A safe and reliable water supply is critical for profitable agriculture, healthy people, and thriving communities. Through their integrated mission of research, education, and Cooperative Extension, land-grant universities are uniquely positioned to address the increasing pressures on our nation’s water resources. These institutions protect key watersheds, safeguard drinking water supplies, and prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. From equipping farmers with smarter water-use practices and engaging residents in conservation, they deliver measurable results that strengthen both environmental and economic resilience. Land-grant universities improve lives every day by ensuring a secure and strong water supply.
LAND-GRANT IMPACTS EXAMPLES
Protecting valuable water resources
Cornell University; Purdue University; University of Georgia; Oregon State University; University of Vermont; University of Maryland.
Water resources that sustain agriculture and communities continue to face critical challenges. Land-grant universities are working to discover new ways to increase water use efficiency, reduce water use and protect water quality. This cross-institution summary highlights multiple land-grant efforts — from increasing water use efficiency to improving watershed co-management practices across states.
Funded by Hatch, Smith-Lever (3b&c), USDA Competitive, USDA Capacity – Research, and others.
Precision monitoring aids decision makers and stakeholders in protecting key watersheds
University of Kentucky; Central State University; University of Wisconsin; Michigan State University; Mississippi State University; University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Nutrient pollution, biodiversity losses and weather variability pose extraordinary challenges for the sustainability of natural ecosystems and the species that inhabit them. Land-grant universities are developing and applying emerging technologies that can help to more efficiently, accurately and safely monitor, measure and precisely manage these systems with minimal environmental impact.
Funded by Hatch Multistate, Evans Allen, Smith-Lever (3b&c). USDA Competitive and others.
Preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species in Michigan
Michigan State University
The Reduce Invasive Pet and Plant Escapes (RIPPLE) program empowers Michigan residents, retailers, and organizations to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. By bridging knowledge gaps and fostering partnerships, Michigan State University Extension is safeguarding Michigan’s aquatic ecosystems and promoting responsible stewardship of natural resources.
Primary Funding Source: Smith-Lever (3b&c) Capacity Funds.
Smart irrigation saves farmers water, maintains crop yields and helps protect rivers
North Carolina A&T University
Smart irrigation technology helps farmers conserve water — a resource critical to everyone — while reducing costs and protecting food production. By using affordable soil sensors and crop modeling, this research promotes sustainable farming practices that minimize nutrient runoff, safeguarding rivers and drinking water supplies. These innovations also help farmers adapt to extreme weather, ensuring a stable food supply for communities.
Primary Funding Source: Evans-Allen.
Soil Moisture Sensors and Remote Sensing for Precision Water Management in agriculture
New Mexico State University
Promoting the soil moisture sensors in combination with remote sensing under deficit irrigation strategies could help irrigate an additional 20-25% of farmland while reducing groundwater pollution by nitrates and reducing water pumping electricity cost. Conservation agriculture targeting precision irrigation improves crop water productivity. This research showed water saving of about 25% of the seasonal irrigation amount while maintaining crop yield and increasing crop water use efficiency.
Primary Funding Source: USDA Competitive.
The occurrence and persistence of surface water contaminants across different landscapes
University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky researchers mapped 77 pollutants across eight watersheds and demonstrated wetland treatments that intercept them—actionable knowledge for safeguarding the state’s drinking-water sources.
Primary Funding Source: Hatch Multistate Capacity Fund.
USU Researchers Improve Evapotranspiration Data to Support Water Allocation in the Upper Colorado River Basin
Utah State University
Utah State University researchers improved evapotranspiration measurement and model validation in the Upper Colorado River Basin to strengthen estimates of agricultural water use under drought and water-scarcity conditions.
Primary Funding Source: Hatch Capacity Funds.
Improving Water Security for Agriculture in the Pacific Northwest
Washington State University
WSU Extension partnered with state agencies to improve water security in the Columbia River Basin through applied science, climate-informed planning tools, and stakeholder engagement. Since 2006, this work has helped Washington develop over a half a million feet of new agriculture irrigation water supply, increasing agricultural productivity while also advancing instream flow benefits and more collaborative water planning.
Funding Sources: State Appropriations and USDA AFRI.
Tracking Drought from Space: New Tool Shows Climate Trends Across Arkansas
University of Arkansas
Arkansas agriculture is vulnerable to drought, but the state lacks a centralized office to systematically track these changes. A new interactive web tool, the Arkansas Vegetation Drought Explorer v.2.0, developed by Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers, uses satellite imagery to monitor and map drought conditions across Arkansas. The study, published in Ecological Indicators, revealed a trend of increasing short-term droughts in key agricultural regions like the Delta. The research offers valuable data for farmers, environmental planners and policymakers to better anticipate and respond to drought impacts.
Funding Sources: McIntire-Stennis Capacity Funds and others.
Collectively, these accomplishments demonstrate how land-grant universities are uniquely equipped to safeguard water resources and strengthen agricultural prosperity. As water challenges grow more complex, they protect watersheds, reduce pollution, and ensure safe drinking water for communities. By equipping producers with smarter water-use practices, engaging residents in conservation, and fostering collaboration across states, these institutions deliver compelling results. The land-grant system remains a critical and proven resource that advances practical solutions and builds water resilience today and into the future.
SOCIAL MEDIA
SAMPLE POSTS
A safe, reliable water supply fuels profitable agriculture, healthy people, and thriving communities. Here's how [institution] strengthens water resilience in [state] and nationwide: PROJECT
.@[institution] Cooperative Extension professionals help [state] manage complex water issues. Our educators provide hands-on support to mitigate the impacts of [floods/droughts/extreme weather events] and partner with [users/managers/policymakers] to advance water conservation and best management practices.
#LandGrantUniversities are at the forefront of water management research, helping America’s farmers integrate efficient irrigation practices to conserve water and reduce expenses: PROJECT [example: Soil moisture sensors and remote sensing tools are helping farmers use up to 25% less irrigation water while maintaining yields.]
Looking for pre-made stories to feature? Check out:
- Land-grant Impacts
Scroll down to "View by Institution" and click your university's name. Only institutions who submitted impacts to the National Impacts Database in 2025 are listed. This page features research and Extension impacts. - Multistate Research Funds Impacts
Scroll down to "Filter by Institution" on the sidebar and click your university's name. This page features research impacts.
Feel free to reach out to us with specific posts that you would like @AgIsAmerica to share. Please email your request to Kim Scotto at agcomms@aplu.org or use #AgIsAmerica.
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CALENDAR
MARCH HOLIDAYS
MONTHS
National Celery Month, #CeleryMonth
National Frozen Food Month, #NationalFrozenFoodMonth
National Nutrition Month, #NationalNutritionMonth
National Peanut Month, #PeanutMonth
National Women’s History Month, #WomensHistoryMonth
WEEKS
March 8-14: Groundwater Awareness Week, #GWAW, @ngwatweets
March 15-21: National Agriculture Week, #AgWeek
DAYS
March 1: National Pig Day, #NationalPigDay
March 2: Anniversary of Hatch Act of 1887 (Establishment of Experiment Stations)
March 3: World Wildlife Day, #WWD2026
March 6: National Frozen Food Day, #NationalFrozenFoodDay
March 14: National Pi Day, #PiDay
March 19: National Poultry Day, #NationalPoultryDay
March 20: First Day of Spring, #SpringBegins
March 21: International Day of Forests, #ForestDay
March 22: World Water Day, #WorldWaterDay
March 24: National Ag Day, #AgDay26 @agday
March 26: National Spinach Day, #NationalSpinachDay
