The Irrigation Research Foundation is a private, non-profit, 3rd party 501(c)3 research and demonstration farm established in 1994 as a vision created by Ed Trautman, a local farmer who owned the farm ground the IRF sits on. The foundation conducts research on irrigation techniques and water usage, aiming to promote proper water usage, stay ahead of technology, and create scenarios for limited water practices. The IRF cooperates with seed companies, chemical companies, soil conditioning companies, irrigation manufacturers, technology developers, and equipment companies, covering a wide range of research opportunities.