During the annual SWAT meeting at the International Irrigation Show in Phoenix, Jill Hoyenga introduced a process for bringing new product categories into the SWAT testing and promotion program. The process is designed to target product categories most likely to lead to substantial water savings. The IA board has approved a $10,000 contribution to implement the next phase of equipment testing. Currently SWAT is testing climate-based controllers and soil moisture sensors.

The SWAT meeting also heard an update on product testing from David Zoldoske, director of the Center for Irrigation Technology, which is conducting the product tests on behalf of the IA and SWAT. Zoldoske announced

California State University provided a $98,000 matching grant to help defray the cost of soil moisture sensor testing, which is more costly than controller testing.