The USDA released its Prospective Plantings report, which highlights farmers’ principal crop planting plans for 2026.

Farmer sentiment showed signs of improvement in March, even as concerns about rising input costs continue to weigh on outlooks for the 2026 growing season.

Water availability is a significant challenge for growers in California and other dry regions.

Rice feeds more than half the world’s population and underpins rural livelihoods across Asia, the Americas and parts of Europe.

As global companies pursue Water Positive targets, we are seeing more investments in the agricultural supply chain.

PepsiCo celebrates reaching its goal of 100% water replenishment in high water-risk areas.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its 2024 Tenure, Ownership and Transition of Agricultural Land Survey, part of the Census of Agriculture, offering a snapshot of who owns and controls U.S. farmland.

The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced an $889 million investment to strengthen water infrastructure across the western United States, targeting projects that expand storage, improve conveyance and increase drought resilience.

During the annual Irrigation Association Advocacy Summit, March 10-12, 2026, the IA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, expanding opportunities for qualified irrigation professionals and strengthening delivery capacity for agricultural conservation projects.

New research from Nationwide shows many farmers remain underprepared for growing operational and market disruptions.

UC Davis announced an inaugural Advanced School on Microirrigation for Crop Production to run from March 30 to April 3, 2026, bringing practical irrigation training to California for the first time.

Rapid technological advancements are generating mountains of data for growers to use across all aspects of crop planning, including irrigation.

Michigan State University (MSU) and Purdue Extension experts announced an upcoming webinar focusing on shifting water policies in Indiana and Michigan.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) awarded $1.69 million to support research, outreach and education to improve irrigation and nutrient management practices through its Fertilizer Research and Education Program.

Drainage water recycling for irrigation is not a new practice in drought-prone areas but changing climate trends are expanding its use into regions not traditionally affected by water scarcity issues.

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and State announced a strengthened commitment under the 1944 Water Treaty that will improve cross-border water management and provide greater certainty for growers who depend on reliable water deliveries from the Rio Grande.

Researchers funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) are developing a new sensing system that helps growers more easily determine when plants need water or nutrients, allowing for strategic irrigation and nutrient application.

As producers head into the 2026 growing season, there is a consistent theme: irrigation equipment must work efficiently.

Most people track major changes in USDA NRCS programs when they’re announced loudly: new funding, new initiatives, new acronyms.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced financial assistance available to growers in Greeley and Wichita counties, Kansas, to improve irrigation efficiency.

Winners of the third season of the CSU-Testing Ag Performance Solutions (CSU-TAPS) Farm Management Competition were announced on Jan. 14, 2026.

Labor availability remains a persistent challenge for agricultural employers and demand for H-2A visas reflects that reality.

Joe Sanders is the newly appointed executive director of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska.

As first reported by the Associated Press (AP), elected officials in Arizona are taking steps to limit groundwater use in rural, farming areas.

With a career shaped by service, education and innovation, Rain Bird Vice President Michael Roberts, PhD, brings a future-focused perspective to his role as president of the Irrigation Association.

USDA’s new Regenerative Agriculture Initiative, backed by $1 billion through EQIP, CSP, and CTA marks the federal government’s largest soil-health investment in years.

The upgrades focus on center pivots, pressurized pipelines and monitoring to cut losses and operating costs.

The Startup of the Year Award celebrates companies that demonstrate exceptional creativity.

This year’s contest featured 22 new products and technologies entered in three categories.

For the irrigation industry, the bill to reopen the government does more than restore day-to-day operations.

Across the Colorado River Basin, millions of dollars have flowed toward paying farmers to fallow their fields.

Capital is a constant barrier many growers encounter when considering the transition to an efficient irrigation system.

These scholars represent the future of sustainable water solutions for California’s farming communities, according to CAIA. 

Learn more about some of the recipients of the Irrigation Association’s 2025 Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholarship Program sponsored by Rain Bird, given to college students studying and pursuing careers in the irrigation field.

By weaving irrigation and nutrient delivery together, we improve how we feed crops and protect waterways.

Galileo says the rebrand will apply across its irrigation, skid steer and tractor tire lines.

The 131st edition of Washington’s longest-running festival will feature the tagline “Let’s Go Sequimming!” and a Kraken-inspired narrative.

Facing historically low reservoir storage and streamflows after a third consecutive year of drought, the Washington Department of Ecology will halt all surface water use in the Yakima Basin from Oct. 6 through the end of October.

Lindsay Corporation has been honored as Nebraska Manufacturer of the Year by the NE Chamber, recognizing its innovative approach to products, processes and technologies that strengthen Nebraska’s manufacturing sector.

The five-year initiative builds on $3.5 million awarded in 2021 and will scale precision irrigation technologies, improve nitrogen management, and protect groundwater quality.

The district warns that users on the Highline system may experience fluctuating flows when demand outpaces supply.

The court found the term “entirely” in the statute ambiguous and interpreted it to exclude only added point sources unrelated to crop production.

When data centers are being sited in arid regions, this has sparked real and perceived competition with water for farms.

The change allows workers and families to pay for credentialing costs—such as exam fees and related expenses—using 529 funds for the first time.

This article looks at data on imports and analyzes potential impacts from recent tariff news.

Two producers in the U.S. or Canada will be selected for in-kind awards: a $75,000 grand prize and a $25,000 secondary prize.

These projects are expected to return more than three billion gallons annually as AWS moves toward its 2030 goal of being water positive.

