Tennessee, a southeastern state is transitioning from rainfed to irrigated agriculture due to severe rainfall events followed by prolonged dry periods making irrigation systems essential for…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Tennessee State University $599,842 on January 15, 2026, under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program (CFDA 10.216) to develop irrigation systems education and water management capacity across Tennessee.

The project encompasses six integrated teaching and extension objectives addressing Tennessee's transition from rainfed to irrigated agriculture. Tennessee State University will develop curricula and enhance experiential learning facilities for irrigation systems management; procure scientific instrumentation for teaching precision agriculture sensors; and create an open-access Tennessee Agricultural Mesonet. The recipient will implement existing irrigation scheduling tools—the Moisture App for row crop producers using center pivot systems and PyFAO56—and redevelop the Moisture App for drip-irrigated fruits and vegetables. The project includes statewide in-service training and workshops for Extension agents on irrigation systems management, supplemented by field days offering hands-on training to students, Agricultural and Natural Resource Extension agents from Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee, growers, and stakeholders.

Performance of work occurs in Nashville, Tennessee. The period of performance runs from January 15, 2026, through January 14, 2029. The 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program strengthens research, extension, and teaching in food and agricultural sciences by building institutional capacities of 1890 land-grant universities, historically Black institutions established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890.

Tennessee, a southeastern state is transitioning from rainfed to irrigated agriculture due to severe rainfall events followed by prolonged dry periods making irrigation systems essential for sustainable agriculture. To support growers in this region this proposal offers six integrated teaching and extension objectives to prepare students from 1890 institutions and agricultural and natural resource (ANR) extension agents from tennessee state university (TSU) and the university of tennessee (UT) with the experiential learning in irrigation systems and water management providing tools and models for precision irrigation management. The objectives include developing curricula and enhancing experiential learning facilities for teaching irrigation systems management andproviding scientific instrumentation for teaching sensors for precision agriculture and improve the capacity for teaching them. IT will also develop an open-access tennessee AG. Mesonet and implement existing irrigationscheduling tools such as the moisture APP for row crop producers using center pivot irrigation systems and PYFAO56 to make IT accessible to all growers across the state. We will also redevelop the moisture APP for drip-irrigated fruits and vegetables. This project emphasizes statewide in-service training and workshops for extension agents on irrigation systems management. Through several field days hands-on training will be provided to demonstrate advanced irrigation technologies enhancing the knowledge of agricultural communities and extension agents. Participants including students ANR extension agents growers and stakeholders will gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest technologies and methodologies in irrigation and water management through hands-on training workshops and field days offering real-world applications of irrigation engineering principles for sustainable crop production.