Irrigation Extension Programming
Guy Fipps, Ph.D., P.E., Professor and Extension Specialist | Texas A&M University

Agricultural Irrigation Extension Program Guide

Extension Programming Guide for Agricultural Irrigation

 

CONTENTS

  1. Issues and Overview
  2. Educational Objectives
  3. Audiences
  4. Recommended Practices
  5. Subject Matter Topics
  6. Program Delivery Strategies
  7. Accountability Indicators
  8. Program Evacuation Methods
  9. Potential Partners
  10. Online Resources and Publications

Issues and Overview

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Agriculture currently accounts for about 62 percent of the total water used in Texas.  The population of Texas is expanding more rapidly than the national average and is projected to more then double in the next 50 years.  Correspondingly, water use is expected to increase from about 14 million acre-feet per year presently to as much as 21 million acre feet by 2040.  To meet this increasing demand for water while maintaining agricultural production, existing supplies must be efficiently managed, new supplies must be developed and the capture and use of naturally occurring precipitation must be maximized.

Irrigation water use, while decreasing, still comprises over half (57% in 1990) of the total water use in the state.  The energy to pump this water averages 25 to 35 percent of total crop production costs.  Competition for utilizing existing water supplies between agriculture and urban areas is a growing problem.  Inefficient irrigation systems waste water while often failing to meet crop water needs.  Inefficient water management contributes to leaching of nutrients and crop protection chemicals and may produce runoff that adversely affects stream water quality and wildlife habitats.  Average irrigation efficiency estimated to be only 60 percent in Texas.  It is estimated that the adoption of improved technologies could save 2 million acres feet of water annually in Texas.

Improved irrigation technologies (e.g., LEPA center pivot systems) are available that can increase irrigation efficiency by 20 to 40 percent.  Water use efficiency can be further improved by proper water delivery systems and soil moisture monitoring.  In cooperation with the Texas irrigation industry and trade associations, continued county-based demonstration and evaluation programs will be used to instruct clientele on emerging concepts and on the installation, operation and management of new systems.  Irrigation scheduling programs, supported by low-cost soil monitoring and local reporting and forecasting of daily evapotranspiration, will be developed and demonstrated.

Methods for using and conserving rainfall will continue to be stressed and demonstrated.  These include conservation tillage, furrow diking, weed and brush control, tillage practices that enhance water infiltration and storage in the soil, and more efficient surface water storage systems.  Improved production systems (i.e. conservation tillage) can also increase the efficiency of water delivery for subsequent use by crops.  Computer assisted management aids that monitor production, plant development and water use will be demonstrated and validated through on-farm and ranch settings.

Educational Objectives

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Extension educational programs will be directed to educating Texans on how to make best use of existing water supplies including optimizing existing rainfall and demonstrate more efficient system designs, technologies and management practices.  Efficient use of water in agriculture is also expected to have a positive impact on water quality and to help prevent non-point source pollution.

County-based demonstration and evaluation programs are the major means used to instruct clientele on emerging concepts and on the installation, operation and management of new systems.  Irrigation scheduling programs, low-cost soil monitoring, and local networks for reporting daily crop water use (evapotranspiration) are being developed and can be incorporated into county demonstrations.

Specifically, Extension programs should be developed that will teach farmers, ranchers, financial institutions and water management agencies about:

  1. Needs and opportunities for water conservation.
  2. Economic benefits of efficient water use.
  3. Technologies available for improving irrigation water delivery and distribution systems, and for reducing water use in aquaculture.
  4. Proper water management strategies for optimum production of crops and pastures.
  5. Conservation tillage, furrow diking and other production technologies that optimize both rainfall retention and the growth environment for crops and forages.

Teaching methods will include publications, videotapes, curriculum based workshops, tours and demonstrations.  Linkages and joint ventures between Extension, USDA-ARS, producer groups and other organizations will be expanded to expedited technology transfer and provide support for educational projects.  Closer cooperation with Extension, such as AG-CARES, will be emphasized in order to develop coordinated research and demonstration projects.

Audiences

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  1. Producers
  2. Bankers and other lenders
  3. Landowners
  4. Water District Personnel
  5. State legislators and key leaders
  6. Irrigation dealers
  7. SCS personnel
  8. Crop consultants
  9. Irrigation consultants
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  1. Metering of irrigation water use
  2. Scheduling irrigations with gypsum blocks, tensiometers, crop growth models, or other devices and methods.
  3. Replacing siphon tubes with gated pipe in furrow irrigation systems.
  4. Lining earthen water delivery ditches or replacement with pipeline systems.
  5. Converting to more efficient technologies as appropriate, such as: furrow systems to surge flow irrigation, high pressure center pivots sprinklers to low pressure and LEPA, and impact sprinklers to drip emitters and micro sprinklers.
  6. Pumping plant efficiency testing.
  7. Chemigation with LEPA and low pressure center pivots, and with drip irrigation systems.
  8. Proper irrigation well construction and development.

Subject Matter Topics

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  1. Types of meters available, methods of estimating flows without meters, costs of water.
  2. Irrigation economics
  3. Advantages and disadvantages of different types of soil moisture monitoring devices, basic principles of soil moisture storage and management.
  4. Water requirements of crops and use of WUE (water use efficiency) to evaluate irrigation efficiency.
  5. Types of gated pipe available and case histories of use.
  6. Evaporation and seepage rates from unlined ditches.
  7. Proper sizing of pipeline systems.
  8. Types and costs of different irrigation systems, advantages and disadvantages, case histories.
  9. Legal requirements for and calibration of chemigation equipment.
  10. Basic principles of groundwater hydrology, Texas water law, and well construction and development.
  11. Forming underground water conservation districts
  12. Purpose of pumping plant efficiency testing and agencies which can do it.
  13. Use of crop growth models for irrigation scheduling.
  14. Basic irrigation and water application calculations.

Program Delivery Strategies

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  1. Demonstrations on partially converted systems to provide direct comparison of technologies and methods.
  2. On-farm demonstration of irrigation scheduling and soil moisture monitoring methods.
  3. Developing a county crop water use reporting service (in cooperation with water districts).
  4. Measuring of irrigation evaluations (in cooperation with SCS).
  5. Field day tours, conferences, workshops and other county educational meetings.
  6. Fact sheets and other publications.
  7. Videos demonstration techniques and giving information on improved technologies and strategies.

Accountability Indicators

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  1. Improvement in WUE (water use efficiency; yield/acre-in irrigation).
  2. Number of producers adopting improve practices and estimated water savings.
  3. Number of irrigation publications distributed or requested.
  4. Reduction in total cost of irrigation.

Program Evaluation Methods

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  1. Demonstration results – WUE, total water savings, costs of water, estimation of labor savings, energy savings, improvement in yield or quality, improvement in irrigation efficiency as tested by SCS.
  2. Number of producers adopting or considering improved systems (through surveys), sales of equipment in area.
  3. Fuel and labor savings with chemigation compared to conventional application methods.
  4. Energy savings resulting form the repair of inefficiency pumping plants.

Potential Partners

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  1. Extension Personnel
  2. Extension Agricultural Engineers
  3. Extension Soil and Crop Scientists
  4. Extension Agricultural Economists
  5. Non-Extension Personnel
    1. Natural Resources Conservation Service
    2. Texas Water Development Board
    3. Groundwater Conservation Districts
    4. Irrigation Districts
    5. USDA-ARS Personnel
    6. State Soil and Water Conservation Board

Online Resources and Publications

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