Ingenuity, precision and stewardship for a new season

Spring is the season when ideas meet practice. In agriculture, that often begins with a simple idea carried into the field and refined until it proves itself. Our cover feature on Orton Engelhart, the inventor behind the impact sprinkler, captures that journey. His insight helped transform how growers manage water across acres and crops, and it reminds us that practical innovation starts with a clear problem, a workable solution and the perseverance to prove it where it matters most: on the farm.

Across specialty crops, you’ll find that same spirit in block irrigation. Dividing a field into manageable sections isn’t new, but the way growers are doing it is changing fast. Sensor-based automation and wireless monitoring are helping producers fine‑tune delivery, improve uniformity and reduce runoff. These tools don’t eliminate trade‑offs; they make them measurable. In this issue, we explore design principles, when block irrigation outperforms other approaches and where drip still shines, so you can choose the right system for your operation and your water.

Let’s make this season one where ingenuity and data deliver for your fields, your businesses and your communities.

Data also drives this issue’s focus on tracking water use with center pivots. Flow meters, pressure sensors and telemetry systems give producers real‑time visibility into application rates and system performance. When those data stream alongside soil‑moisture readings and weather forecasts, schedules become smarter, and compliance reporting becomes simpler. The result is not just better stewardship; it’s a clearer path to ROI — less overwatering, more consistent quality and lower input costs over the season.

On the policy front, we’re focused on ensuring that recent shifts in Environmental Quality Incentives Program funding translate into real, workable opportunities for irrigators. As federal programs evolve under new legislation, the Irrigation Association is engaging directly with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and industry partners to secure clear guidance, stronger technical‑service capacity and cost‑share structures that reflect the realities of modern irrigation in the field. Your experiences in the field continue to shape that advocacy and keep efficiency and practicality at the forefront of policy decisions.

Thank you for all you do to advance efficient irrigation. Let’s make this season one where ingenuity and data deliver for your fields, your businesses and your communities.

Natasha Rankin, MBA, CAE
Irrigation Association Chief Executive Officer

If you have comments, suggestions or an idea for what you would like to see covered in a future issue, please feel free to contact info@irrigation.org.