WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A local organization is getting over $1 million to help improve irrigation planning for Whatcom County farmers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $90 million in Conservation Innovation Grants on Thursday, July 18, that will fund 53 projects across the country.

That includes the Whatcom Conservation District, which is receiving $1.2 million to test new weather-based technology that makes irrigation scheduling more efficient. The group will use soil moisture sensors and a weather-driven data collection system from Washington State University to test their effects on irrigation decisions made by farmers.

Those tests will be performed on raspberry, blueberry, seed potato, grass and mixed vegetable crops.

The grant summary notes that historically underserved farmers will be given priority to take part in the study.

Whatcom Conservation District will analyze any changes in water use efficiency, time savings and other economic benefits that are found from the testing.