By Olivia McClure
LSU AgCenter
When drought conditions set in across Louisiana this summer, many farmers resorted to irrigation to try to save their crops. While it helped preserve yields and quality in some cases, the sharp uptick in irrigation raised alarm among those who monitor water usage in agriculture.
With concerns about the sustainability of water supplies in mind, LSU AgCenter engineer Stacia Davis Conger is leading a team to develop an irrigation decision-making app and outreach campaign aimed at helping farmers mitigate drought risks in an environmentally and economically responsible way. She recently was awarded a $295,860 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support the work.