Kansas Ag Connection - Water Technology Farm Tours Explore Workable Options

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Water Technology Farm Tours Explore Workable Options
Kansas Ag Connection - 09/25/2018

The Kansas Water Office (KWO), along with many producers from surrounding areas and agencies toured, Water Technology Farms across the Ogallala-High Plains Aquifer throughout last month.

The program began with three farms and now three years into the program there are 10 Water Technology Farms on more than 30 fields. In addition to being Water Technology Farms, most of them are also Water Conservation Areas (WCA), which is a water savings account for the future and a tool that allows flexibility between wells on a farm.

Most of the Water Technology Farm producers have been able to see impressive results with the technologies and concepts being implemented such as different irrigation application methods, cropping patterns, soil moisture probes, mapping tools, aerial imagery and more. The farms have been successful with the partnership of more than 80 sponsors.

Nick Hatcher owner and operator of Hatcher Land and Cattle shared with attendees, "We as producers need to be doing more, the things that we have going on here are just a small example of what I know we do to help save our water for future generations."

After seeing the farms first year results he says, "We have to conserve and regulate ourselves and technology like this is the way to go."

The Garden City Company/Roth Farm has seen very impressive results and this year to date have only used 5.7" total inches, barely half of the WCA allocation.

"The probes on this farm showed us there is more water in the soil than we realized. In the past we were over-watering, but now not only are we saving water but having record yields," said Dwane Roth.

Producer Matt Long has a Water Technology Farm in Wichita County which is also part of the Water Conservation Area agreement. He is one of 24 producers who agreed to be part of a 7-year plan and voluntarily took a 29% reduction in irrigation. To date he has only put on 4 inches on one half of his field and 6 inches on the other, banking water for the future. Matt shared with those who attended his field day the soil moisture probes have been key by stating, "Since I've started using the probes I've been able to cut my water use in-half."

Two-year Water Technology Farm producer Steve Compton of the Circle C Farm also talked of his experiences with soil moisture probes by stating, "We've found lots of value in the soil moisture probes. They've enabled us to turn the sprinklers off when we wouldn't have in the past. It's led to a different mindset and it feels good to know we are making a difference on the aquifer."

Now three years old, the T&O Farm was the first Water Technology Farm in Kansas. "So far this year we've only used eight inches across the farm, this is only 64% of our 3-year WCA allocation,'' owner Tom Willis shared. "Also from 2016-2018 we have seen stabilized static level water drops at this farm."

First-year Water Technology Farm producer Gary Harshberger found the technology has shown him the soil moisture profile was good. He shared, "This is important because in the past a producer would want to turn on the water when it simply isn't needed. "Ultimately I want to show we can do more with less."

For more information about the farms, WCAs or sponsors visit the Water Technology Farm page at www.kwo.ks.gov

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