Alabama Irrigation Initiative (ALII)

A collaborative effort led by the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee (ALSWCC) in partnership with USDA-NRCS, Auburn University, and the University of Alabama Huntsville. It helps Alabama farmers respond to unpredictable weather by promoting water-efficient irrigation systems such as drip, micro, and center-pivot irrigation — helping farmers increase irrigated acreage, conserve water, and reduce waste.

Agricultural producers in the program's planned watersheds — Choctawhatchee & Pea River, Middle Alabama River Basin, and Middle Tennessee — putting currently dry (rainfed) production land under irrigation. Producers must certify that they are not receiving any other federal funds for implementation of the project.

Funded with federal PL-83-566 (Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act) funds; reimburses producers for installed irrigation systems, capped at $250,000 per individual producer. Eligible items: power, pumps, pipes, water-source development or expansion, low-pressure center pivots, micro-irrigation, linear/lateral irrigation, tow/traveler irrigation, plasticulture, hand-moved/solid-set sprinklers, telemetry and remote operation, and up to three years of irrigation prescription and scheduling assistance. Adjusted cost-share rates are available for socially disadvantaged producers (percentage not published on the official ALSWCC source).

Applications are handled through the Alabama Soil & Water Conservation Committee and local Soil & Water Conservation Districts. The intake document is the Producer Questionnaire, which collects county, tillage method, cover-crop history, power source, water source, flow rate, and requested system type. Supporting documents include a Control of Land Agreement, a final irrigation design meeting NRCS specs, an ADECA-OWR Certificate of Use application, STAARS registration, and a signed Certification Completion Form.