By Stephnique Rainey
Water is an essential resource when it comes to farming. For Oregon farms east of the Cascade Mountain Range, where rain is infrequent during the growing season and the threat of drought is very real, agricultural operations are becoming more efficient and resilient. On the Garcia Farm located near Madras, Oregon, farmers: Jamie Garcia, Janey Garcia, and Fidel Cruz are striving to improve their irrigation systems, save water, and increase productivity on their operation. Upon hearing about programs available through NRCS Oregon from local work group meetings and neighbors, the Garcias reached out for support.
The Garcias connected with Jenn Eatwell, NRCS Soil Conservationist, and Lars Santana, NRCS District Conservationist, who were able to provide a conservation plan and access to technical and financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP helps support the implementation of the conservation practices that were identified as alternatives in the Garcia’s conservation plan. The individually tailored NRCS conservation plan provides a foundation that meets the needs and goals of the producer while addressing resource concerns in the local area. The EQIP financial assistance helps support plan implementation and incentivizes conservation practices.
Better Irrigation
“If we don’t have any water, we are out of business,” said Garcia When addressing the concerns around irrigation, NRCS helped guide the Garcia from flood irrigation, which was both water and time intensive, through the transition to center pivot sprinklers. The center pivot nozzles can be lower to the ground, meaning less water is lost to evaporation. Based on the crops on their farm (grain crops, grass seed, and alfalfa), the Garcias and Cruz in consultation with the NRCS began implementing their irrigation water management plan. The new irrigation system allows for them to control the speed and output of water via an app on their cell phones. They water each crop according to its individual needs. The app allows peace of mind for the Garcias. “We can always move to another field and don’t worry too much,” he said.
Save Water
Lars Santana pointed out, “The irrigation sprinkler system is one piece, but there’s a whole other management side of it- the water management, and the crop rotations, and using more drought resilient crops, along with no-till drills, reducing soil disturbance.” This helps meet the Garcia’s soil health objectives.
Once a good irrigation strategy was established, ensuring the water was applied where it was needed, the next important component was the implementation of soil health practices. The practice of no-till farming lowers soil disturbances which in turn can improve water infiltration into the soil. “No-till is a very good tool, and we are in the process of changing a lot of acres to no-till. With some crops you have to move dirt, but some crops we can plant no-till,” said Garcia. Their fields of wheat, barley, grass seed, and alfalfa are all planted using a no-till drill. The no-till drill cuts through plant residue in the field opening a small furrow in the soil placing the seed at the correct depth and then presses the soil back in place. This ensures minimal soil disturbance when planting seeds. Garcia and Cruz aren’t the only ones in their area using this newer method of farming. “Previously you’d see dust everywhere from plowing… and now there is no soil loss from no-till,” Garcia said.
Another soil loss prevention method Garcia implemented was the use of cover crops on fields. Cover crops are usually planted after a field is harvested providing soil benefits while the field is fallow and before the next growing season’s crop is planted. These cover crop plants reintroduce nutrients into the soil while their roots help loosen the soil, reduce erosion, and the need for tilling. They can also help increase soil moisture by providing surface residue, increasing root channels and water infiltration, and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere.
Improve Efficiency
Improving crop health was a multi-layered approach on the Garcia Farm. Crop rotation and using drought resilient crops were also impactful practices that helped achieve their goal. Having a crop rotation plan has allowed for the soil nutrients to be replenished. Cruz mentioned that on their farm they “plant Kentucky bluegrass (seed) behind alfalfa and it’s working really good.” The grass crop can use the nitrogen left in the soil from the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that have a symbiotic relationship with the alfalfa legume crop.
NRCS Oregon is dedicated to helping producers improve soil health, conserve water, and increase resilience in the face of an ever-changing climate. “We are excited to keep working with you, and I know it’s a benefit for the ground to use the water right. We are so happy to be in your hands and we are open to you anytime,” said Garcia. “The NRCS customer service and the communication is so great. They come when they say they’ll come, they show up and it makes a lot of difference for everyone.”
Source : usda.gov