Irrigation and the future of U.S. Agriculture

Q&A with NRCS Chief Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt on irrigation, agency modernization and partnering with industry

Former NRCS Chief Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt discusses why she’s pushing “farmer-first” modernization inside the agency, how precision irrigation and precision ag fit into NRCS priorities, and what stronger industry partnerships, including through Technical Service Providers, could mean for producers trying to make long-term investments in on-farm water management.

IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial message
IA CEO Natasha Rankin marks Smart Irrigation Month by highlighting how precision irrigation and data-driven decisions are strengthening both productivity and stewardship.
Economy
The “use it or lose it” water rights principle discourages conservation among Western farmers. Economist Renata Rimšaitė examines reform efforts and the trust barriers that remain.
Legislative update
IA’s Andrew Morris outlines three advocacy priorities shaping irrigation’s future: the 2026 Farm Bill, USMCA trade stability and a new NRCS technical-services partnership.
Tech corner
As fertilizer prices swing unpredictably, Mazzei VP Jim Lauria argues irrigation systems must be evaluated not just on water uniformity, but on how evenly they deliver fertilizers and nutrients through fertigation.
Association news
Get the latest Irrigation Association updates.
Industry insights
Smart Irrigation Month returns this July with downloadable resources, Wear Blue Wednesday and a series of Q&As spotlighting industry leaders championing water efficiency.
- Weather outlook
  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey surveys a bleak water-supply picture heading into summer, with early Western snowmelt, drought topping 60% nationally and a possible El Niño return later this year.

FEATURES

The precision pivot

How smart irrigation technology is making growers better water and labor managers

Planning by the drop

With drought coverage at a 3.5-year high, experts explain why uniform system performance, smart scheduling and accessible technology are essential to protecting yield through dry conditions.

Beating the storm

As extreme weather intensifies, experts walk through six steps growers can take to protect critical irrigation infrastructure, from risk assessment to post-disaster documentation.

The next frontier in irrigation: Decision-making with AI

Researchers tested ChatGPT-generated irrigation decisions in Nebraska’s TAPS farm management competition, finding AI-assisted plots performed competitively with top human-managed systems.