The mission of the Irrigation Association, a non-profit, North American organization, is to improve the products and practices used to manage water resources and to help shape the worldwide business environment of the irrigation industry. The Irrigation Association's interest in water resources encompasses the application, conservation, drainage, improvement and recovery of water for economic and environmental enhancement in agriculture, turfgrass, landscape and forestry.

The Irrigation Association's efforts focus on playing significant roles and providing leadership in four areas:

• IA interacts with private and governmental organizations and other associations in the development of legislation and regulations to properly and appropriately ensure the availability, quality and accessibility of water supplies for, or affected by, irrigation and the efficacy of trade policies;

• IA establishes and conducts authoritative educational programs to broaden and focus public awareness of issues related to water management, to provide professional certification of practitioners of irrigation-related disciplines and to ensure the accessibility of research information pertinent to industry practices and products;

• IA positions itself as an effective catalyst and umbrella organization for outreach, communication and coordination among the diverse parties and interests involved in irrigation;

• IA contributes to the establishment of recognized standards and guidelines dealing with irrigation-related products, engineering applications and practices worldwide.