Water conservation is getting new funding in Pinal County.

UDSA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that it will invest $10 million in the partner-driven Central Arizona Regional Irrigation Efficiency project. This project is a part of NRCS's Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

Program participants say the project is to support central Arizona agriculture, sustaining economic prosperity and natural resources in the face of severe cutbacks on the Colorado River.

Pinal County contributes 25% of agricultural sales to the state, according to the Arizona Farm Bureau, which also says, conserving water use is key to maintaining that figure, especially during summer months.

Arizona Farm Bureau President Stefanie Smallhouse applauds NRCS's decision to fund this project. "This project proposal brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to find solutions for a significant agricultural area in our state," Smallhouse said, a rancher from southern Arizona.

"Pinal county agriculture is vital to our economy, a $2.3 billion industry," said Pinal County Farmer Bryan Hartman, who supported the award according to the announcement.

"Summer is one of the more intensive times for certain crops, especially alfalfa and cotton. And alfalfa is one of the very important crops that we use to sustain our dairy production in Pinal County, which services the rest of the state," said Chelsea McGuire, government relations director.

Both alfalfa and cotton are considered high users of water, having long growing seasons. A $10 million grant from the USDA will go to rehab wells in five irrigation districts in Pinal County — part of more than $200 million in projects funded through the Farm Bill.