USDA Looking to Improve Irrigation Efficiency

The USDA is looking to accelerate the development of technologies and practices to improve water and irrigation efficiency.  With that in mind, a new effort launched Friday, in part, through a U-S-D-A Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research grant, creating the $5 million Irrigation Innovation Consortium.

Debra Hamlin of the non-profit "Irrigation Association" represents one of the public-private partners involved in the consortium, including several land-grant universities.

"Sharing the cutting-edge research that we anticipate coming out of this consortium."

Matching funds from these partners doubles the foundation's investment to support research and collaboration over a five-year period.  Among those joining the partners in making the announcement, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and former Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack.

"Secretaries Perdue and Vilsack, it's an honor to be on stage with you, and we thank you for your steadfast commitment to agricultural research."