What is an Agricultural MIL? The Agricultural Mobile Irrigation Lab (MIL ) was developed to help people conserve water. Conserving water and protecting water quality are two top priorities in Florida, particularly in agricultural areas of the state where regulations and consumptive use restrictions continue to increase. The MIL is a service that provides on-site evaluations of individual irrigation systems. Based on these evaluations, MIL technicians work with owners and operators to develop irrigation water management plans tailored to their individual needs. The plans include recommendations to improve system performance, such as repairing irrigation heads and revising irrigation schedules. Through this service, growers learn to operate their irrigation systems more effectively and save water in the process.

What are the Benefits? Water conservation benefits the environment and the economy. The agricultural industry is greatly affected by the increasing pressures on water resources due to increasing population. As urbanization continues to expand in Florida, so does the need to produce more crops with fewer resources. Growers are facing greater restrictions, new regulations, and increasingly costs of water usage every year. Florida's sandy soils permit water to seep quickly and unfiltered into the underground aquifer. MIL technicians will help owners and operators determine the proper irrigation schedules to apply water efficiently. Most growers recognize that overwatering reduces crop yields and raises operating costs, therefore, efficient water application is essential for crop production. Proper irrigation helps conserve water, save money, and protect water quality.