If 18% of the crop land in Class 1 to 5 farms in the United States is irrigated and produces 25% of the total value of agricultural production it would seem that increased production can easily come from increased area irrigated. However, water supplies are limited. A more extensive use of irrigation or a more intensive development should be designed so as to provide know-how to maximize efficiency and production while at the same time minimizing undesirable effects upon the quality of the environment. Irrigation and drainage research is influenced to a large degree by conflicting goals. Emphasis is given to improving receiving water quality, improving the quality of return flows and to eliminating causes for environmental deterioration. At the same time there is a major effort to increase production of food and fiber crops to meet rapidly growing world demands. Much irrigation research is concerned with the technology and the economics of increasing production on currently irrigated lands and of developing new lands under irrigated agriculture. However, efforts to increase production frequently increase consumptive use for irrigation and generally concentrate soluble solids thus altering the quality of return flows. This paper describes current emphasis in research programs as indicated by a survey of pertinent journal articles and from limited research funding information.