The University of California, Davis will host the 2026 Advanced School on Microirrigation for Crop Production from March 30 to April 3. The program aims to address water scarcity and regulatory challenges in California agriculture by promoting efficient irrigation practices.
Daniele Zaccaria, professor of agricultural water management for Cooperative Extension at UC Davis, is organizing the event. “Microirrigation is no longer optional in many agricultural production regions worldwide,” Zaccaria said. “It is essential for producing more food per unit of water and for achieving higher fertilizer use efficiency, relying on greater application precision and pursuing improved environmental stewardship.”
The course includes three days of classroom instruction at UC Davis and two days of field visits to sites in the San Joaquin Valley and along the Central Coast. An online option is available for the first three days. The school targets a wide audience including farmers, ranch managers, crop consultants, water resource planners, scientists, educators, students, and agency personnel.
“This offers a unique, hands-on opportunity to learn directly from global leaders in the field, combining cutting-edge science, real-world applications and field experience,” Zaccaria said. “It’s an excellent investment of time for anyone committed to the future of crop production in semi-arid and arid environments.”
The educational event is co-organized by UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), the Chilean Water Technology Consortium and the California Irrigation Institute. Lectures will be delivered by experts from UC Davis, UC Cooperative Extension and other organizations.
Topics covered include technical aspects of microirrigation systems design and management; soil-water movement; scheduling tools; chemigation; fertigation; salinity management; as well as crop-specific strategies.
Participants will receive a UC Certificate of Completion, a copy of “Microirrigation for Crop Production” published by Elsevier, Continuing Education Units from the American Society of Agronomy (18.5 CEUs) and additional credits from the Irrigation Association (9.5 CEUs).
Registration is limited to 100 participants. More information about registration can be found at https://caii.org/international-micro-irrigation-school/ with online registration available at https://caii.org/product/micro-irrigation-school-lectures-remote-streaming-registration/.
Zaccaria’s role in organizing this school is supported by his Alexander and Elizabeth Swantz Endowed Specialist Position with funding from UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources enhances lives across California through science-based practices shared statewide via research facilities such as nine Research and Extension Centers that serve as living laboratories across diverse ecosystems (official website). The organization maintains offices in all 58 counties (official website) while applying University expertise to support communities through outreach initiatives (official website). Glenda Humiston serves as vice president (official website).
For over a century,UC Agriculture and Natural Resources has provided resources in nutrition education, food networks and youth programs while building collaborations that address farming needs, environmental conservation efforts—including wildfire protection—and economic opportunities throughout California.