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As chairman of the Irrigation Association’s Contractor Common Interest Group, I see our single most important task is the generation of a much greater level of industry involvement on the part of the contractor throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world. The Irrigation Association and many state associations are surprisingly devoid of irrigation contractor members relative to their general membership and the make up of the industry. In its history, the IA has been more manufacturer driven and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, the representation by contractors within the IA is growing at a rapid pace. The IA is and continues to be the most recognized source of information and direction pertaining to irrigation.
The IA recognizes that the contractor is a critical link in getting the correct principles as well as the latest innovations to the market. So, it’s the mission of the IA, and mine as well, to engage contractors in IA. The IA Contractor CIG is building the ability for contractors across the nation to not only interact with each other about timely issues, but also to develop and implement cohesive plans to steer the future of irrigation in light of a changing political climate, whether that be the scarcity of water, real or perceived, or breakthroughs in technology. I think it is important for contractors to have input into how that takes place, now and in the future.
As far as the issues go, I think there are three or four very important issues. A very important issue is the use of water for landscape irrigation purposes and the governing of water for irrigation. Is water scarce? Is water going to become increasingly scarce? What can we, as contractors, do about it? How can we contribute to the decision making, as opposed to being subject to the decisions.
It is important that we play a role in those kinds of decisions and the outcomes that affect our industry. It will ultimately be our choice. If we choose not to participate, we get what we deserve.
I also see a need for a change in approach to business by contractors due to political climate, but also due to changing technologies. Irrigation application is becoming more and more complicated in a good way. Contractors must practice efficient methods of delivering water to the plant material, and then teach those methods to the end-user. I think that is a very large responsibility because we are on the front lines of the use of water and we need to demonstrate goodwill and respect of the water resources. We need to participate in the overall discussion regarding the scarcity of water, real or perceived, and what to do about it.
We need to have a seat at the table, so that we can contribute from the front lines our experiences. We need to persuade contractors to recognize the need to feel that it is important to educate themselves and participate in the development of changes, as opposed to being subject to them. Other issues relate to the actual practice or our trade and establishing our trade as something considered a profession, in the truest sense. The last item that I believe is very important is our ability to develop relationships with educational institutions to develop the next generation of contractors and irrigation professionals across the board.
As we endeavor to secure the industry’s future, I respectfully ask to you to consider being part of IA.
Tim Malooly owns Irrigation By Design, a landscape irrigation firm
based in Plymouth, Minn. Malooly is currently chairman of the Irrigation Association’s Contractor Common Interest Group. He also serves as chair of the Government Affairs committee of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association.