Water and Irrigation Management Workshop for Nevada Producers

Explore Nevada water policy, irrigation strategies, an expert panel, and hands-on field demos. Free lunch and refreshments provided.
About this Event

Join the University of Nevada, Reno Extension Wednesday, October 7, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, for a statewide workshop on practical water stewardship and irrigation management in Nevada’s arid agricultural systems.

Participants will learn how irrigation scheduling, soil moisture monitoring, infrastructure improvements, salinity management and applied technologies can support more efficient water use and informed on-farm decision-making.

The morning program will include presentations on:

1. Irrigation infrastructure modernization
2. Technical assistance and cost-share opportunities
3. Basin-level water realities
4. Nevada water policy
5. Water-right considerations, and voluntary water-right retirement options in Nevada

University faculty and agricultural professionals will also discuss irrigation management in hay, forage, and horticultural production systems.

A moderated panel discussion will give participants an opportunity to ask questions directly, discuss practical irrigation challenges, and hear perspectives from agency representatives, researchers and agricultural professionals.

A practical, hands-on afternoon

The afternoon will move from the classroom to the UNR Experiment Station fields for an interactive hands-on, show-and-tell learning session.

Participants will see irrigation practices, monitoring tools, and field-management approaches demonstrated in working research and production settings. The afternoon sessions will include:

1. Field-based irrigation management in hay and forage systems
2. Practical horticultural irrigation applications
3. Identification and interpretation of crop water stress
4. Soil moisture monitoring tools and demonstrations
5. Drone-supported and remote approaches to moisture assessment
6. Opportunities to interact directly with specialists and ask site-specific questions

This field component is designed to help participants connect the morning presentations with practices, tools and management decisions they can apply in their own operations.

Participants will explore:

1. Irrigation infrastructure challenges and modernization options
2. Common sources of water loss in irrigation systems
3. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service technical assistance and cost-share opportunities
4. Basin-level water realities and implications for Nevada producers
5. Nevada water policy and water-right considerations
6. Voluntary water-right retirement options for Nevada agricultural producers and other water-right holders
7. Irrigation scheduling for hay and forage systems
8. Crop-water relationships in horticultural production
9. Soil moisture monitoring tools and data interpretation
10. Salinity and water-quality considerations
11. Field-based irrigation management strategies
12. Applied technologies for improving irrigation decisions

Confirmed speakers and contributors

1. Representatives from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Nevada State Office — irrigation infrastructure challenges, modernization options, technical assistance, and producer-support and cost-share pathways
2. Joe Cacioppo, State Engineer, Nevada Division of Water Resources — basin-level water realities, Nevada water policy, water-right considerations, and voluntary water-right retirement options in Nevada
3. Dr. Alejandro Andrade-Rodriguez, University of Nevada, Reno — irrigation management in hay and forage systems
4. Dr. Felipe Barrios-Masias, University of Nevada, Reno — irrigation management in horticultural systems under arid conditions
5. Dr. Juan Solomon, University of Nevada, Reno — irrigation, forage productivity, and whole-system decision-making
6. Jill Moe, Director, Desert Farming Initiative, University of Nevada, Reno — horticultural irrigation applications and field-based experiential learning
7. Dr. Tracy Shane, University of Nevada, Reno Extension — drone-supported and remote approaches for moisture assessment and their potential application to irrigation decision-making
8. Dr. Andrew Waaswa, University of Nevada, Reno Extension and Nevada Western SARE Professional Development Program Coordinator — workshop coordinator and moderator

Who should attend?

1. Farmers and ranchers
2. Hay and forage producers
3. Fruit and vegetable growers
4. Agricultural educators and Extension professionals
5. Conservation and natural-resource professionals
6. Crop advisers and agricultural consultants
7. Agency and nonprofit personnel supporting Nevada agriculture
8. Water-right holders interested in Nevada water-management and retirement options

Tentative schedule

8:30–9:00 a.m. — Registration, coffee, and networking
9:00 a.m.–12:25 p.m. — Presentations and moderated panel discussion
12:25–1:15 p.m. — Complimentary lunch and transition to the field
1:15–4:00 p.m. — Hands-on, show-and-tell field demonstrations
4:00–4:30 p.m. — Reflections, evaluation and closing

Event details

Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Location: UNR Experiment Station, Valley Road
Morning session: Room KRC 104
Afternoon session: Experiment Station field demonstration and research sites

Refreshments and lunch

Complimentary refreshments and lunch will be provided to registered participants.

This workshop is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37490-WS3SI through the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under project number WNV23-001. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed here do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

For any questions please reach out to Dr. Andrew Waaswa at [email protected] or 775-423-5121 Ext 4.