How can water be conserved in agriculture

Using organic farming methods can arguably also lower the water-use footprint by preserving the quality of water that would otherwise be negatively affected by polluted runoff. That said, not all organic farming methods reduce the amount of water used, so conservation-minded farmers should carefully consider the options. Do you have additional suggestions for farming water conservation tools? Please share them in the comments below.

Below, we take a look at five helpful water conservation resources for farmers. More Efficient Irrigation Equipment Irrigation equipment upgrades can be costly, but there is no question that it will be worth it in the long run. Weather Apps Some farmers may be inclined to set an automated irrigation schedule and let it run regardless of the weather.

Soil Management Proper soil management is a key to conserving water. Water Recycling Avoiding or mitigating runoff can save millions of gallons of water over the course of a growing season. Stock Photo by Shutterstock. Other techniques include reducing tillage and maintaining crop residue on the surface of the soil. Many indoor farms rely on vertical farming to maximize the available growing space; controlled-environment agriculture CEA to create year-round growing conditions, and soil-free hydroponics to reduce evaporation and improve nutrient transfer.

John Deere has been rolling out smart tractors as part of their precision agriculture line that can help people improve tillage, seed placement, irrigation, and more.

These include touch-screen displays, satellite receivers that can pinpoint location to within an inch, and AutoTrac hands-free guidance systems.

You can learn more about how to conserve water in agriculture and why it matters in our comprehensive guide. From our Water Security Platform that allows agriculture professionals easily identify and monitor water risk, to our eBook about agricultural lending in California , AQUAOSO can assist in navigating the new regulations and technologies coming to the agricultural industry. You can learn more about the regions we serve or reach out to our team to request a demo and find out if our platform is right for you!

Increased Regulations Water conservation regulations vary from state to state and encompass everything from plumbing regulations to drought contingency plans. Colorado River Compact The Colorado River Compact was originally signed in to address the allocation of water resources in the Colorado River basin.

New Technologies to Uphold Regulations With new regulations on the way, how can farmers and investors meet their obligations without getting bogged down in red tape and paperwork?

Better Methods of Conserving Water in Agriculture Regulations aside, new technologies and farming practices can help improve water use efficiency for its own sake. From more efficient irrigation to indoor farming, here are just a few ways that water conservation in agriculture is going to change in the future: Improved Irrigation Traditional farming practices rely on manual measurement of key metrics, such as soil humidity, soil temperature, and more.

Some examples of indoor farms in the U. Bowery Farming , which produces leafy greens and herbs in New Jersey and Maryland. Crops need water to grow, and regions experiencing severe water stress may see a decline in the value of agricultural land and associated losses of billions of dollars.

More due diligence will be needed to assess the water risk of agricultural land before approving loans, particularly when it comes to high-value crops that may no longer be viable in a water-stressed environment. By pricing water risk into loans and land deals, lenders and investors can play a major role in shifting the agricultural sector towards more sustainable farming practices and a more water-resilient future.

Learn more about how land deals tie into agricultural water risk here. Food security can be viewed as one of the most consequential benefits of water conservation to address. In an age of increased water scarcity, food brands and agricultural investors will have to take a more holistic approach to the supply chain, and understand the impact that water scarcity issues can have on the cost of land, livestock feed, and other inputs.

Read the full post about securing water for food production here. Groundwater recharge is the practice of artificially replenishing groundwater resources such as underground aquifers. It is an important practice that can provide drought resistance, prevent ground subsidence, can contribute to a steady supply of fresh, usable water, and protect natural ecosystems that industries such as agriculture rely on.

This process would regularly happen naturally through rain and snowmelt. However, recharge has to happen at a greater rate than water is pumped out of the aquifer. With droughts and population increase forcing farmers to pump more groundwater than can be naturally replenished, artificial groundwater recharge is necessary.

Read the full post about groundwater recharge and its benefits here. In , California enacted a law called the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, intended to address aquifer depletion and other undesirable outcomes. Each basin in the state will be required to create its own Groundwater Sustainability Agency GSA and groundwater sustainability plan GSP to protect groundwater resources.

While these rules are expected to have beneficial effects on groundwater resources, in the short-term they may lead to changing land-use patterns and planting schedules as farmers adapt to pumping limits and reporting requirements. New tools, ranging from smart water meters on groundwater pumps, to smart markets for groundwater banking and trading, will fill a need for farmers and investors alike.

But it will be more important than ever for stakeholders to have a centralized tool they can use to navigate this patchwork of regulations. Water stress can impact the world in a variety of different ways, at the local, national, and global levels.

In addition to its impacts on agricultural production, water stress can lead to degraded wildlife habitats, reduced river flows, salinization, and more. It can even contribute to the feedback loop of climate change , in which new weather patterns lead to increased droughts and other extreme weather events.

But by working with nature, rather than against it, agriculture professionals can play a role in reducing overall water use and associated water stress. Practices such as dry farming, conservation tillage, and managed aquifer recharge can conserve water in the near and distant future. Read more about agricultural water management practices here. Data is the thread that links all of these topics together.

In learning more about regulations before closing a land deal, or assessing the water risk of a borrower before closing a loan, having the right data at your fingertips is key. But with so much to keep track of from region to region — even parcel to parcel — it can be hard to find a central database or consultant that has all of the information that is needed. The unique geospatial tool is designed to provide real-time information on water risk on a by-parcel basis.

Browse our resources to learn more about how to conserve water in agriculture or reach out to our team for a free demo of our platform.