Completed Project Report


Managing risks associated with irrigation of row crops in the coastal plain of Virginia

  • Award Amount: $49,077
  • Regional Center: Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2017 Education Projects
  • Project Director: Julie Shortridge
  • Email: jshortridge@vt.edu
  • Organization: Virginia Tech

Back to Search Results

Extension RME Regional Centers
Extension Risk Management Education Region Map

Project Overview

While irrigation can mitigate risks associated with insufficient rainfall during the growing season, it can also present financial, regulatory, and production risks if not operated in a sound manner. This project helped row-crop producers in Coastal Virginia manage these risks by providing information on 1) estimating the costs and benefits of supplemental irrigation, 2) regulatory requirements surrounding irrigation, and 3) methods for efficient irrigation management. This information was delivered through a two-day workshop at the Virginia Tech Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC) and through the development of tools and extension factsheets. This project helped producers achieve the following results:

1. Understand rough costs for installation and operation of irrigation systems and develop estimates of the costs and benefits of irrigation for their own operations.
2. Understand the permitting and reporting requirements for withdrawing water for irrigation and obtain necessary permits if wells are installed.
3. Understand the benefits of irrigation scheduling on profit, yield, and environmental stewardship and manage irrigation water application to optimize growing conditions

A total of 39 growers and extension personnel participated in the workshop, and additional educational materials have been created and posted online so they are available to growers in the future.

Number of Participants: 39

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

There are no educational materials available for this project.

REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.

DELIVERY AREA

DESCRIBE ANY UNEXPECTED RESULTS OF THE PROJECT:

HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE PROJECT IF YOU WERE TO DO IT AGAIN?

WHAT WERE THE KEYS TO SUCCESS FOR YOUR PARTICIPANTS?

INDIVIDUAL STORIES / EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS / QUOTES