IRRIGATION & WATER MANAGEMENT best practices and innovations in water management. Once a technology is available and affordable, there is generally widespread adoption. " With the help of on-farm demonstration research studies funded by USDA-NRCS, university researchers are collaborating with fruit and nut growers on water conservation practices, " Singh said. There have been many new technologies that fruit growers have been experimenting with on water management issues. " Nano-filtration and reverse osmosis are advanced filtration techniques that can remove salts and other contaminants from irrigation water, ensuring highquality water for orchards, " Wade said. Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) technology enables farmers to apply water precisely where it is needed in their orchards, reducing water wastage and ensuring that each part of the orchard receives the optimal amount of water. " Smart irrigation controllers use data from weather stations and soil moisture sensors to automatically adjust irrigation schedules, " Wade said. " By optimizing irrigation times and amounts, systems like this help Weather stations play an integral role in monitoring conditions. Photo by Debbie Eisele. FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM | 11http://brewtpowersystems.com http://www.FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM