Stripling Irrigation Research Park

The C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park (SIRP) is a state-of-the-art irrigation research and education center providing an easily accessible facility to assist farmers in managing irrigation and the general public in understanding the role of water in the economy of the region. Scientists, engineers, UGA Cooperative Extension specialists and staff collaborate to define crop water needs, improve food, feed and fiber production under irrigation, and find more efficient ways to apply irrigation water. SIRP hosted research projects from many different disciplines in 2012. Scientists are evaluating response of new cotton varieties to irrigation timing and scheduling; they are continuing evaluation of subsurface drip irrigation in a corn-cotton-peanut rotation; and evaluating irrigation scheduling methods for sweet corn and field corn production. They are testing interaction of cotton and peanut plant nutrient application and irrigation, and plastic mulch effects on thrip movement and disease in drip irrigated tomatoes. The Georgia Peanut Tour spent several hours at Stripling Park. SIRP again joined Mitchell County 4-H as well as the Flint RiverQuarium to conduct a 3-day summer camp, "4H2O Camp." About 120 students and advisors spent a day at SIRP learning about water, irrigation, ecosystems and agricultural careers. SIRP continued its cooperative work with the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District by taking a more active role in the Flint River Basin Program. The Park and its scientists are working with the program to deploy Variable-Rate Irrigation systems. By 2013 the effort will have installed 130 VRI systems for a total water savings of about 650 million gallons (or 2 acre-inches) per season.