Irrigation Training Program

Project photo

Irrigation of agricultural crops in Texas accounts for more water usage than all other uses of water combined—60 percent in 2000. The Texas Water Development Board’s Water for Texas state water plan predicts that the demand for irrigation water will decline to approximately 40 percent by 2060. Conservation-based water management practices by farmers are essential to meet that decline, and education and training are critical components of these water conservation practices.

The Irrigation Training Program (ITP) provides irrigation water management training to farmers, consultants, educators and agency personnel in Texas. Because of the vast diversity of agriculture throughout the state, the program’s curriculum is tailored to specific regions taking into account local irrigation practices, cropping systems and climate. By using this unique and tailored curriculum, ITP can become a universal tool for transferring water conservation and related crop management technologies to agricultural producers and consultants. Conservative estimates of possible water savings with well-trained irrigators are 10 to 25 percent.

With their network of soil and water conservation districts and county Extension agents, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and Texas AgriLife Extension Service are working together locally to implement this program under the guidance of Texas Water Resources Institute.

Objectives

  • Identify trainers and locations within Texas that will gain the most benefit from an irrigation training program
  • Train farmers, consultants, educators and agency personnel on innovative irrigation conservation and crop management technologies
  • Evaluate effectiveness of training program, measure water savings from program implementation and determine feasibility of offering training statewide

Accomplishments

  • An Irrigation Training Program Manual, which covers agronomic, economic and engineering principals of irrigation, was released in 2008
  • The first training reached over 40 producers in Lubbock, which impacted more than 12,000 acres of agricultural production

Collaborators

  • Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M AgriLife
  • Texas AgriLife Extension Service
  • Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
  • Soil and Water Conservation Districts
  • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Funding Agency

  • Texas Water Development Board