Editorial message Welcome to a new year!


Welcome to 2019’s first issue of Irrigation Today. Along with the new year, you will see some new additions in this magazine, and my presence on this editorial page is one of them.


Although my face may be new to the magazine, I have been involved with Irrigation Today for two years and have served as editor-in-chief since the July 2017 issue. I am thankful for Stephen Smith, PhD, FASIC, CAIS, CLIA, serving as the chair of the magazine’s Editorial Committee and contributing his thoughts on this page for the last two years.


Another new addition debuting in this issue is a special feature called “Your best practice.” This will appear in each issue and will discuss specific irrigation best practices that can help you improve your operation’s water and energy efficiency and management, while hopefully helping to improve your bottom line.


The idea for this new regular feature came from a survey sent to readers in the summer of 2018. In the survey, we asked our readers what they liked to read about in the magazine, what they didn’t like and what they would like to see in future issues. Reading more about irrigation best practices was ranked high by those completing the survey. You asked, we are delivering! We hope these best practices written by industry experts can offer valuable information you can easily implement in your operation.


By Anne Blankenbiller Irrigation Today Editor-in-Chief


The Irrigation Today reader survey also provided other valuable information about what you — our readers — want to see in this magazine.


Published by: Irrigation Association 8280 Willow Oaks Corporate Dr. 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


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


The Irrigation Today reader survey also provided other valuable information about what you — our readers — want to see in this magazine. Thank you those who took the time to complete the survey and offer feedback. We take your input seriously and will continue to work to provide content that is relevant, valuable and interesting to you.


Irrigation Today is the only publication solely dedicated to on-farm irrigation, so we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to provide you with information about the latest irrigation trends, technologies, issues and practices.


If you have comments or suggestions about Irrigation Today 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


Account Managers Eric Anderson North Central eric.anderson@bock-assoc.com


Jim Dempsey East & International jimdempsey@irrigation.org


Tom Schoen South Central tom.schoen@bock-assoc.com


Alan Scott West Coast & Mountain alanscott@irrigation.org


Editorial Committee Chair Bill S. Thornton Watertronics


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


Charles Hillyer, PhD Irrigation for the Future


Diann Ilkenhons Senninger Irrigation Inc.


Jacob Knipp Reinke Manufacturing Co. Inc.


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


4 Irrigation TODAY | January 2019


Jim Phene Epiphene Inc.


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


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


Bill S. Thornton Watertronics


Contributors Jonathan Aguilar, PhD Drew Baustian Inge Bisconer, CID, CLIA Tom Brand John Farner Kyle Feist, MS, PE, CID, CAIS


Franklin Gaudi, EdD, CID, CIC, CAIS, CCA


Mark Jolles Nita Karume Steven Melvin George Oamek, PhD Matt Stockton, PhD


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