How To Reduce And Optimize Water Usage On Your Farm

In the United States, agricultural operations account for around 80% of all water consumption. That water is divided between irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide application, crop cooling, hydrating livestock, and controlling frost. That all adds up to a pretty penny and more water is often used than is strictly necessary. It also depletes the available water supply, but our farms need water—so what do you do?

We here at Atlantic Tractor know that conserving resources like water can be hard to balance with trying to produce as high a yield as possible, so we’ve put together some ways to minimize and optimize water usage. With these tips, you can take some important steps that will result in less wasted water without harming your operations. 

If you want to know more, or you’re looking to browse our inventory, contact any of our locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Our friendly and experienced staff will work with you to find what you need!

Understand Your Water Sources

The water used in your agricultural operation comes from a number of different sources. Determining the most cost-effective and eco-friendly ones can help you reduce overall water usage and save some money in the process. Each source has its own pros and cons, though, so understanding all of them is important.

Surface Water

Surface water is water that is, you guessed it, on the surface, typically collected in irrigation ditches, rivers, streams, canals, and collection resources like reservoirs and ponds. This water is free and easy to use, but it’s a pretty limited supply, so be careful how and when you use it. 

Groundwater

This collects beneath the surface in an aquifer, sediment or rock that collects water. This exists in what’s called the zone of saturation underground, topped off by the water table, the closest part to the surface. 

This is generally accessed with wells and is slowly replenished over time—and it’s less vulnerable to pollution than surface water. However, overuse can deplete your water table, so use it as a supplement rather than your sole source.

Rainwater

Another free source is, obviously, rain. This one depends on your particular region, but the Northeast is not known for being dry. Collecting rainwater with ponds or cisterns allows you to build up your water supply over time and can provide water when the weather does clear up. This reduces your reliance on other water systems, but again can’t supply everything you’ll need. On a small scale, you could just collect it in rain barrels for use around the farmhouse or watering troughs.

Municipal Systems

Some farms can tap into municipal or city water supplies, but this can get expensive. To minimize costs, use multiple water sources to supplement what the city gives you. Using this source only for your farmhouse can also help keep costs down. 

Water Use Strategies

The following strategies, either alone or in combination, can help minimize and optimize your water usage. Using several of these will help you cut down on waste without harming your productivity.

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation systems bring water straight to the roots of your crops rather than spraying it over them. This keeps your plants watered without wasting water on dry ground or losing it to evaporation. If the system is installed perfectly, it can reduce crop water usage by up to 80%! You’ll have your same crop yields while using way less water, lowing costs and upping efficiency.

Irrigate Around Rainfall

Schedule your irrigation around anticipated rainfall. If the sky is watering your plants for you, there’s no need to drown them! Keep an eye on weather reports and use your own weather skills to avoid overwatering while still ensuring your crops get what they need. Tracking moisture levels in soil can also help.

Drought-Tolerant And Dry Farm-Friendly Crops

If droughts are a concern, or you just want to use less water, some crops are better at handling droughts and drier conditions than others. These include sorghum, millet, some legumes, and pomegranates. 

Dry farming is a different story, utilizing crops that only require existing, natural soil moisture for growth. You’ll need to pay close attention to microclimates in your area and practice specialized tilling to manage this, but it can pay off.

Organic

Organic farming can increase yields up to 30%. These forgo pesticides entirely and simply make use of existing soil moisture and local bacteria to keep plants in good shape. These farming methods can also help recharge groundwater supplies while avoiding filling them with toxic chemicals. 

With a bit of care and planning, you’ll be using less water in no time flat! If you want more advice or you’re looking for ag equipment for sale, contact us at Atlantic Tractor. We proudly serve the people of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware—let us serve you today!