Agriculture

Globally, the agricultural sector consumes about 70% of the planet’s accessible freshwater. Because water is vital for the success of agriculture, proper water management techniques are necessary to meet food and fiber material demands around the world. Resources available here pay special attention to efficient irrigation and sustainable agriculture techniques.

Agriculture Resources

Barriers to Expanding Irrigated Agriculture in Sub-Sahara Africa Imposed By Pumping Costs

U.S. Agency for International Development
The costs associated with irrigation pumping, in particular the cost of energy, are assessed in relation to their potential impact on irrigation expansion plans, agricultural economics, and the energy sector. In the Sahel, where the percentage of irrigated agricultural land requiring pumping will...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
Senegal
Sub-Saharan Africa

CropWatch

Publication date:
July 3, 2014
Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska
Several DWFI faculty fellows contribute to CropWatch, a resource for UNL extension information on crop production and pest management.Read more

NIMBUS Lab

Publication date:
January 1, 2014
Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska
DWFI faculty fellow Carrick Detweiler is involved in several research projects on using unmanned aerial vehicles for water quality sampling and crop surveyingRead more

Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Network

Publication date:
January 1, 2014
Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska
DWFI faculty fellow Suat Irmak leads this network, which works with natural resources districts and farmers to implement water and soil moisture sensors on growers' fields.Read more

Small Grains Breeding Research

Publication date:
January 1, 2013
Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska
DWFI faculty fellow Stephen Baenzier is researching new cultivars of winter wheat, barley, and triticale along with teaching and developing new breeding methodsRead more

Abandoned Farmland Often Is Troubled Land in Need of Restoration

The National Institutes for Water Resources
Land plowed, fertilized, and irrigated obviously is useful land, with purpose and value. No longer farmed and lying fallow, that same land may be barren or grow only sparse, weedy vegetation in dry and infertile soils. Called abandoned or derelict farmland, this land often is an environmental...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States
North America

O&M Costs in Irrigation: Reappearing Government and Farmer Responsibilities and Rights

U.S. Agency for International Development
The amount of money governments spend on irrigation development continues to be a matter of major policy concern, the more so as "the fiscal crisis" constraints governments not only in the developing world but in the U.S. as well. A discussion of the state of the art in this policy area...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States
North America

Does Micro-Irrigation Matter? a Quasi-Experimental Impact Evaluation in Zambia

iDE
This study is an evaluation of the impact of micro-irrigation technology investment, farmer-group membership, and agricultural training on various measures of household income, crop production, crop diversification, and value added for an innovative project conduced by iDE with smallholder farmers...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
Zambia
Sub-Saharan Africa

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