associates LLC


Bill S. Thornton Watertronics


Jill A. Zwiener Valley Irrigation


Contributors Diganta Adhikari, PhD John Farner Jose Fontela Lav R. Khot, PhD Stephen Lauer Eric Macias Elizabeth McCartney Gary Merkley Douglas R. Moore Terry Morse George Oamek, PhD Yossi Osroosh, PhD R. Troy Peters, PhD, PE, CAIS Len Ring, MSc, PE, CID Matthew Sanderson, PhD


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