UGA Extension program helps farmers adopt sustainable irrigation methods

ATHENS -- Georgia's leading industry is agriculture, which relies significantly on irrigation — approximately half of the state's cropland is irrigated.

For most farmers operating on razor-thin profit margins, irrigation is essential as insurance against drought and extended dry periods. Due to this critical dependence, numerous state agencies actively promote water use efficiency to sustain the industry.

In the Coastal Plain region of the state, where the majority of crop production takes place, soils are drier and sandier, making irrigation crucial for crop survival. However, the cost of pumping water can be high, and obtaining the necessary water use permits can be difficult. Compounding the issue are the decades-long legal battles throughout the Southeast, which have placed restrictions on water use and require a show of good faith in stewarding the precious resource through effective conservation strategies across all sectors.

In a concerted effort to address water conservation in agriculture, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Ag Water Team helps farmers adopt water-saving practices that boost yields, lower production costs and conserve water for future generations.

Jason Mallard and Phillip Edwards, agents with the UGA Extension Ag Water Team, work alongside College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences faculty, research scientists and county Extension agents to enhance water-use efficiency in agriculture.

With a $75,000 grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s Altamaha Regional Water Council, the team launched the Master Irrigator Developmental Program last year. The program aims to help Georgia farmers optimize water use through advanced technologies and offers hands-on training and exposure to tools like soil moisture sensors and online apps, enabling farmers to make more informed irrigation decisions and improve their efficiency and sustainability.

Mallard said that while the technology is not new, most growers in Georgia use visible plant stress and the feel of the soil as indicators to apply irrigation. Sole reliance on these older methods generally leads to yield and profit losses and highlights a gap in technology adoption as only a small percentage of Georgia producers report using soil moisture sensors.

Soil moisture monitoring technology measures the water content in the soil and provides data that helps optimize irrigation practices by indicating when watering is necessary.

"Ultimately, this technology helps conserve water, reduce energy usage, improve crop yields and enhance profitability,” Mallard said. “Conversely, over-irrigation can lead to soil erosion, nutrient runoff and deep percolation. By implementing smart irrigation practices, we can mitigate these issues by precisely applying water according to crop needs.”

Mallard designed and adapted the UGA Master Irrigator Developmental Program initiative for the Southeast based on highly successful programs from other regions, particularly the Midwest, where extensive crop production places high demands on water.

The Ag Water Team is made up of county extension agents and educators who work directly with farmers. The team is recruiting more agents and farmers to participate in the Master Irrigator Developmental Program in their collective effort to conserve water and improve farm sustainability.

With initial funding from the Altamaha Regional Water Council, which encompasses 16 counties, the program started with one farmer from each county. Thanks to its initial success, the team recently partnered with the Brier Creek, Ogeechee, and Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Districts to expand the program, adding eight more farmers over the next two years. Bulk purchases of a variety of sensors through local nonprofit Pine Country Resource Conservation and Development Council have enabled the Ag Water Team to showcase additional, up-to-date technologies to producers.

“The success of this program is due to the collective effort of everyone involved, including our partnering agencies and county agents who work with these farmers daily,” Edwards said. "While helpful technology like this exists, changing irrigation methods comes with business risks. In farming, where so much is on the line, it can be difficult for growers to make these changes."

According to Edwards and Mallard, the exceptional participation of county extension agents has been instrumental in strengthening the program. Working collaboratively, the agents make up a statewide network of experts who work directly on farms to provide growers with one-on-one support.

“We’ve truly seen how this program has significantly enhanced participants' knowledge of the tools available to implement irrigation best management practices,” Mallard said. "Farmers are now making data-driven decisions and have a better understanding of soil type and crop-specific water demands throughout the season.”

As water scarcity remains a pressing issue, initiatives like the Master Irrigator Developmental Program are essential for the long-term sustainability and support of Georgia’s top industry. Mallard emphasized that the partnership between UGA Extension, regional water councils, RC&D councils, and soil and water conservation districts demonstrates the remarkable impact of cooperative efforts in working directly with farmers to build confidence in using these technologies to conserve water.

“County by county, one farm at a time, we hope to see farmers across Georgia and from every commodity area adopt newer technology for precision irrigation management,” Edwards said.

Visit extension.uga.edu/water to learn more about extension programs, services and other resources to help conserve the world's most precious resource.