Conservation Farming on the Texas High Plains

Conservation Farming on the Texas High Plains

Barry Evans

Kress, Texas

Barry Evans

Kress, Texas

Change is difficult !!Change is difficult !!

My goals: To capture and conserve all rainfall Achieve maximum efficiency with irrigation water Reduce erosion from wind and water

My goals: To capture and conserve all rainfall Achieve maximum efficiency with irrigation water Reduce erosion from wind and water

Try to eliminate West Texasdust storms from my farm !!

How to achieveHow to achieve

• Need a cover crop • Must recognize that a cover crop does

not maximize water use efficiency

• Rotate cotton and grain sorghum

• Do not till the ground

• Need a cover crop • Must recognize that a cover crop does

not maximize water use efficiency

• Rotate cotton and grain sorghum

• Do not till the ground

Benefits of No-TillBenefits of No-Till

• Increases organic matter • Organic matter acts like a sponge to

hold rainfall and reduce runoff and evaporation

• Reduces tractor hours per acre

• Increases organic matter • Organic matter acts like a sponge to

hold rainfall and reduce runoff and evaporation

• Reduces tractor hours per acre

Benefits of Organic MatterBenefits of Organic Matter

• Keeps dirt from blowing

• Increases water infiltration

• Reduces soil temperature

• Keeps dirt from blowing

• Increases water infiltration

• Reduces soil temperature

Problems with No-TillProblems with No-Till• Reduces soil temperatures• Hard to achieve a good stand with early

planting

• Soil moisture increases where residue is heavy• Can create inconsistencies in the field that

also hurts plant population

• Reduced direct profit from acres devoted to rotation crop

• Reduces soil temperatures• Hard to achieve a good stand with early

planting

• Soil moisture increases where residue is heavy• Can create inconsistencies in the field that

also hurts plant population

• Reduced direct profit from acres devoted to rotation crop

Good farming practices and environmental stewardship go

hand in hand.

Good farming practices and environmental stewardship go

hand in hand.

They can go hand in hand.They can go hand in hand.

It is not a question of Environment

vs.Ag Production