By Gary Joiner
TFB Radio Network Manager

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2018 Agricultural Water Conservation Grants.

TWDB has up to $600,000 in grant funding available to promote agricultural water conservation.

Applications are due to TWDB by noon on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018.

“It’s a great investment for Texas and for Texas agriculture,” Kathleen Jackson, TWDB board member, said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Radio Network. “We’ve provided more than $100 million in grants and low-interest loans through this program, and the funding recipients over the last five years have reported saving over 193,000 acre feet of water. We’re very excited to be able to offer this program again.”

Eligible grant categories this year include:

  • Equipment cost share and technology transfer
  • Demonstrations of innovative and alternative production systems
  • Planning and design for irrigation system improvements
  • Feasibility study of irrigating with produced water

“The categories this year really reflect some things that we’ve been very successful in offering and executing in the past, as well as we were really pleased to get input and thoughts and ideas from the ag community,” Jackson said. “Several of the categories reflect some needs that were identified, brought to the board, and then we were able through this cycle of funding to be able to incorporate those.”

Eligible activities, maximum grant amount per project and local match requirements may differ from one category to the next. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Cameron Turner at 512-936-6090 or cameron.turner@twdb.texas.gov.

“There is a special place in my heart for ag,” said Jackson, whose late husband was a rice farmer and whose parents came from agriculture. “You know the farmer today can be up to 98 percent efficient in the water that they use. More people need to be made aware of the great work that ag is doing in conserving water. They are boots on the ground. They know the system best. And they’re using the resource in a very productive and effective way.”

More information on the full request for applications and instructions on how to apply are available on TWDB’s website.