Water + Energy Progress

Water + Energy Progress Awards identify and spotlight innovations in energy efficiency and water conservation on Kansas farms and ranches. We will continue to add resources with each new case study, so check back often!

Kansas Water Resources

Date Added: Jul 22, 2013

Several organizations focus on water resources in Kansas. This list provides a brief description of each organization and a link to individual websites. Updated regularly.

PDF: WaterResourcesinKansas.pdf

>> Category: Water Resources
>> Case Study:

Book List from Fuller Field School

Date Added: Aug 01, 2013

During the 2013 Field Day at Gail Fuller's Farm, presenters chose their favorite books to hand out as door prizes. This is a great reading list!

PDF: BOOKLISTfromGailFullerFieldDay2013.pdf

>> Category: Natural Resource and Conservation
>> Case Study: Gail Fuller

Soil Organic Matter

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

“Aim to improve soil organic matter and soil function, rather than to implement a particular set of practices.”

LINK: http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/concepts/soil_organic_matter/som_trends.html

>> Category:
>> Case Study: Gail Fuller

Soil Quality and No-Till

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

No-till improves soil quality in both the short - (five years) and long-term (20 or more years). No-till with crop rotation allows soil forming processes to proceed. Benefits compound each year that the soil remains undisturbed. Crop rotation and diversity accelerate the rate of change. This chapter covers the improvements of soil quality. Soil qualities enhanced by no-till affect organic matter, water infiltration, structure, temperature, bulk density,

LINK: http://notill.okstate.edu/publications/notillcroppingsystemsoklahoma/chapter02.pdf

>> Category: Soil Health, No-Till
>> Case Study: Dale Strickler Darrin Unruh Gail Fuller

USDA NRCS, Soil Health Key Points

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

The NRCS campaign, “Unlock the Secrets of Soil,” focuses on the benefits and methods of improving soil health. Soil Health Key Points provides basic facts on soil health and provides a path to improving soil health and sustainability. A Soil Health Management plan is a great way to focus efforts. It saves energy by using less fuel and maximizing nutrient cycling. It saves water and increases drought tolerance through increased infiltration and water holding capacity. It improves income s

PDF: NRCSSoilHealthKeyPoints.pdf

>> Category: Cover Crops
>> Case Study: Dale Strickler Gail Fuller Darrin Unruh

2012-2013 Cover Crop Survey

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

The 2012-2013 Cover Crop Survey reports on 759 farmers who used cover crops on about 218,000 acres in 2012. The report covers the adoption, benefits, challenges, and yield impacts of cover crops.

LINK: http://www.northcentralsare.org/Educational-Resources/From-the-Field/Cover-Crops-Survey-Analysis

>> Category: Cover Crops
>> Case Study: Gail Fuller

NRCS Energy Estimator: Tillage

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

“The Energy Estimator for Tillage tool estimates diesel fuel use and costs in the production of key crops in your area and compares potential energy savings between conventional tillage and alternative tillage systems. The crops covered are limited to the most predominant crops in 74 Crop Management Zones (CMZ's). NRCS agronomists have identified these crops and estimated the fuel use associated with common tillage systems. The Energy Estimator gives you an idea of the magnitude of

LINK: http://ecat.sc.egov.usda.gov/

>> Category:
>> Case Study: Gail Fuller

Conservation Practices that Save: Crop Residue Management: Save ENERGY, Save MONEY

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

“Conservation tillage systems have at least 30 percent of last year’s crop residue on the soil at planting. Residue adequately controls erosion by both wind and water, among other conservation benefits.
A producer can save at least 3.5 gallons of fuel per acre by going from conventional tillage methods to no-till. At November 2005 diesel prices, this amounts to $7.70 per acre in production cost savings. On a farm with 1,000 acres of cropland, these savings add up to 3,500 gallons of

LINK: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/wntsc/?cid=nrcs143_023637

>> Category: Cover Crops, No-Till
>> Case Study: Dale Strickler Darrin Unruh Gail Fuller

Plenty of Positives with No-Till System

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

No-till is a conservation system that provides environmental benefits without having to take the land out of production. Such benefits include increasing wildlife habitats, storing carbon, increasing soil organic matter, improving soil quality, preventing runoff and erosion, increasing infiltration, conserving soil water, and reducing fuel consumption.
from No-Till Farmer

LINK: http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/pages/News---Plenty-Of-Positives-With-No-Till-System.php

>> Category: No-Till
>> Case Study: Dale Strickler Darrin Unruh Gail Fuller

No-till can save water, pumping crops

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

Cover crops can save water and energy through reduced pumping costs for irrigators. “Irrigated crops grown in no-till may require three to five inches less water from rain or irrigation than those grown under conventional tillage”

LINK: http://www.hpj.com/archives/2009/aug09/aug3/0708UNLnotillsaveswaterko.cfm

>> Category: No-Till
>> Case Study: Dale Strickler Darrin Unruh Gail Fuller

Managing Cover Crops in Conservation Tillage Systems

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

LINK: http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Books/Managing-Cover-Crops-Profitably-3rd-Edition/Text-Versio

