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We’ve reached the middle of the year, when the hot weather is at its most oppressive for a lot of the country, and when ag irrigation professionals are doing their best to give their crops what they need to not only survive the season, but thrive. Early season plans have come and gone, and now it’s time to think about how to make the most of the water you’re working with.

In some areas of the United States, water availability continues to be a major focus. In places like California, it’s not just a question of effective use of the resource but also of increasing costs. These are issues that any ag irrigation professional knows all too well in the effort to grow crops with a close eye on inputs. It sometimes feels like a thankless job that isn’t noticed by most. That’s part of the spirit behind Smart Irrigation Month, which runs for the entire month of July.

How many people who you work with or who you connect with on social media understand the importance of the work you do as someone who uses smart irrigation practices to get the most out of your water? Smart Irrigation Month, run by the Irrigation Association, is meant to shine a spotlight on why working with best practices in mind is important and to show how irrigation professionals have an impact far beyond their fields.

Smart Irrigation Month is meant to shine a spotlight on why working with best practices in mind is important and to show how irrigation professionals have an impact far beyond their fields.

There are lots of ways that you can be a part of the initiative. Start off the month by joining other irrigation professionals in wearing blue and sharing a selfie or photo with your team on July 5 with #SmartIrrigationMonth for Technology Tuesday. With pros across many disciplines in the irrigation industry, from farmers to dealers and manufacturers, it’s a great way for everyone you’re connected with to see how many people are involved in using water effectively.

If you want to help get the word out about how smart irrigation practices make a difference in food production, the Irrigation Association has sharable resources available at smartirrigationmonth.org. Use this month to remind your community about the impact that your work and all efficient irrigation professionals have on everyday life.

Irrigation Today Editor-in-Chief