The Mobile Irrigation Lab is on the move

Angie Gradiz<gradizme@msu.edu>, Riley Johnson<rouseril@msu.edu> and Younsuk Dong<dongyoun@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Michigan State University’s Mobile Irrigation Lab offers on-farm evaluations of flow rate, system pressure and application uniformity to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements that boost water- and energy-use efficiency.

A center pivot irrigation system sprays water over a lush green crop field, creating a visible rainbow under a clear blue sky. White collection cups are spaced across the field for irrigation evaluation. Text overlay reads: “Michigan State University’s new Mobile Irrigation Lab offers no cost irrigation evaluations to growers across the State to aid in improving water use and energy efficiency!”

Is your center pivot system performing as efficiently as it could? Even small issues with pressure, flow rate or sprinkler uniformity can lead to uneven water application, wasted energy, and reduced crop performance.

Michigan State University Extension’s new Mobile Irrigation Lab is hitting the road to help Michigan growers evaluate and improve the efficiency of their irrigation systems at no cost. This on-farm service measures pressure, flow rate and water application uniformity under real operating conditions to identify potential issues and maintenance needs.

Each visit provides growers with a clear snapshot of their system’s performance, along with practical recommendations to enhance irrigation scheduling, water use efficiency and energy savings. In addition, cost-share funds are available to assist with irrigation system retrofits or upgrades based on lab findings.

Interested in having the Mobile Irrigation Lab visit your farm? Complete this form to request a site evaluation or contact Riley Johnson at rouseril@msu.edu for more information.

Download Flyer

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Did you find this article useful?

You Might Also Be Interested In

Tag List
  • agriculture,
  • agronomy,
  • center pivot irrigation,
  • corn,
  • cover crops,
  • cropping systems,
  • field crops,
  • fruit & nuts,
  • irrigation,
  • irrigation planning and maintenance,
  • irrigation systems,
  • msu extension,
  • small grains,
  • soil moisture,
  • soybeans,
  • vegetables,
  • wheat