C ommentary
Technical knowledge needed for state’s water future
Water professionals gather at a flow management course taught last winter at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Irrigation Training and Research Center.
By Stuart Styles Efficient water management is a growing priority in California as agriculture, urban and recreational development, and envi- ronmental needs increasingly compete for limited resources. There is a press-
the-art training for modernizing canal and pump control systems. The Certified Irrigator Program is sponsored by the CDFA Water Efficiency Technical Assistance program. The two- class sequence focuses initially on basic irrigation principles and advances to top- ics such as pipeline hydraulics and irriga- tion efficiency. These classes are offered in English and Spanish and are targeted for on-farm irrigation professionals, with an emphasis on drip systems. After comple- tion of each in-person course, attendees can take an exam to receive certification. ITRC also provides two self-paced on- line courses that are available year-round. The online Certified Fertigator course is sponsored by CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program and is available in English and Spanish. The classes cover techniques in the control and application of fertilizers through irrigation systems and strategies to conform to nitrogen regula- tions in California. Other key topics include the character- istics and behavior of nitrogen fertilizers, challenges associated with phosphorus and potassium applications, use of growth enhancers and organic-compliant meth- ods for keeping drip systems clean. The course emphasizes increasing crop yields per acre-foot of evapotranspiration through improved fertility management, a critical objective for California growers facing on- going water and regulatory pressures. Cal Poly’s ITRC continues to be a vital hub for irrigation education, research and inno- vation, training the next generation of pro- fessionals to meet California’s water man- agement challenges. For more information about projects or short courses, visit itrc.org. Stuart Styles is a professor of irrigation and director of the Irrigation Training and Research Center at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He may be contacted at sstyles@calpoly.edu. Victoria Paolini, agricultural communi- cations technician at Cal Poly’s Irrigation Training and Research Center, contributed to this commentary.
ing need for profes- sionals who under- stand water system complexities but also can design, manage and opti- mize irrigation sys- tems. To meet this need, professionals need an excellent
Stuart Styles
ated by 15 professionals and 30 part-time student technicians. ITRC offers year-round technical training for irrigation district staff, engi- neers, consultants and growers. These workshops combine classroom instruc- tion with hands-on experiences at the Irrigation Performance Facility and the Water Hydraulic Laboratory. Thirteen irrigation courses are available to Cal Poly students. During COVID-19, these were among the few classes held on the Cal Poly campus. The outdoor facili- ties provided a perfect classroom setting, bringing safe instruction. Courses de- signed for students have been shared with irrigation dealers, districts and the broader industry. These 525 professional offerings have served more than 11,700 participants, with 157,200 professional education hours logged over 35 years. Irrigation System Evaluation, or ISE, short courses, sponsored by the California Department of Water Resources, prepare participants for ITRC Certified Distribution Uniformity Evaluator certification. ISE1 combines theory with lab practices, while ISE2 involves complete field evaluations of drip and microirrigation systems in the San Joaquin Valley. Certified evaluators perform sum- mer distribution uniformity evaluations statewide. Offered free through DWR and the California Department of Food and
Agriculture, these assessments involve measuring pressures and flows and in- specting system components. Students input the data, analyze it with staff support, then compile reports with results and rec- ommendations. They also meet growers to review findings and suggest improvements, often boosting yield and crop quality. The Designer/Manager School of Irrigation program offers courses in sched- uling, hydraulics, pumps, row crop drip irrigation, and drip and microirrigation design aligned with Irrigation Association certifications. Most exams and books were provided by ITRC and authored by me and Charles Burt, who has been my mentor. For water districts, the Irrigation District School of Irrigation courses are held during the winter months. The workshops are spon- sored by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, California Great Basin region. The program includes courses in flow management, pumps, modernization and SCADA. ITRC is updating its popular flow man- agement short course to become a certi- fied program, which will include a formal exam and certificate. This new certifica- tion is designed to strengthen industry standards and better prepare participants for real-world applications. The certified course is expected to be launched soon. The SCADA course now features cut- ting-edge Schneider Electric 474i con- trollers, offering water districts a state-of-
