Water
Corn Producers Launch New Campaign
Promote Water Conservation & Economic Growth
Water conservation goals can be achieved without severe restrictions on irrigation that would damage the economy of Texas High Plains. That’s the message of a public information campaign launched this week by Texas corn producers. The campaign includes televised public service announcements, a 10 minute video and a new website, www.WaterGrowsJobs.org, with the slogan “Water grows our economy; let’s make it last.” Read more
Making Every Drop Count
Texas corn producers are taking the lead in conservation efforts by investing in new technology and implementing practices that reduce the amount of water used per acre. In some cases, Texas producers have been able to reduce their water use by more than 25 percent, while achieving yields of 250 bushels per acre. According to a study conducted by the Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, the amount of irrigation water used per bushel of corn dropped 27 percent from 1987 to 2007. Water savings on this scale can significantly extend groundwater supplies and help ensure that corn production continues to help fuel economic growth in rural communities.
An Investment that benefits all Texans
Reducing water usage through more efficient equipment and practices helps producers by lowering irrigation pumping costs. But there are also significant public benefits. The economic activity generated by irrigation agriculture creates tens of thousands of jobs in Texas. Conservation measures maximize the economic benefit from each gallon of water that is pumped, and extend those benefits and jobs for generations to come. The public also benefits from having more groundwater available for non-agricultural uses such as municipal and industrial supplies.
There are programs, such as those offered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, that provide producers with technical expertise and cost sharing to implement conservation measures. These programs are vital to ensuring the continued economic and resource conservation benefits. Funding for these programs, which is an investment in our future, will only continue if they have public and political support from both rural and urban legislators.
New Technology on the Horizon
Technology never stands still. The next big advancement will come from seed companies that are developing corn varieties that produce higher yields with less water. One company has announced that a new drought-tolerant corn hybrid could be available to producers as early as the 2011 planting season. Within the next three to five years, a number of companies plan to introduce drought tolerant corn that will help conserve water resources.
Water Conservation Resources
The Texas Corn Producers play an active role in the research and development of water-conserving tools and resources for producers such as the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation (TAWC).
TAWC has released an online tool producers can utilize as an economic decision aid. This web-based tool offers agronomic planning options to maintain profitability and sustainability in irrigated row crop agriculture. With this tool producers have access to:
- Options for cropping systems to maximize per acre profits, at field or farm level
- Utilize expected commodity prices, production costs and water availability
- Account for crop-yield relationships, irrigation capacity and crop contracting
Click here for the TAWC Water Guide
Click here to access TAWC Solutions: Irrigation and Economic Management Tools
Statements on Water Issues
In April, TCPB and CPAT submitted the below joint letters in regard to the High Plains Underground Water District No. 1 rules and regulations. These letters were submitted after hearing from concern corn and agricultural producers associated with the Protect Water Rights Coalition.
