On 27 May 2025, the Irrigation Field Day in Bernburg-Strenzfeld focused on current challenges and digital solutions in irrigated agriculture. In light of increasing irrigation needs and simultaneously declining water resources, the urgency of sustainable strategies became clear. Farmers, as well as experts from science, administration and advisory services, came together to exchange views on the latest developments and digital approaches in irrigation management.

The morning programme featured three keynote presentations offering valuable insights into different aspects of the topic:

• Siv Biada presented the ongoing field trial on subsurface drip irrigation in arable farming, sharing initial data and findings.
• Manuela Helmecke from the German Environment Agency discussed the implementation of the EU regulation on water reuse in Germany, sparking lively debate on legal frameworks and their implications.
• Stefan Scholz from Hydro-Air showcased technical solutions for using alternative water sources, some of which are already being tested or successfully applied abroad.

In the afternoon, participants rotated through three stations on the trial plots:

• Station 1: Introduction to the drip irrigation system and control technology
• Station 2: Demonstration of drone use for detecting drought stress and monitoring crop stands
• Station 3: Technical solutions for water reuse and modelling approaches

The field day was held as part of the TRANSFORM project and offered a valuable opportunity for exchange between practitioners, researchers and public authorities.