Our panel consists of: Bayer CropScience, Lee Rivenbark – Head of Global Cotton and U.S. Operations, Senator Charles Perry – West Texas District 28, Dr. Robert Forbis - TTU Environmental Politics and Policy, Dr. Darren Hudson - TTU Ag Sciences, Dr. Micahel Farmer - TTU Ag Sciences, and Dr. Joey Young - TTU Plant and Soil Sciences.
Eighty percent of the water used in agriculture irrigation comes from groundwater. Our West Texas underground water source is the Ogallala Aquifer and is being depleted at a rapid rate. With population growth and a rising heat index, we must act now to conserve our water supply and sustain crop production. The government must become more involved in helping American farmers be successful in the face of current climactic challenges.
The political world plays a major role in agricultural production. Policies affect not only what is grown but also the way in which our food sources are produced from farm to factory and all the places in between. Politics manipulate how these goods are grown. These points must be realized when addressing drought and soil erosion – the main problems facing West Texas agriculture.
A clearer look at the Farm Bill and other policies that aim at assisting the agriculture professional can provide understanding of how such campaigns address the issues. Presently, the Farm Bill and the Agricultural Act of 2014 have opened doors for agricultural professionals to adjust practices without taking on the full financial burden.
However, even with subsidies and other incentives offered to agricultural professionals, many choose to continue with old methods, which in practice assume the abundance of water and fertile soil long into the future. However, this is not the reality of the current environment. Current trends already illustrate the serious water shortage that is a reality in West Texas.
A holistic approach to the issue addresses farmers, agricultural agencies, and legislative bodies. On the ground, farmers must be informed about viable crops that are more drought tolerant than those that are currently common place. Education that addresses watering and irrigation methods that demonstrate stewardship of the crucial and dwindling resource is the second component to properly informing agricultural professional on how to adapt to climactic challenges.
Legislatures must make resilience of agricultural programs in drought ridden areas a priority. In addition to the policies that have been put in place to aid farmers and other agricultural professionals, promotion of altered and more viable techniques and crops must be placed on the agenda. The history of agriculture is deeply embedded in the development of our nation and must be maintained and protected. Past attempts have assisted in various ways but the need to adapt to a changing climate has yet to be aggressively promoted.
