Security and Resilience in Irrigated Agriculture

In February, Hannah Birgé, director, Water & Agriculture Programs, The Nature Conservancy, Omaha, Nebraska, spent time with the chapter discussing the Central Nebraska Irrigation Project. Birgé touched on the vision of her organization to create a world where both nature and people thrive together. This can be accomplished by tackling climate change, building healthy cities, protecting land and water, and sustainably providing food and water. Birgé clarified that across the globe, 73 percent of global water withdrawals are non-renewable extractions. Birgé discussed the Ogallala aquifer, which is the largest natural aquifer in the world. In 2012, there was record drought in Nebraska, which required significant irrigation, but the Ogallala aquifer is resilient because of the many actions taken to counter the withdrawal. Birgé commented that water is a non-renewable resource, but through selective irrigation we can extend the life of this resource. She discussed key projects involving farmers using SMART weather stations, pivot irrigation systems tied to cell phones, and target telemetry pivot sensors. Birgé concluded by pointing out their aquifer enhancing initiatives work, their projects amplify their impact, and the structure of the system matters.