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5 Ways Farmers Conserve Water

On May 27, 2025May 27, 2025 by Farm Flavor to Environment, Farm

crop irrigation — Photo credit: Todd Bennett

Water is one of the most vital resources in agriculture – and one of the most limited. As climate change intensifies droughts and a growing population increases demand, farmers are under more pressure than ever to use water wisely and grow more with less. Across the country, farmers are rising to the challenge by adopting sustainable practices to reduce water use and protect water quality without sacrificing crop yields. From high-tech irrigation systems to time-tested soil care techniques, the following methods are just a few of the many ways farmers work to conserve water in their operations every day.

See more: 5 Ways Farmers Protect the Environment

University of Florida researchers study different irrigation methods. Photo credit: Tyler Jones

1. Water-Saving Irrigation

Researchers in Florida are always looking for new ways to make ag production more efficient, sustainable and less labor intensive. Drain tile irrigation is an innovative irrigation method with boundless potential for water conservation in Florida’s fields.

The system, which employs perforated pipes buried beneath a field, can reduce the water needed for a crop by roughly half compared to seepage irrigation, the most common practice in Florida crop production.

Because drain tile irrigation doesn’t require furrows for water to enter the field, farmers using it gain 12% more planting space in the same area.

“We’re seeing great potential for water conservation, and we expect that nutrient loads are going to be reduced as well,” says Lincoln Zotarelli, Professor of Horticultural Sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

farmer harvesting plants — Photo credit: Kyle LaFerriere

2. Reducing Fertilizer Usage

Conservation-minded farmers in Virginia are supporting ecosystems by protecting nearby waterways and creating wildlife habitats. Reducing fertilizer usage at Old Tavern Farm safeguards local watersheds, as it can reduce nitrogen leaching.

Long Stone Farm in Lovettsville is a grass-fed livestock operation that operates without the use of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, antibiotics or hormones.

Casey Wisch, who owns the farm with her husband, Justin, was drawn to conservation-minded agriculture out of a desire to safeguard her family’s health. She also appreciates that these systems provide a lot of valuable habitats for wildlife, helping to sustainably produce for customers while conserving natural resources.

3. Planting Cover Crops

Sustainable farming practices like cover cropping (covering the soil with plants between cash crop seasons) boost the soil’s ability to absorb water and sequester carbon while reducing soil erosion.

Growing cover crops helps protect the environment by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, thus lowering the potential for nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into nearby waterways. Excess nutrients in ground and surface water can contribute to the excess growth of algae and other aquatic plants.

Derek Martin examines the roots of a corn plant while collecting soil samples in one of his no-till corn fields in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois. Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

4. No-Till Farming

Traditional tilling involves digging into the ground and turning up the soil. This can be done on a small scale with a handheld tool or with heavy machinery for farms on a large commercial scale.

No-till, as you might imagine, is the opposite.

Rather than disrupting the soil, no-till farming involves layering natural materials on top of the field and allowing them to decompose into the ground. Most often, that includes breaking down the remainder of last season’s crops and allowing them to break down where they spent the past year growing and/or growing cover crops during the winter season.

Water conservation is a huge benefit of no-till farming. Crop residue not only helps moderate soil temperatures but can also reduce early evaporation, limit erosion and create a protective layer over the ground that keeps moisture in the ground. All of this plays a role in healthier crops – and less water use on behalf of the farmer.

Read more: What Is No-Till Farming?

Adron Belk uses John Deere Operations Center to improve efficiency on his farm in Cleveland, MS — Adron Belk uses John Deere Operations Center to improve efficiency on his Mississippi farm. Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

5. Precision Agriculture Technology

In recent years, technological advancements have played a pivotal role in reshaping the landscape of the agricultural industry.

Adron Belk is a second-generation farmer who grew up working alongside his dad on their family farm. He now employs modern technology on Triple Run Farms, his grain farm in the Mississippi Delta.

Technology keeps Triple Run Farms running efficiently.

“Probably 90% of our use is John Deere Operations Center,” Belk explains. “We keep track of where different varieties, practices and chemical applications go. It gives me all the data and statistics off each tractor, including fuel usage, time consumption, area worked and area left to work.”

Technology also aids with irrigation and efficient water use.

“Using a platform called AgSense, I monitor my irrigation pivots remotely,” Belk explains. “I can stop them, speed them up, slow them down or change direction remotely. If we’re not on the farm, and in the middle of the night get a big rain event, we can turn those pivots off. That saves us from pumping water until the next morning.”