Get the latest IA & ag association updates

CAIA conducts Fall Meeting

Professionals in the ag irrigation industry are facing concerns about drought, regulations and legislation, global trends in carbon and water, and cybersecurity. The CAIA Fall Meeting, held Sept. 15-17 in Pismo Beach, California, was an excellent opportunity to discuss and collaborate on these issues.

Those attending enjoyed social events and networking opportunities, as well as a tour of a hydroponic strawberry farm followed by wine tasting (it was held in California, after all). For more information about the Fall Meeting events, future events and the CAIA, go to www.calirrigation.com.

Alliance supports infrastructure legislation

With nearly two-thirds of the West experiencing extreme or exceptional drought and wildfires burning across the United States, a national coalition co-led by the Family Farm Alliance underscored the significance of Senate passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Aug. 10 and urged the House to mirror the water provisions in its own package.

To address critical Western water supply needs, the Senate-passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes more than $8 billion to repair aging dams and canals, build surface and groundwater storage and conveyance facilities, fund water conservation and recycling projects, enhance watershed management and improve ecosystems.

The coalition includes over 220 organizations from 15 states that represent nearly one-third of all agricultural production in the country — and many of the public water agencies that supply water to more than 75 million Westerners.

For information, visit www.familyfarmalliance.org.

Hamlin announces retirement

The Irrigation Association has announced that its CEO, Deborah Hamlin, CAE, FASAE, is retiring from the association at the end of the year.

Hamlin has served as the CEO for 15 years and led the association through numerous milestones, including establishing a new brand and mission, consolidating industry training and developing a profitable online learning center. During her tenure, she also bolstered the certification program to third-party accreditation, created a standards and codes arm, and expanded into the publishing arena with two industry magazines. Mostly recently she led the association through its toughest year, pivoting to an all-virtual Education Week and a series of online conferences while leading a capital campaign in the wake of a canceled Irrigation Show in 2020.

The IA Board of Directors has appointed a volunteer search committee led by John Newlin, CIC, CIT, CLIA, IA president-elect, to begin the process of finding Hamlin’s replacement. The board plans to have the new CEO attend the Irrigation Show in San Diego in December.

Check out new product contest entries

The IA’s annual new product contest showcases the best new irrigation products and technologies to enter the market, with the winners announced during the 2021 Irrigation Show and Education Week. Go online at www.irrigation.org/npcshowcase to see all the products entered in this year’s contest. Product presentations and judging will be held online Nov. 17-18. Go to www.irrigationshow.org to register to watch the presentations live online, and don’t miss the announcement of the winner on Dec. 9 at the Innovation Hub on the Irrigation Show floor.

Scholarship applications now accepted

Students pursuing irrigation-related careers at post-secondary institutions with a graduate date of December 2022 or later are encouraged to apply for the Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholarship Program sponsored by Rain Bird. The deadline to apply for a scholarship ranging from $1,000-$2,500 is Feb. 15, 2022. Visit www.irrigation.org/scholarships to apply.

Register now for the Irrigation Show

The 2021 Irrigation Show and Education Week is right around the corner. Register now to join the irrigation industry in San Diego, Dec. 6-10. For complete information about the show and registration, visit www.irrigationshow.org.

NCC seeks Trust Protocol enrollment

More than 300 U.S. cotton producers enrolled their 2020 crop in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol sustainability initiative, and the number of producers enrolling their 2021 crop was expected to double.

The National Cotton Council is strongly encouraging its U.S. cotton producer members to enroll their 2021 crop and will be seeking even greater enrollment for the 2022 cotton crop. Strong producer participation will give brands and retailers the confidence to continue sourcing U.S. cotton.

To begin the enrollment process, click the Join Now button at the top of www.trustuscotton.org. More information is available on social media at www.facebook.com/trustuscotton and www.instagram.com/trustuscotton. Send questions to growers@trustuscotton.org or call 901.274.9030.

NGWA publishes PFAS white paper

The National Ground Water Association recently published the white paper, PFAS Fate and Transport 2021, that updates section four of the NGWA guidance document, Groundwater and PFAS: State of Knowledge and Practice, which was published in 2017.

Since the release of that guidance document, many studies have investigated PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) transformation, partitioning and transport; for example, the influence of PFAS accumulation at media interfaces, such as the air-water-solid interfaces in the vadose zone. This white paper picks up where that section of the guidance document left off by providing important updates.

In the last year, NGWA has also published a document with talking points to aid professionals in discussing PFAS contamination with customers and a fact sheet about PFAS written in an easy-to-understand language that professionals can distribute to customers and others in their community. For more information, go to www.ngwa.org.