Conserving and Preserving Water Use on the Farm

Water is a crucial resource in farming. It comes into play at many stages of the farming game, from irrigation to applying fertilizer to controlling frost. Agricultural water costs farmers millions of dollars every year, which creates an incentive to cut back in order to save money (and help support environmental efforts).

There are a few proactive strategies and approaches you can take, using your agricultural equipment, to help reduce your water usage. Some of them can even have the pleasant side effect of increasing your crop yields! Below, New South Tractor has covered some of the more common ways farmers can conserve and preserve their water usage. 

Use Drip Irrigation

This one water preservation strategy can reduce crop water usage by up to 80%! That's a significant decrease from one approach. It works by getting water directly to the roots of your plants, instead of spraying water over a field. This reduces the water that gets wasted on dry ground. At the same time, your crops will get enough water. Combine this strategy and efficient agricultural equipment and you can even see an increase in crop yields! 

Schedule Irrigation Around Rainfall

It's amazing the difference that scheduling irrigation can make on conserving water. A little planning can help you avoid watering your crops when you don't need to. Watch weather conditions and make a note of any time it rains. Skip watering your crops on those days. You won't need to water them since Mother Nature already did. While you are paying attention to the weather, you can also take note of any weather that might harm your agricultural equipment (such as excessive rain or heat). You can then take precautions as necessary.

Choose Drought-Tolerant Crops

This water preservation tactic is common in drought-prone areas, such as California, but it is also spreading across the country. Drought-tolerant crops are ones that can thrive with little to no water. An easy way to conserve water is to utilize crops that don't require much water at all! Examples of drought-resistant crops include millet, some legumes, sorghum, and pomegranates. 

We hope that you have learned a few things to help you with conserving water on your own farm. If you still have questions, we’re standing by at New South Tractor, serving the areas of Newton and Asheville, NC.