source of irrigation education that includes extensive written material to emphasize the details and a tested hands-on compo- nent to help understand complex topics. Cal Poly’s Irrigation Training and Research Center, or ITRC, plays a critical role in addressing that need. I started working for
the ITRC in 1993 and have been director since 2000. Founded in 1989 by Dr. Charles Burt and housed within the
IRRIGATION
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department, ITRC was specifically devel- oped to ensure long-term positive benefits to Cal Poly’s academic irrigation training program, emphasizing the “Learn by Doing” motto. The center’s work spans irrigation dis- trict modernization, supervisory control and data acquisition systems, or SCADA, and canal automation, flow rate manage- ment, on-farm irrigation system evalua- tions, energy efficiency and evapotrans- piration measurement. ITRC balances its academic irrigation program while also serving as a techni- cal resource for the water industry. It in- tegrates training, research and technical support to serve students and profession- als across California. The center is oper-
VOL. 52, NO. 11
May 21, 2025
AG ALERT ® newspaper is an official publication of the CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU • CFBF.COM Printed on recycled paper
@cafarmbureau @cafarmbureau @cafarmbureau @cafarmbureau
@cafarmbureau agalert.com
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AG ALERT, 2600 River Plaza Dr., Sacramento, CA 95833. The California Farm Bureau does not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products advertised in AG ALERT nor does the Federation assume responsibility for statements or expressions of opinion other than in editorials or in articles showing authorship by an officer, director, or employee of the California Farm Bureau Federation or its affiliates. No alcohol, tobacco or political advertising will be accepted. Shannon Douglass, President Shaun Crook, First Vice President Ron Peterson, Second Vice President BOARD OF DIRECTORS: (District 1) Ronnie Leimgruber; (2) Richard Schmid; (3) Mark Lopez;
Barbara Arciero – Director of Publications & Media Relations Christine Souza – Senior Editor Ching Lee – Editor Caleb Hampton – Assistant Editor Linda DuBois – Writer Shawn Collins – Production Designer Paula Erath – Graphic Designer GENERAL INFORMATION: (916) 561-5570 agalert@cfbf.com ADVERTISING: Brock Tessandori – Business Development Manager (916) 561-5585 Antonio Muniz – Sales Coordinator Classifieds: (916) 561-5570, 2600 River Plaza Dr., Sacramento, CA 95833.
Represented in the East and Midwest by J.L. Farmakis, Inc. Eastern office: Bill Farmakis 24 East Ave, Box 1350, New Canaan, CT 06840, Phone: (203) 834-8832, Fax: (203) 834-8825. Ryder Farmakis 85 John St., Apt 2A, New York, NY 10038, (203) 404-0873. Midwest office: Brenda Murphy W8611 Kent Rd, Poynette, WI 53955, (608) 690-3688. Bob Brunker 8209 NW 81st Ct., Kansas City, MO 64152, (816) 746-8814. Jennifer Saylor 8426 N. Winfield Ave., Kansas City, MO 64153, (816) 912-2804. Laura Rustmann, 901 Lands End Cir, St. Charles MO 63304, (636) 238-8548. AG ALERT (issn 0161-5408) is published biweekly by the California Farm Bureau, 2600 River Plaza Dr., Sacramento CA 95833 (916) 561-5570. Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, California.
(4) Kevin Merrill; (5) Kevin Robertson; (6) Roger Everett; (7) Lorna Roush; (8) April England; (9) Jay Mahil; (10) Jan Garrod; (11) Joe Martinez; (12) Steve Kafka; (13) Jake Wenger; (14) Joe Fischer; (15) Clark Becker; (16) Garrett Driver; (17) Johnnie White; (18) Daniel Suenram; (19) Taylor Hagata; (20) Martin Spannaus; (21) Ronald Vevoda; (Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Chair) Daniel Jones. ADVISORY MEMBERS: Jenny Holtermann, Chair, CFB Rural Health Department; Glenda Humiston, University of California Cooperative Extension. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Send to agalert@cfbf. com or Ag Alert, Attn: Editor, 2600 River Plaza Drive, Sacramento, CA 95833. Include name, address, phone number, email address; 250-word limit.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org
2 Ag Alert May 21, 2025
Powered by FlippingBook