P R E S I D E N T'S   M E S S A G E

Statistics support the association's involvement in water issues

by David Ramsey

Welcome to the newly designed Irrigation Business &Technology magazine, the voice of The Irrigation Association. The magazine's goal is to provide relevant and interesting articles that allow quick and easy information retrieval for its readers.

The first edition also represents the beginning of my term as President of The Irrigation Association. I would like to thank the association's past president, Ed Newbegin, for his leadership during the past year. Ed's focus and direction has been indispensable in moving our association forward as an important voice on water issues on a national level.

Statistics support the association's involvement in water issues. Twenty-five percent of this country's renewable water supplies are withdrawn each year from aquifers, streams and lakes for human use. Of this 25 percent, a whole 79.6 percent of the water used is by agriculture for producing crops, 2.9 percent of the water is used for lawn and ornamental landscape and 0.2 percent of the water is applied on golf courses. Industries and consumers, who look to The Irrigation Association for solutions to critical water issues, use 84 percent of the total water consumed in America.

Many solutions for both America's and the world's water quality and quantity problems are found in the proper application of water to our agricultural crops, golf courses, lawns and ornamental plants. These solutions preserve limited water supplies and substantially enhance water quality through the reduction of nonpoint source pollution by proper application of water and by proper limitation of pesticides, chemicals, and fertilizers applied to the land.

I want to discuss the steps your association is taking to educate our industry and America about the problems facing our water quality and quantity, and the solutions to these problems.

CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION

The Certification Board while funded by the IA and IA sponsored events, is totally independent and self-functioning. Its primary mission is to ensure that the academic certifications promoted and given out by the Association are meaningful in their achievement and current and timely in their content. Its success is evident by a growing list of cities within the United States and indeed countries around the work that have agreements in place or ongoing negotiations with our organization to bring our standards and certifications process to their locale to assist in the education and monitoring of their irrigation related issues.

Our education program continues to grow in class offerings and attendance. Through our program monitoring and program development subcommittees, we are ensuring that the content remains relevant and timely, and that the format is conducive to learning. Additionally, we are currently working with several Universities and Community Colleges to develop classes and class sequences that will produce graduates better prepared to assume leadership on irrigation issues within their communities, and deliver better prepared employees to our industry.

LEGISLATION

On the national level, our legislative branch is making great strides. Through its initiatives to open communications with key water related associations; such as the American Water Works Association, The National Ground Water Association, and Golf Course Superintendents Association; we are beginning to build the trust and network necessary to understand each associations key water related issues and goals. This trust and understanding should form the basis for a common vision on water related issues.

We are beginning to be heard at the national level. At our last meeting, we were joined by representatives from the Environmental Protection gency and a legislative aide from the House Resources Subcommittee on Water & Power. They asked questions, gathered information and reached out to gain our unique perspective on water issues.

INFORMATION COMMUNICATION

The information and communications branch of our association is the vehicle which brings us all together. Through this outreach, our association oversees the publication of Irrigation Business and Technology to over 25,000 readers, publishes The Fax of Irrigation, and plans our conventions and implements member outreach programs.

Additionally, Information and Communications committees house task forces, such as our Bar Code and EDI committees who are working to drive unnecessary costs out of our industry by setting uniform standards for labeling and electronic communications between seller and buyers.

Each of these outreach programs is important in the growth and development of The Irrigation Association and its message to the world. If you see an area that interests you, please contact the association office or me. Your participation is critical to our continued success.

IA President, Dave Ramsey, is CEO of United Pipe and Supply Co. in Portland, OR. He can be reached at (503) 788-8813.

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