Utah State University is starting a new program designed to help Utah farmers optimize water use. It is called the Ag Water Demonstration, Research and Implementation Program, or Ag-DRIP.
This program, particularly focused on the Colorado River Basin, is made possible through a recent $1 million grant. The grant lasts for five years for a total of $5 million dollars and is sponsored by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District and the Colorado River Authority of Utah.
Through Ag-DRIP, researchers hope to give those in agriculture tools to optimize water use, especially in the midst of drought. USU Extension experts will work closely with farmers and water managers to develop and achieve their irrigation management goals. USU will provide farmers with educational resources, evaluations and projects to innovate and develop water optimization opportunities.
In 2017 Piute, Wayne and Garfield counties had 599 farmers, as reported in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. The land between these farmers adds up to almost 180,000 acres of farmland. During drought, choices for how to use that land and the water to grow crops have become difficult for farmers.
“Our farmers are often targeted in discussions of water use and conservation, while most are much more impacted by water scarcity than the average Utahn,” Burdette Barker, USU Extension irrigation specialist and one of the program’s other principal investigators, told USU. “This project will provide farmers with resources to do what many are already striving to do: make the best use of the available water resources.”
The program will begin this spring with 25 farmer participants working with USU. “They will learn to use irrigation scheduling with data from water measurements and soil moisture sensors to guide their irrigation management plans,” wrote USU.
To learn more and apply to participate in Ag-DRIP, visit https://tinyurl.com/usuag-drip.
– The Byway
Feature image caption: A sprinkler in a field in Utah. Courtesy Utah Water Research Laboratory.