Irrigation Association leads Smart Irrigation Month
In July each year, irrigation professionals have the opportunity to share the importance of effective irrigation practices through Smart Irrigation Month. The Irrigation Association, Fairfax, Virginia, celebrates these efforts with a month-long initiative to raise public awareness. Smart Irrigation Month promotes the social, economic and environmental benefits of efficient irrigation technologies, products and services in landscape, turf and agricultural irrigation, as well as the companies and professionals who champion them.
In 2023, the Smart Irrigation Month theme is “What’s the value of smart irrigation?” The irrigation industry is providing solutions to some of the most critical challenges facing society, including supporting global food security and protecting the water used in thriving, healthy communities. This year’s theme tells the story of how smart irrigation products, technologies and practices have a positive and beneficial impact for communities.
There are a number of ways irrigation professionals can support and promote the objectives of Smart Irrigation Month, such as how the City of Fort Collins in northern Colorado did last year in offering financial incentives to take advantage of smart irrigation tactics.
“We have a strong sprinkler rebate program for residential and commercial customers, and the components are WaterSense-labeled and have been tested in our region and climate,” Eric Olson, City of Fort Collins irrigation specialist, said during last year’s event. “We also support these rebates with a ‘tech-check’ opportunity. The rebate application offers the homeowner the option to verify the irrigation upgrades are programmed or installed correctly. This provides our customers confidence when selecting these irrigation technologies, so they can expect water savings soon after the equipment is installed.”
The industry is continually finding new ways to bring value to irrigation expertise through improved water stewardship, and Smart Irrigation Month provides an opportunity to highlight how efficient irrigation plays a crucial role in every community.
There are lots of ways for industry professionals to promote Smart Irrigation Month. The Irrigation Association website offers resources including irrigation facts and information that contractors can share with customers, as well as downloadable social media graphics and templates. They can also share their stories and photos about the value of smart irrigation through a short questionnaire at smartirrigationmonth.org. Those will be collected to highlight on social media and through Irrigation & Lighting’s website. And they can join in on July 11, Technology Tuesday, when we encourage industry professionals to wear blue to raise awareness for smart irrigation and share selfies on social media using the hashtag #SmartIrrigationMonth.
“Amplifying the value of smart irrigation and demonstrating how the products and services the industry provides to encourage efficient water management is critically important for all of us,” says Nathan Bowen, IA advocacy and public affairs vice president. “Smart Irrigation Month is about telling our story and highlighting the value irrigated landscapes and irrigated agriculture bring to our daily lives.”
Smart Irrigation Month is sponsored by HydroPoint.
Webinar to share water management best practices
The Irrigation Association will host an Industry Insights webinar June 20 titled “From Irrigation to Water Management.” The session, hosted by DJ Seeger, president of Seeger Water, Austin, Texas, covers the technology, industry best practices and business strategies needed to lead the industry paradigm shift from irrigation to water management.
As water resources become more scarce and expensive, homeowners and property managers are relying on irrigation professionals to keep their landscapes healthy while reducing consumption. Through new technologies like flow sensors and central control, irrigators are taking control of water usage and are critical in the future of water conservation.
The session costs $35 for IA members and $50 for nonmembers and is worth 1 CEU.
SWAT awards program now open
The Irrigation Association opened its annual Smart Water Application Technology awards program May 31, which recognizes water providers that are committed to promoting outdoor water conservation by increasing engagement, education and partnerships with important stakeholders.
Cities, counties and utilities involved in programs that promote outdoor water conservation are eligible to apply. Two awards will be presented to winners of the program. The Outstanding Industry Partnership Award highlights water providers with programs focused on building partnerships with landscape professionals, irrigation contractors and other professionals with irrigation responsibilities to promote outdoor water conservation. The Outstanding Public Engagement Award recognizes water providers with programs focused on engaging and educating residential or commercial end users on smart and efficient technologies, best practices and programs related to outdoor water conservation.
SWAT is a coalition of water purveyors, equipment manufacturers and irrigation practitioners with shared interests in the initiative in North America. Applications for the program are due July 14 and can be found online.
Irrigation Association names scholarship winners
The Irrigation Association awarded 18 scholarships May 8 through the 2023 Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholarship Program, sponsored by Rain Bird. In its seventh year, the program highlighted deserving recipients studying and pursuing careers in the irrigation field.
The 18 students are from colleges and universities around the United States and are enrolled in associate to graduate programs with an irrigation focus. The scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, were awarded to students who have shown a passion and interest in sustainability, stewardship and use of water, and the essential contributions irrigated landscapes and irrigated agriculture have in improving the quality of life through a reliable global food supply and vital green spaces.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholarship Program:
- Matthew Antunes – University of Connecticut, Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholar
- Cameron Lowrey – California Polytechnic State University, Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholar
- Darren Baty – California State University, Fresno
- Matthew Frazier – San Jose State University
- Lauren Fuhrman – Kansas State University
- Adrian Gomez – Oklahoma State University
- Emily Hanson – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Miller Hayes – University of Georgia
- Nathan James – Colorado State University
- Loretta Klecker – Michigan State University
- Idalia Navarro – California State University, Fresno
- Josie Prince – Clemson University
- Cynthia Robbins – Saddleback College/MiraCosta College
- Travis Roberson – Virginia Polytechnic University
- Mary Rodriguez – MiraCosta College
- Zachary Sannar – Utah State University
- Margaret Usher – California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- Hattie Witherell – Oklahoma State University
Applications open for E3 program
College students and educators looking to develop their industry knowledge can submit applications to take part in the IA’s 2023 E3 Program, sponsored by The Toro Company. Winners receive a trip to the annual Irrigation Show and Education Week, as well as entry to at least two classes and time with the lead sponsor and networking events. Last year, 25 students and two educators from colleges and universities across the country were selected as winners of the 2022 program. Find out more and apply by visiting irrigation.org.
