Location: Sustainable Water Management Research
Project Number: 6066-13000-006-040-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2026
End Date: Jun 30, 2030
Objective:
The overall objective of this agreement is to conduct research in support of congressionally mandated obligations on sustainable water use. Accomplishing the objectives of this agreement will result in increased profitability for farmers and long-term productivity of the land in keeping with the Secretary's directives on departmental research and development priorities. Specific objectives are:
1. Development of improved automation for furrow irrigation systems
2. Evaluate crop management practices which enhance farm revenue in irrigated agricultural production while mitigating risk
3. Develop soil-type specific water management strategies which maintain soil health while reducing runoff.
4. Engage stakeholders through Extension partners to communicate findings with agricultural producers to conduct technology transfer for practices and technologies developed in this agreement.
Approach:
This project will achieve the research objectives by conducting both on-station and on-farm projects. A guiding principle for the approach is to ensure objectives are met through the use of applicable real-world data so that findings may be readily implemented in commercial agricultural production. This endeavor will assess technologies and practices at both plot and field scales. The work aims to result in reduced withdrawals from the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer for irrigation while increasing the profitability of agricultural production and maintaining or improving soil health throughout the Lower Mississippi River Basin. The Mississippi River Delta is primarily irrigated using surface (furrow) irrigation, while much of the rest of the United States employs overhead irrigation or other methods, which are generally considered more efficient. The Delta region employs surface irrigation in order to take advantage of the land forming, which is employed to handle the large amounts of off-season rain typically received in the area. While other forms of irrigation will be studied, the primary focus of this project will be on improvements to surface irrigation.
The analysis of both economic factors and producer practices that will impact the adoption of research developments will inform efforts. To ensure a successful outcome, both Cooperator and ARS scientists will collaborate with each other and with commercial agricultural producers across the Lower Mississippi River Basin. Most projects will be trialed at the plot scale before implementation at the field scale in partnership with commercial producers. Technology transfer activities, such as field days and extension training, will be carried out to collect feedback on developments from stakeholders and to aid in the adoption of new technologies.
Research will focus on the traditional crops of the Mississippi Delta: corn, cotton, soybean, rice, and aquaculture (catfish); however, less planted crops such as peanuts, wheat, and peas will be considered in order to return as much economic value for irrigation water as possible. Research will also consider high-value crops not traditionally grown in the Lower Mississippi River Basin, such as extra-long staple and/or hybrid cotton and cropping systems not typically employed, such as inter-cropping. Experimental designs will focus on improving the efficient use of the aquifer and economic returns to the producer while maintaining soil health for the future.