Before you spend a lot of money on irrigation equipment consider these steps:

1.	Whole Farm Irrigation Water Management Plan. Write the plan yourself Hire a private company to write a plan Soil and Water Districts/NRCS to help you write the plan
2.	Consider several irrigation methods for your plan. Make sure to consider the impacts alternatives will have in your whole farm water management plan. Direct withdrawal from stream, brook or river Irrigation pond Irrigation well and possible impoundment to hold water
3.	Contract permitting agencies to see if there is a permit required. Have steps one and two in place before contacting them. These agencies will see that you have made all efforts to consider all options and have a Irrigation Water Management Plan in place. For a permit these agencies may want to do a site visit before you fill out papers. Soil and Water Districts may also be helpful in a site visit with these agencies. Department of Environmental Protection Land Use Regulation Commission Army Corps of Engineers Also make contact with IF&W, National Marine Fisheries Service and Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission They may have a say where critical habitat is involved Contact Soil and Water District if you need help filing for permits
4.	Consider the correct equipment for the irrigation project that best fits needs and Best Management Practices.