The agricultural business produces the food, fiber, and fuel that enhance people’s lives all over the world. Water is an essential ingredient to crop production, and where rainfall does not occur naturally, or in the right amount at the right time, farmers must irrigate.  Drip irrigation technology was developed decades ago and has evolved into a popular way for farmers to maximize profits, optimize resource use, reduce risk, and improve their lifestyle. The various benefits of drip irrigation are so significant that the system often pays for itself quickly.  High value fruit, nut, vegetable, and fiber growers were the first to adopt drip irrigation technology because the investment was readily warranted.  Yield and quality enhancements were of primary interest while cost savings and other benefits were secondary.  But as crop inputs such as water, fertilizer, chemicals, fuel and labor become more expensive, or less available, even lower value crops such