Kansas Conservation Series: Water Technology Farms in Garden City - Senator Roger MarshallU.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. is continuing his co...
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. is continuing his conservation series highlighting Kansans’ voluntary efforts to take better care of the environment. Stories will be released throughout the 2023 Farm Bill legislative process.
“While we hold hearings for the 2023 Farm Bill, I want to highlight the fact that Kansans are working hard every day to protect our environment and conserve precious resources our Ag economy needs to thrive. Kansas’ farmers, ranchers, growers, and producers are finding unique and practical ways to preserve our land and protect our water and air. Their efforts are worthy of everyone’s praise,” said Senator Marshall.
This week we highlight the initiative Roth Farms and The Garden City Company took to start Water Technology Farms to conserve water. The Roth family has farmed for The Garden City Company for generations. Dwane Roth and Troy Dumler, General Manager of The Garden City Company, were concerned about declining water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer in northwest Finney County after years of drought. The development of Water Technology Farms in the Kansas 50-Year Water Vision provided a great opportunity to test new irrigation technologies.
Today, Roth’s nephews Zion and Zach operate Roth Farms and remain committed to extending the life of the Ogallala Aquifer. With support from the Kansas Water Office, K-State Research and Extension, and numerous agriculture companies and organizations, Zion has experimented with soil moisture probes, high efficiency sprinkler nozzle package, irrigation scheduling technologies, and has adapted crop rotations and tillage practices to conserve irrigation water. Experience with these technologies has been shared in a series of field days.
In conjunction with the Water Technology Farm, The Garden City Company established a voluntary Water Conservation Area (WCA) with a 15% conservation goal in 2017. Upon completing the five-year WCA, Roth Farms has used only 53% of their WCA allocation. While the five-year timeframe of the WCA was blessed with above average precipitation in the early years, the Roth’s demonstrated that they could maintain yields and profitability while conserving water for future years.
Attached link
https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kansas-conservation-series-water-technology-farms-in-garden-cityTaxonomy
- Conservation
- Water Conservation
- Water Conservation
- Water conservation