LOGAN – A recent million dollar grant to Utah State University is designed to fight drought and conserve water in the Colorado River Basin.
The funds will be used to invest in what is called Ag-DRIP, or the Ag Water Demonstration, Research and Implementation Program.
Dr. Burdette Barker, an Irrigation Specialist with USU’s College of Engineering and USU Extension, said this project will help farmers make the best of what water they have.
“Sometimes it’s hard to really know when to do things like change out your sprinklers, for example,” Dr. Barker explained. “Then the other side is irrigation management plans, looking at irrigation scheduling but also crop mixes that ultimately could be used especially when we’re feeling the really tight water crunches.”
He said there are a lot of farmers making hard decisions about whether they should irrigate a given crop less than it needs, or just plant less acreage and asking how should this water be used?
“We’re hoping that this project will provide a set of tools,” he added, “that will help people better make those choices or support them in those choices.”
The program begins this spring with the recruitment of 25 farmers who will work with USU Extension experts to test alternative crops and develop irrigation management plans.
To learn more and to apply to participate in the Ag-DRIP program, visit https://tinyurl.com/usuag-drip
Free News Delivery by Email
Would you like to have the day’s news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!