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Water Policy and Economics
Increasing water demands from a growing population, economic expansion and increasing use per capita have resulted in localized, temporal shortages of available drinking water resources. As a result, many USDA NIFA research efforts are focusing on drinking water policy and economics. USDA NIFA has identified Water Policy and Economics as a topical theme to focus research, education and extension projects.
Improving Water Quality and Farm Profit
Ways to implement integrated pest management (IPM) practices and reduce fertilizer use while maintaining or enhancing farm profit are being addressed by NIFA and Lang Grant System research programs. For example, at Oregon State University a partnership of family farmers, agency representatives and university faculty are working together to research and develop farming IPM practices that enhance water quality without negatively impacting farm profitability.
Irrigation
Technology
Improvements to irrigation methods will expand the use of available drinking water resources. Research through NIFA and the Land Grant System is addressing water conservation and irrigation technology.
Accomplishment: The Rio
Grande Basin Initiative 
is a cooperative effort between Texas
A&M University and New Mexico State University that is implementing
strategies for meeting present and future water demand in the Rio
Grand Basin. These strategies expand the efficient use of available
water and create new water supplies. Most recently, a project in the Elephant Butte Irrigation District was initiated to improve the allocation of water among competing users. Implementation of water transfer mechanisms, such as a water markets or water banks, is expected to improve the efficiency of water allocation as resources move to their most highly valued and productive uses.
Other Water Policy Issues
Further research on water policy address water transfer and use conflicts, water marketing and potential privatization impacts.
The intent of these pages is not to catalogue all activities, but rather to indicate the types of research activities in this theme across the U.S.
