Profiles in Conservation
Satisfying the "Urge to Surge"
Conservation Efforts Pay Dividends for Missouri Producer
Southeast Missouri cotton farmer Brad
Williams is a believer in the economic power of conservation. |
In his local farming community, Brad Williams is known as an innovator. So
when the local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office suggested to
Williams that he could save water, reduce irrigation and fertilizer costs, and
get a boost in his yields through the use of something called a “surge valve,”
the Missourian’s polite response was predictable.
He said, “show me.”
That was more than six years ago. Now, Williams is a true believer in the
economic power of conservation. He sees the proof in his cotton fields during
the growing season and on his farm’s bottom line throughout the year.
Practical proof-positive, performance
For Williams, the eye-opener came when he tested two different irrigation
techniques on his adjacent cotton fields shortly after deciding to give the
surge valve a try. On one field he used a traditional furrow irrigation system.
On the other he used a surge valve he borrowed from his local Soil and Water
Conservation District.
True to his previous experience, the water in the traditional furrow irrigation
field never made it to the end of the rows – even after 36 hours of irrigating.
But after only 24 hours using the surge valve system, Williams was amazed that
most of the rows were completely and evenly watered.
“At that point, I didn’t have to run any more tests,” Williams said. “I was sold
right then and there.”
John Hester, an irrigation specialist with the NRCS in Dexter, Missouri, said
the surge valve acts as a butterfly valve that directs water to one section of a
field, then switches to another field and back, at timed intervals. By
alternating the application of water from one section of the field to the other,
the sandy soils of southeastern Missouri are allowed to “seal,” which prevents
the next surge of water from draining through the same area of topsoil. The end
result is that the water can be evenly distributed throughout the rows with a
minimum amount of water lost to deep percolation.
Hester said studies conducted on several Missouri furrow irrigation farms
demonstrate the value of surge valves. “Those studies show that using a surge
valve resulted in a 20-50 percent water savings, and reduced deep percolation
and runoff,” he said. “The conservation benefits of that technology are
significant.”
Making conservation pay
But from a producer’s perspective, Williams needed to know if using the surge
valve would pay.
Williams says
he's noticed a slight increase in yields, because, "I’m
not over watering some areas and under watering others." |
“My first priority,” Williams said, “was to help myself financially – to stay in
business.”
With the cost of each surge valve at more than $1300 (he needed a total of 10
for his entire farming operation), Williams would not have been able to afford
the cost – despite the obvious benefits.
Fortunately, conservation cost-share assistance was available through the USDA.
At that point, Williams said, the decision became “a no-brainer.”
In Missouri today, producers can apply for cost-share through the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program. “Thanks to that program, there are now more than
40,000 acres of irrigated land that utilize surge valves in southeast Missouri,”
NRCS’ Hester said.
It didn’t take long for Williams to witness the positive impact conservation was
having on his family’s Century Farm. “The first, and most obvious benefit, is
the reduction in my pumping costs,” he said.
“Second, my fertilizer costs are lower because less of it leaches out in the new
irrigation process. And finally, I’ve noticed a slight increase in yields,
because I’m not over watering some areas and under watering others.”
And if those benefits weren’t enough to make him a believer, Williams was able
to realize a significant reduction in labor costs.
“Because of the increase in irrigation efficiencies, I’m personally spending
less time in the field and my paid labor costs are down as well,” he said.
Benefits of conservation extend beyond the bottom line
As critical as the bottom line is to his business, Williams also knows that the
benefits of irrigation water management transcend pure economics – resulting in
numerous benefits to the environment.
“I’m using less fuel in pumping water,” he said. “Less fuel use means fewer
emissions into the atmosphere. And because I have better irrigation control,
there’s less runoff and leaching of fertilizers and herbicides – all of which
leads to better water,” Williams said.
Farm Bill provides new conservation opportunities
The 2002 Farm Bill could provide additional incentives for cotton producers and
others to invest in conservation systems. “Depending on the identified local
resource priorities,” said NRCS Chief Bruce I. Knight, “cost-share and incentive
payments may be available to help producers offset the costs of installing and
maintaining conservation systems, including irrigation water management
systems.”
But even with the authorization increases in Farm Bill conservation programs,
Knight said conservation demands still outpace available program funding, so
natural resource priorities and cost-share rates will have to be decided at the
state and local levels.
“Most of the decisions regarding conservation priorities and cost-share rates
will be determined by the State Conservationists, with advice from State
Technical Committees and local working groups,” he said.
Knight recommends that producer groups get involved at the state level by
participating in the State Technical Committee and that individual producers
contact their local conservation district boards to make certain their resource
needs are being considered, as well.
Finally, Knight urges producers to “walk across the hall from the Farm Service
Agency office over to the NRCS office to start the conservation planning
process. The sooner you get started in the planning process,” he said, “the
better.”
Williams’ advice to other cotton farmers is simple. “I would personally never
design a new irrigation system or change an existing one without consulting with
the NRCS – it doesn’t cost you anything to ask, and it may save you thousands of
dollars.”
Like Knight, Williams recommends producers start the conservation planning
process early. “With the number of farmers who are seeking conservation
assistance, there may be a backlog of applications,” Williams said. “Don’t wait
until a week before the earth moving equipment is scheduled in your field to
contact the NRCS.”
Originally published in the May 23, 2003 edition of
the Delta Farm Press.
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