IA and USDA Extend Partnership

The Irrigation Association and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service have extended their partnership originated by a memorandum of understanding in 2003. The MOU recognizes that IA certified irrigation designers with a specialty in sprinkler, surface and/or drip-micro meet NRCS certification criteria to provide technical assistance to producers on behalf of USDA.

To serve as technical service providers, these designers must perform design work that meets NRCS standards and specifications for effective water management. The TSP certification process recognizes IA as a recommending organization for the categories of irrigation water conveyance, irrigation system application and irrigation water management.

Angel Figueroa, national TSP team leader for the NRCS, presented the extension agreement to IA president Doug York May 17 during the association’s Legislative Fly-In.

For more information on becoming a TSP, visit http://techreg.usda.gov/index.aspx.