INDUSTRY
Water use innovation
UGA Extension helps Georgia improve efficiency by Sharon Dowdy, News Editor, UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Tools, techniques, technologies “UGA is a leader in the development of innovative irrigation efficiency tools, techniques and technologies and UGA Extension works diligently with Georgia’s ag community to deploy these innovations across the state, particularly in southwest Georgia, which has become the focal point of the court case,” Johnson said. To help improve Georgia’s agricultural water use efficiency, UGA Extension created the Agricultural Water Efficiency Team (AgWET), which includes 16 UGA faculty from various disciplines in partnership with Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District experts, 14 UGA Extension agents, four crop consultants and 53 farmers. To help improve Georgia’s agricultural water use efficiency, UGA Extension created the AgWET Project, which includes UGA faculty from various disciplines in partnership with Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District experts, UGA Extension agents, crop consultants and farmers.
This program helps farmers better schedule irrigation, gives them a better understanding of why they may need to use these tools to help schedule their irrigation and increases their water-use efficiency through the use of soilmoisture sensors and smartphone apps.
UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020
For the past three decades, Alabama,
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Florida and Georgia have been battling over control of water resources in what has become known as the “tri-state water wars.” Judge Paul Kelly of New Mexico, a Supreme Courtappointed expert known as a “special master,” recently ruled in favor of Georgia in the ongoing Florida vs. Georgia court case.
AgWET has increased the adoption of innovative and efficient irrigation practices and technologies like soil moisture sensor systems across south Georgia, said Calvin Perry, superintendent of UGA’s Stripling Irrigation Research Park in Camilla, Georgia.
“Two years ago, the original Special Master on the case chided Georgia, saying the state doesn’t monitor its water usage very well,” said Laura Perry Johnson, associate dean for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. “This year, that note was removed as the state now does an amazing job of tracking water usage.”
“While the AgWET project cannot claim all the credit, soil moisture sensor vendors operating in Georgia report a substantial uptick in system sales following the start of the AgWET project,” he said. “One vendor had a 536% increase in sales and another saw a 370% increase.”
Johnson said UGA Extension has strengthened its water resource education program by adding new personnel and new programs.
“Ag water conservation and water use efficiency are what we’re all about and why Stripling Park was created.”
