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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
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