Arkansas PBS Documentary Digs into Soil Conservation Efforts

Dirt, a documentary produced by the Arkansas Public Broadcasting Service, demonstrates ways Arkansas farmers, ranchers, and landowners can improve their operations by protecting the environment using best management practices. The film marks the culmination of the Pulaski County Conservation District’s most recent collaborative project with the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Arkansas.

The farmers and ranchers tell their personal stories, discussing their connection to the land and their commitment to the future of agriculture in Arkansas. The film's mission is to showcase new and effective ways to practice conservation and provide outreach to the general public while creating awareness and educating people about our state's number one industry.

 

Major funding for Dirt was provided by the Pulaski County Conservation District and the NRCS in Arkansas.

Click here to view Dirt. 

This month the Natural Resources Division (NRD) staff conducted four days of training across the state for conservation district employees and board members. Meetings were held in Hope, Monticello, Russellville, and Forest City. Our goal was to educate and update the audience about our programs. It was also an opportunity for NRD staff to meet district employees and learn how the NRD can better serve the districts.

Speakers for the events were: Christy Stewart, Groundwater Tax Credits; Sue Flat-Alami, Wetlands and Riparian Tax Credits; Kevin McGaughy, Unpaved Roads; Mike Guess, Water-use Registration; Mary Elizabeth Lea, Elections, Appointments, and Reappointments; Monica Hancock, Poultry Registration; Savanah Howell, Cost Share and 319 Programs; and JP Fairhead, Feral Hog Pilot Program.

St. Francis County Conservation District Irrigation Project

The St. Francis County Conservation District utilized the Grants to Districts opportunity to provide four local producers the chance to use moisture sensor technology on their farms to improve irrigation efficiency.

The district chose four producers who were interested in the technology to take part in the project, and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division (NRD) purchased four moisture sensor units with telemetry. A company representative provided education to the district on how to assemble and use the equipment. The producers then selected the fields and installed the units. Sensors were placed at 6, 12, and 24-inch depths and readings were available for each individual sensor.

A flow meter was installed on the water source which allowed for data collection of the actual amount of water applied to the field. The moisture sensors come with an app that producers can use to monitor the moisture level in the field and make decisions on irrigation timing based on the need of the crop. NRD staff helped producers load the app on their phones and answered questions and provided assistance throughout the entire irrigation season. Producers followed the sensor recommendations, even when they thought it was time to start irrigating, they trusted the technology and waited.

The project monitored moisture in one corn field, two cotton fields, and one soybean field. NRD staff went out monthly to check the equipment and the progress of the crop. Once the irrigation season was over, the sensor units and flow meters were removed from the fields. The amount of water that was applied during the season was calculated using flow meter data.

NRD staff will collect yield data from the producers once the field is harvested, but other than that, the project is complete. Project cost data and information about each farm assisted in the project was tracked in a project information spreadsheet.

The goal of the project was to introduce technology to producers that can help them make decisions that could potentially save them money and conserve water. The four producers in the project were very interested in the technology and the project helped them understand how it works and allowed them to save at least one irrigation during the season. The moisture sensor units are available for cost-share through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The district will continue to make the sensors available to producers that are interested in the technology and want to learn more about it.

If you need more help or training and would like to schedule a time with Mary Elizabeth Lea, click here. After submission, Mary Elizabeth will reach out to you via email to schedule a meeting.