Water-conservation Project Seeks To Improve Irrigation Efficiency In Nebraska

By: Tharran Gaines

If you were to mention The Nature Conservancy to a gathering of farmers, you’d probably find a few who envision the nonprofit as an environmental group that would prefer to see cornfields turned into wetlands and wildlife habitat. While that has been the case in a few critical locations, The Nature Conservancy, in partnership with various corporations, has also done the opposite by working with farmers to everyone’s benefit.

As a case in point, The Nature Conservancy, in collaboration with Nestlé Purina and Cargill, recently launched a three-year water project in central Nebraska to improve the sustainability of America’s beef supply chain.

FROM OUR JANUARY ISSUE: GUEST EDITOR SONNY PERDUE, SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
Why this story matters to me: “Farmers are the best conservationists because their livelihood depends on the health of the land. By embracing technology and precision agriculture techniques, American farmers can become more productive while also protecting the land and the environment.” – Sonny Perdue

SAVING 2.4 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER
According to Hannah Birge, water and agriculture program manager at The Nature Conservancy, a large percentage of the water used in U.S. beef production is dedicated to irrigating the row crops that become feed for cattle. By putting first-of-its-kind, cost-effective irrigation technology in the hands of farmers, which will help them make more informed irrigation decisions, the organization hopes to see the amount of water needed for row-crop irrigation greatly reduced, along with the environmental impact of the beef supply chain.