Modern farmers and natural water resources have a symbiotic relationship. Farmers' success depends on access to nature's gifts like rain and groundwater, but the continued availability of those resources depends on smart utilization by farmers.
New technologies developed by federal researchers can help farmers address their water-management challenges in ways that maintain production and profit while increasing sustainability.
These innovations include the use of artificial intelligence and satellite data for irrigation scheduling, advanced analysis of weather patterns to predict droughts and floods, and the use of faux-fish trackers to assess the effects of irrigation screens on aquatic wildlife.
“We know now, more than ever, it is important to double down on innovation in order to support farmers, ranchers, and producers as they work to increase productivity while conserving our natural resource base," said US Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky.
This FLC Spotlight includes a sampling of federal projects that illustrate how T2 is helping to find environmentally conscious ways to manage the water sources that keep American-grown food on our tables.