By Frank Giles
The Irrigation Association (IA) represents the people and companies who design, build and manage irrigation systems. This includes contractors and growers who rely on those systems every day. According to the IA, its core mission is to support those who make efficient irrigation possible while elevating irrigation’s role in food security, environmental stewardship and economic sustainability. The association focuses on building a skilled workforce, advancing credible standards and certifications, shaping practical and science-based policy, and accelerating the adoption of smart irrigation solutions.
Specialty Crop Grower magazine reached out to IA President Natasha Rankin to discuss how the association works to improve agricultural irrigation. Here’s what she had to say.
Q-and-A
Q: How are irrigation companies deploying artificial intelligence (AI) in their products and services?
A: Artificial intelligence is playing a supportive role in irrigation, particularly when it comes to analyzing large amounts of data and helping users make better decisions. But it’s not replacing decision-making; it’s helping improve it.
For example, AI-driven tools are being used to analyze inputs such as weather forecasts, historical irrigation data, soil conditions and crop performance. These tools can identify patterns or anomalies and provide decision support that helps fine-tune irrigation scheduling or flag potential system issues before they become costly problems.
AI is also being explored in predictive maintenance, where systems learn what normal operation looks like and can alert operators when performance deviates from that baseline. That kind of early insight can prevent water loss, reduce downtime and extend the life of equipment.
Farm Bill
Q: What are some specific measures you are advocating for in the new farm bill?
A: Maintaining strong, reliable funding for programs like the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) matters because they help growers actually put better irrigation practices in place — not just talk about them. The focus isn’t just funding; it’s making sure those programs are accessible and work under real operating conditions.
We’re actively engaged with policymakers to make sure that happens — both in protecting funding for programs like EQIP and in improving how those programs are structured. The goal is straightforward: Reduce barriers, modernize how technical assistance and financing are delivered and make it easier for growers to adopt precision irrigation practices that deliver real results in the field.
A big part of that is making sure growers can access both financial support and qualified technical expertise. That’s where we’ve been spending time — aligning conservation programs with how irrigation is designed, installed and managed today.
One area we’re actively working on is technical assistance. We’ve launched a pilot program with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to streamline how IA-certified professionals can serve as Technical Service Providers. The goal is to connect growers more quickly with qualified people who can help get projects designed, implemented and working in the field.
As pressure on water users increases, these programs become more important — but only if they’re practical, timely and supported by people who know how to apply them.
Key Priorities
Q: What are some other key priorities when it comes to agricultural irrigation?
A: Workforce development is one of the biggest priorities facing agricultural irrigation today. As systems become more advanced, there is a growing need for skilled professionals who understand equipment, as well as data, system design and water management principles. The IA is investing in its programs for Certified Irrigation Designers and Certified Ag Irrigation Specialists and related education programs. The reality is that you can have the best system in the world — but if it’s not installed, managed or maintained properly, it won’t perform.
Finally, education and awareness remain essential. Programs like Smart Irrigation Month, which the IA leads every July, help highlight the importance of efficient water use and the role irrigation professionals play in managing water responsibly.
Q: In the Southeast, what are some priority areas in terms of managing water conservation around potential water shortages?
A: In the Southeast, rainfall variability, increasing competition for water and growing regulatory pressures all make proactive management essential. Priority areas include improving irrigation scheduling to better align with crop needs and weather conditions, upgrading older systems to improve uniformity and control, and protecting water quality through proper system design and management.
Regional collaboration is also key. Water issues don’t stop at farm boundaries, so coordination among growers, utilities, regulators and watershed groups plays an important role in long‑term resilience.
Water Quality, Supply
Q: How can growers utilize irrigation to improve water quality and supply?
A: When systems are working the way they should, growers can be more precise with water, reduce runoff and nutrient loss and maintain consistent production. That’s where irrigation delivers — not just on water use, but on overall farm performance.
The challenge — and the opportunity — is making sure those systems are set up and managed correctly. That comes back to having the right expertise in place and making it easier for growers to access both the technology and the support to use it effectively. Modern irrigation is fundamentally about management, efficiency and stewardship. Through technology, training and best practices, irrigation professionals help growers produce more food using fewer resources. Efficient irrigation also reduces runoff, limits nutrient loss and improves water-use efficiency, all of which support both quantity and quality goals. By reframing irrigation not as a problem, but as a solution-driven industry, we can move toward more productive and collaborative water conversation that recognizes agriculture as a key partner in managing our most critical resource.
Visit the IA website at Irrigation.org to learn more.
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