Officials say the funding will expand and modernize pipelines, with the goal of getting “shovels in the ground” as soon as possible.

How a farm chooses to irrigate can support multiple regenerative practices, and in fact, irrigation choice can be at the center.

The acquisition establishes a second Reinke operational center in Belleville and reflects the company’s continued investment in rural communities and agricultural water efficiency.

Farmers relying on late-season irrigation—especially for fruit crops—may need to turn to on-farm storage or groundwater if available. 

In addition to helping reduce runoff, energy use and potential yield loss, the testing contributes toward MAEAP verification for producers.

To date, Netafim has served more than 8.5 million farmers and irrigated over 10 million hectares of land.

Calorie intake from animal-source foods in low-income countries will remain well below FAO’s healthy diet benchmark of 300 kcals/day.

The visit concluded with a brief recognition ceremony at the Nebraska State Capitol and meetings with IA member companies and sector leaders.

Many farming families face the question, “how can we engage our kids in maintaining our farming legacy?”  

Among the bill’s tax-focused provisions are several with implications for irrigation professionals and businesses across the sector.

The scholarship program supports students pursuing careers in irrigation, agriculture and water management.

Whether you’re working in agriculture, landscape, manufacturing or distribution, you can be part of Smart Irrigation Month.

This approach of including funding for ag-related programs in reconciliation bills means that the ag and irrigation industries should pay attention to what is in the OBBB.

Google announced a $4 million investment in two large-scale water replenishment projects in North and South Carolina aimed at improving watershed health and agricultural water efficiency.

New research from Kansas State University suggests that a simple adjustment to center pivot irrigation systems—slowing down the speed—can significantly improve water use efficiency and crop yields across drought-prone areas of the High Plains.

State and federal partners have committed $45 million to expand surface water delivery in the Columbia Basin.

Verdi plans to expand into new crops and geographic markets, grow its team and scale its AI-powered irrigation insights platform.

The bill includes multiple IA-supported provisions in the areas of workforce development, capital investment and business tax relief.

Podcasts offer a convenient way to keep up with market trends, policy changes, and technological advancements.

The current target for passing new tax legislation, which could include extending 100% bonus depreciation, is July 4, 2025.  

Senator Deb Fischer reintroduced a sweeping legislative package aimed at expanding the adoption of precision agriculture across the country.

The IA has continued to engage with state legislative efforts and regulatory proceedings that would require all new irrigation controllers to be WaterSense labeled.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center projects worsening drought conditions across much of the western and central U.S. through July 2025

A coalition of regional leaders across public, private and agricultural sectors is calling on the Washington State Legislature to approve $45 million in funding for the EL 22.1 Surface Water Irrigation Project. 

As tariff negotiations continue to evolve, uncertainty remains the dominant force shaping the economic landscape for irrigation professionals.

A recent Charts of Note feature from the USDA Economic Research Service spotlights how irrigation organizations price water deliveries.

The Irrigation Association, Fairfax, Virginia, has opened its application portal for the 2025 Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra scholarship program.

Construction on the London West Pond is slated to begin in 2026 with an estimated cost of $8.5 million.

Bettencourt most recently served as the global director of government relations and external affairs for Netafim.

Over the course of two days, attendees participated in more than 30 meetings with congressional offices and federal agencies.

EPA has indicated that it will provide additional guidance to states and stakeholders during the transition period.

Reclamation’s water forecast for the Yakima Basin predicts that junior water rights holders will receive only 48% of their entitlement.

The latest USDA Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade projects U.S. agricultural exports at $170.5 billion for fiscal year 2025.

Congress is facing another funding deadline, trade disputes are resurfacing and key agricultural programs remain stalled.

The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute has received a three-year, $3.5 million grant from the Gates Foundation to research ways to expand irrigation access for small-scale farmers.

The Senate voted 72-28 Feb. 13 to confirm Brooke L. Rollins as the new Secretary of Agriculture.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Protect Small Business from Excessive Paperwork Act, H.R. 736, in a bipartisan vote.

The bipartisan bill aims to provide greater flexibility for individuals pursuing careers that require professional certifications.

The White House has announced a new round of tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, originally set to take effect February 4.

A study published in Nature reveals worsening water scarcity in key agricultural regions across China, India and the United States.

Manufacturers are urging Congress to act quickly to restore tax provisions and ensure long-term economic growth.

ARC and PLC provide financial protection against significant drops in crop prices or revenues.

Fordyce, a Missouri farmer and former Farm Service Agency Administrator, brings extensive experience to the role.

The 119th Congress convened January 3, ushering in a session marked by slim Republican control of both the House and Senate.

Farmers will be required to follow the guidelines set by the EPD as they apply for permits to access groundwater resources.

The project will also include an outreach component, sharing findings through webinars and direct engagement with farmers to spur adoption.

When flows are modeled based on drought conditions similar to those from 2000 to 2020, the report finds water resource recovery possible.

Projects include initiatives to reduce methane emissions, restore native grasslands and conserve water resources in drought-affected areas.

The Irrigation Association, Fairfax, Virginia has announced the addition of four new members to its Board of Directors.

Key provisions include groundwater districts conserving at least 205,000 acre-feet of water annually.

The letter, released ahead of the election results, emphasizes the importance of national unity and the role of manufacturing.

Led by industry advocates, the webinar will explore the evolving congressional landscape and the administration’s policy priorities.