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Farmers Slow To Use Water Conserving Methods

Although agriculture is the leading cause of water pollution in the U.S., farmers in drought-stricken states have been slow to adapt such water-conserving practices as no-till and cover cropping.

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A field of corn in the Texas Panhandle
Credit: Jerod Foster

Although agriculture is the leading cause of water pollution in the U.S. and unhealthy soils lead to the flow of sediments and nutrients into rivers and streams, farmers in drought-stricken states have been slow to adapt such water-conserving practices as no-till and cover cropping. Advocates of those methods say that their use would lead to more water and purer rivers, while farmers would spend less money on fertilizers and fuel. (Circle of Blue)

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