MDCC Awarded $44,695 MSPB Grant for Precision Agriculture Irrigation Research

MOORHEAD, MS (March 2, 2026) – Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC) has been awarded $44,695 from the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board (MSPB) for the 2026–2027 funding cycle to support applied research on irrigation efficiency in soybean production. The funded project, "Using On-Farm Weather Stations to Improve Irrigation Efficiency and Environmental Monitoring in Mississippi Soybean Production," will deploy research-grade weather stations at MDCC's Agriculture Test Plots to evaluate weather-informed irrigation scheduling compared to standard producer practices.

The project, which runs from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, will also provide paid experiential learning opportunities for MDCC Agriculture students at $15 per hour. Students will assist with data collection, monitoring, and research activities, beginning with summer positions to be filled through an application process this April.

"At MDCC, we believe Career-Technical Education should be industry-driven and hands-on," said Allison Folk, Dean of Career-Technical and Adult Education. "This project allows our Precision Agriculture and Field Crops students to work directly with advanced environmental monitoring systems while contributing meaningful research that benefits Mississippi soybean producers. This is a powerful example of education, workforce development, and economic impact working together."

The research will compare two irrigation strategies: a standard approach commonly used across the Delta and a weather-informed treatment triggered by canopy temperature thresholds, soil moisture depletion, and atmospheric demand indicators. Seasonal data on irrigation hours, diesel use, water applied, crop development, and final yield will allow calculation of water-use efficiency, pumping cost reductions, and return on investment for weather-based irrigation.

"The MDCC Agriculture Programs are grateful for the opportunity provided by the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board to expose our students to cutting-edge technologies and research new methods to improve efficiency in irrigation timing and frequency," said Steele Robbins, Precision Agriculture Instructor. "Our mission at MDCC is to prepare students for success, and this grant will not only benefit our students; the resulting data has the potential to benefit all Mississippi producers economically and environmentally."

Robbins, who serves as Principal Investigator on the project, brings extensive expertise to the research. His career achievements include founding and operating High Cotton Precision Agriculture Consulting since 1996, serving as Lead Technician at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, and teaching Precision Agriculture at MDCC since 2003. He currently serves as President of the Mississippi Agricultural Consultants Association.

Expected outcomes include validated environmental thresholds for irrigation timing, reductions in irrigation water and diesel consumption, and yield responses under improved scheduling. By generating locally validated recommendations, the project will provide Mississippi soybean producers with proven strategies to reduce irrigation costs, conserve groundwater, and maintain or improve yields.

MDCC's Agriculture Test Plots will serve as a demonstration site where producers and industry partners can observe the technology in operation, increasing adoption and supporting long-term sustainability of soybean production in the Delta. The project will culminate in producer-focused materials including irrigation decision tools, threshold reference cards, and field-day demonstrations.

The MSPB grant supports the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board's mission of reducing producer costs, improving water-use efficiency, and supporting long-term sustainability of soybean production across the state.

Learn more about our Precision Agriculture program