Agricultural practices from ancient cultures around the world are again becoming popular with today’s land managers. While regenerative agriculture is not a new method to manage ranches and farms, renewed interest in the approach spotlights the broad benefits of improved soil health, including better water conservation and water quality.
In June, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) cohosted a regenerative soil health workshop in partnership with the Small Producers Initiative, the Edwards Aquifer Authority, and the Medina Water Conservation District.
Interested landowners were invited to learn firsthand about regenerative agriculture practices, such as high-density rotational grazing and using cover crops, from ranchers and producers applying these methods to their land.
“Regenerative agriculture tactics may vary based on a land manager or farm producer’s goals for their land, but it is essentially employing tactics that help increase organic matter in the soil and use fewer chemical inputs into the land,” said Jaclyn Buck, Data Analyst with the TWDB’s Agricultural Water Conservation Department.
High-density rotational grazing is when livestock are placed into a pasture and only there for a short period before being moved to another pasture. During the resting period, the grass can recover and regrow to grazing height because the animals are not allowed back for six months to a year.
The frequent livestock movement allows the grass roots to grow deeper and release more nutrients into the soil, further improving the soil health and water absorption capabilities.
For producers who grow crops like corn or cotton, using cover crops in between harvests can significantly improve soil temperature, help maintain microbes in the soil, and reduce topsoil erosion during wind and rain events.
To evaluate overall soil health, there is a focus on nutrients, microbes, and organic matter, which have a critical connection to water conservation.
“Historically across the United States, before industrialization, organic matter rates were probably somewhere between 5 and 6 percent, maybe 8 percent in some areas. But across the U.S. right now, what you’ll see in a field or pasture is about 0 to 1 percent,” said Buck.
“For every 1 percent of organic matter, an acre of land can hold 20,000 gallons of water. So, if we can increase our organic matter by a couple of percentage points, we could be storing 40,000 or 60,000 gallons of water per acre.”
Increased organic matter through regenerative agriculture can also contribute to drought and flood resilience with greater soil absorption rates, reduced water and nutrient runoff, and lower soil temperatures.
The mission of the TWDB’s Agricultural Water Conservation Department is to estimate annual irrigation water use and promote the voluntary adoption of agricultural water conservation best management practices.
The TWDB has offered funding since 1985 through the Agricultural Water Conservation Grants program. Annually, there is a request for applications where eligible political subdivisions and state agencies, such as groundwater conservation districts, universities, and irrigation districts, can apply for funding for conservation projects and programs. The projects and programs typically aim to improve irrigation efficiency, enhance resilience to weather extremes and climate variability, and promote innovation in agriculture.
For more information on the TWDB’s Agricultural Water Conservation Department, visit the TWDB website.
“For every 1 percent of organic matter, an acre of land can hold 20,000 gallons of water. So, if we can increase our organic matter by a couple of percentage points, we could be storing 40,000 or 60,000 gallons of water per acre.”
