In a short paragraph, discuss the importance of agriculture in Oklahoma and the role of irrigation in the industry.

Irrigation plays a vital role in fostering the economic viability

of agricultural production in Oklahoma, especially in the arid and

semi-arid western parts of the state. In recent years, irrigated

agriculture has been challenged by prolonged droughts and

strong competition from industrial, urban and environmental

sectors over limited freshwater resources. These constraints

along with the increasing demand in food, feed, fiber and fuel

necessitate the urgent need to provide Oklahoma producers

with tools to improve irrigation management and maximize

water productivity. This task, however, is not possible without

understanding the current situation of irrigated agriculture and

investigating its potential weaknesses and opportunities.