By Jennifer Whitlock
Field Editor
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is accepting applications for agricultural water conservation grants for fiscal year 2022.
Farmers and ranchers strive to use water responsibly and sustainably, TWDB board member Kathleen Jackson said.
“What we know is that the individual farmer is very efficient in terms of their water usage,” she said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “Farmers can be up to 98% efficient, so they are great stewards of water resources.”
Jackson noted $1.2 million in funding through the Agricultural Water Conservation Grants Program is available for projects to help farmers and ranchers save water.
Throughout the program’s 36-year history, more than $100 million in grants and low-interest loans have been awarded. In the last five years, the 84 projects funded through TWDB’s agricultural water conservation grants have saved nearly 500,000 acre-feet of water, according to Jackson.
Some previously funded grant projects include demonstrations of conservation practices, educational outreach, purchase and installation of water-use monitoring equipment and irrigation efficiency improvements.
TWDB is looking for projects that quantify water savings through proven technology.
Field days, demonstrations, workshops and other activities that engage farmers and ranchers are also eligible for funding consideration.
The agency is seeking projects that promote the adoption of innovative water conservation practices resulting in improvements to irrigation efficiencies and soil health.
Projects that identify methods to measure and report water conservation performance metrics—such as water savings, soil, water, holding capacity and infiltration—are also eligible for funding.
Other projects that determine the long-term sustainability, feasibility and profitability of the conservation practices by quantifying returns on investment are also sought, as well as those that build on the success of existing agricultural water conservation efforts.
“This is an opportunity for [farmers and ranchers] to share their expertise, to actually look at innovative technologies and equipment, to be able to enter into and work on demonstration projects where the producer utilizes his own property to go out and actually move forward with a project and then share what he’s learned with other producers,” she said.
The funds are available to Texas state agencies and other eligible political subdivisions, such as groundwater conservation districts, groundwater improvement districts and regional river authorities.
Applicants may partner with private businesses and individuals on the project if oversight is managed by the eligible entity.
Jackson encouraged farmers and ranchers who are interested in sharing their knowledge or building more agricultural water conservation programs in their area to contact the local political subdivision and begin building out project parameters for a proposal.
The full request for application and instructions on how to apply for the agricultural water conservation grants, as well as a list of previously funded projects, are available on TWDB’s website at twdb.texas.gov.
Interested applicants may contact TWDB agricultural conservation staff at agconservation@twdb.texas.gov with questions and for more information.
Applications are due by 2 p.m. on Feb. 9.
TWDB expects to notify grant recipients in May.