By Kellie Potucek
Professor Guy Fipps of the Texas A&M University Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering was recently named Director of the Irrigation Technology Center (ITC).
Established in May 2002, ITC is a center under the Texas Water Resources Institute, administrated through Texas Cooperative Extension and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. ITC administers programs dedicated to research, development, and training of water conserving irrigation systems that preserve the profitability of agricultural production and quality of urban landscapes. As part of their efforts, ITC seeks to establish an equipment testing and verification program that will compliment its quest to develop minimum design and performance standards for irrigation systems. The center also serves to assist in the coordination of irrigation research and extension programs of the Texas A&M University System.
Fipps will be charged with implementing and expanding ITC’s current missions and projects, including development of new facilities, capabilities and programs for irrigation research, education and service. ITC plans to build a 500-acre center hub in the San Antonio area and Fipps will be responsible for designing and testing its laboratories and training facilities. Fipps has a wide range of expertise involving research and Extension programs in water management, groundwater modeling, drip irrigation, salinity management, computer applications, and sensor technology.
