Mobile Irrigation Lab 1951 Woodlea Road Tavares, Fl 32778

352-459-4144

Adam Boykin, Mobile Irrigation Specialist ABoykin@lakecountyfl.gov

352-459-4144

Nick Zurasky, Mobile Irrigation Specialist NZurasky@lakecountyfl.gov

352-459-6690

Aaron Grimes, Mobile Irrigation Technician AGrimes@lakecountyfl.gov

352-459-4144

Sean Tracy, Mobile Irrigation Technician STracy@lakecountyfl.gov

352-459-6690

The Mobile Irrigation Lab is sponsored by: Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Lake Soil and Water Conservation District Lake County Board of County Commissioners

For more information, contact: Cost Share Programs

For more information on Florida’s Mobile Irri-gation Laboratories:

Florida Department of Agriculture and Con-sumer Services, Office of Agricultural Water

Policy https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Business-

Services/Water/Mobile-Irrigation-Labs

Mobile Irrigation Lab https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/MIL

To schedule an appointment, contact:

Lake Soil and Water Conservation District

The Mobile Irrigation Lab is a ser-vice that provides free on-site evaluations of commercial agri-cultural irrigation systems in the following counties:

Alachua Levy Putnam Brevard Marion St. Johns Citrus Orange Seminole Clay Osceola Sumter Flagler Pasco Volusia Hernando Lake

After an irrigation evaluation has been completed by the Mobile Irrigation Lab,

the grower can apply for Cost Share Pro-grams that cover a large percentage of the water saving upgrades. We will pro-

vide you with contact information and an-swer any questions about applying. Cost Share Programs are available from the

following:

Florida Department of Agriculture

Southwest Florida + St. Johns River Water Districts

USDA / NRCS

Matching Size/Type Emitter Nozzles - Distribu-tion of irrigation will increase, usually reducing run times. Rezoning - Dividing large zones of irrigation into smaller zones will increase pressure. Upgrade Equipment - Upgrading to a more effi-cient sprinkler type can save water. Optimizing Water Flow - Reduce pressure loss due to inadequate pipe size.

Examples of Water Saving Improvements

Center Pivot Irrigation

Mobile Irrigation Lab

Evaluation Process:

Preparing to perform a distribution uniformity test on an overhead irrigation system.

Follow up to the Evaluation:

The Mobile Irrigation Lab will conduct a Follow

Up evaluation after any water saving recommen-

dations have been preformed by the grower.

Follow Up evaluations can show the grower a

quantitative Actual Water Savings based on the

improvements to the system.

After the Evaluation:

After the evaluation is completed, a written Irriga-

tion Water Management Plan, aerial map of the

property, and a soil report is provided and dis-

cussed with the grower.

Improvements are recommended to assist grow-

ers in increasing system efficiency, and reducing

water usage.

The Mobile Irrigation Lab works closely with

cost share programs that help fund water sav-

ing irrigation improvements.

Solid-set Irrigation

Micro-jet and Drip Irrigation

Overhead irrigation being tested for efficiency and uniformity.

The Mobile Irrigation Lab is a program funded by the

Florida Department of Agriculture and has been

established since 2006. We serve the agriculture

community by visiting and evaluating any type of

commercial agricultural irrigation. The program

offers a professional, unbiased evaluation of the

grower’s irrigation equipment, methods, and water

use to help save water, efficiently operate their sys-

tem and optimize production of their crop.

The evaluation begins with meeting the grower to

make on-site observations and measurements of the

system in operation. The information collected is

analyzed to identify potential problems with the

equipment, system design, operation, and mainte-

nance.

The Mobile Irrigation Lab takes readings of water

pressure and collects water samples through-out the

system while it is in operation.

Based on the observations and data collected in the

field, the MIL team calculates the uniformity and ap-

plication rates. Suggested irrigation water manage-

ment schedules are then developed based off soil

information, crop type, and sprinkler discharge.

Cost Share Programs can financially help growers improve their irrigation systems to save water.