>> Category: Cover Crops, No-Till
>> Case Study: Dale Strickler Darrin Unruh Gail Fuller

Cover Crops for Clean Water

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

Soil and Water Conservation Survey

LINK: http://www.swcs.org/en/publications/cover_crops_for_clean_water.cfm

>> Category: Cover Crops
>> Case Study: Gail Fuller

Save Soil, Nutrients, Money with Cover Crops

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

References to SARE studies on the benefits of cover crops

LINK: http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/conservation/save-soil-nutrients-money-cover-crops

>> Category: Soil Health, Cover Crops
>> Case Study: Dale Strickler Darrin Unruh Gail Fuller

Cocktail Blends provide fall grazing, soil health

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

Cocktail Blends provide fall grazing, soil health
Beef Magazine

LINK: http://beefmagazine.com/pasture-health/cocktail-blends-provide-fall-grazing-soil-health?page=2

>> Category: Cover Crops
>> Case Study: Gail Fuller

USDA Cover Crop Fact sheet

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

USDA Cover Crop Fact sheet

LINK: http://www.ree.usda.gov/ree/news/1209CoverCropsFactSheet.pdf

>> Category: Cover Crops
>> Case Study: Gail Fuller

ARS Cover Crop Chart

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

ARS Cover Crop Chart

LINK: http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=20323

>> Category: Cover Crops
>> Case Study: Gail Fuller

RMA Cover Crop Fact sheet

Date Added: Sep 03, 2013

RMA Cover Crop Fact sheet

LINK: http://www.rma.usda.gov/pubs/rme/covercrops.pdf

>> Category: Cover Crops
>> Case Study: Gail Fuller

Ted Alexander's Nationally Recognized Drought Plan

Date Added: Oct 01, 2013

Ted Alexander's Drought Plan is featured on the National Drought Mitigation Center Website, along with many other drought plans.

PDF: AlexanderRanchDroughtPlan.pdf

>> Category:
>> Case Study: Ted Alexander

The Alexander Ranch - Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition Summary

Date Added: Oct 02, 2013

A brief description of the Alexander Ranch created by the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition.

PDF: AlexanderRanch090613.pdf

>> Category:
>> Case Study: Ted Alexander

Progress of Cedar Removal on Alexander Ranch

Date Added: Oct 02, 2013

The Kansas Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, created this handout to demonstrate the impacts of Cedar Tree removal on the Alexander Ranch.

PDF: RedHillsHandout2.pdf

>> Category:
>> Case Study: Ted Alexander

Eastern Red-cedar: Positives, Negatives and Management

Date Added: Oct 02, 2013

"This publication discusses the positives,
negatives and management of
eastern red-cedar. Eastern red-cedar
history, expansion, ecology, uses and
its effects on forage production, wildlife,
rainfall and wildfires are briefly
addressed. Management techniques
used to control eastern red-cedar and
technical guidance options available
to resource managers are reviewed" produced by the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

PDF: nfwf1101.pdf

>> Category: Natural Resource and Conservation
>> Case Study: Ted Alexander

Full Feature Map of the Sheridan 6 LEMA

Date Added: Nov 05, 2013

The Kansas Geological Survey site hosts two interactive maps of the Sheridan 6 LEMA. This is the full-featured map of the area.

LINK: http://kansasgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/OnePane/basicviewer/index.html?appid=8c8fb7eaa86040609a1840f59b1d5285

>> Category: Water Resources
>> Case Study: Sheridan 6 LEMA

LEMA resources from Kansas Geological Survey

Date Added: Nov 05, 2013

The Sheridan 6 LEMA page on the Kansas Geological Survey site includes maps, data on wells, and additional information.

LINK: http://www.kgs.ku.edu/HighPlains/lema/sd6.html

>> Category:
>> Case Study: Sheridan 6 LEMA

Groundwater Management District 4 Sheridan 6 High Priority Area

Date Added: Nov 05, 2013

The Sheridan 6 High Priority Area page on the Groundwater Management District 4 page includes a wealth of resources on the area and the LEMA process.

LINK: http://gmd4.org/EnhancedMgt/SD6.htm

>> Category: Water Resources
>> Case Study: Sheridan 6 LEMA

Kansas Department of Agriculture LEMA page

Date Added: Nov 05, 2013

This page includes information on the LEMA process and the Sheridan County 6 Lema.

LINK: http://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/dwr/managing-kansas-water-resources/local-enhanced-manag

>> Category: Irrigation, Water Resources
>> Case Study: Sheridan 6 LEMA

Kansas Irrigation Trends by Danny Rogers

Date Added: Nov 07, 2013

LINK: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/irrigate/OOW/P12/Rogers12Trends.pdf

>> Category: Irrigation
>> Case Study: Richard Wenstrom Sheridan 6 LEMA Wendell Nicholas & Eldon Schmidt

Real Ag: Irrigation

Date Added: Nov 13, 2013

Smoky Hills Public Television video about irrigation practices with commentary by K-State irrigation specialists.

LINK: http://www.smokyhillstv.org/index.php/component/content/article/442

>> Category: Irrigation
>> Case Study: Richard Wenstrom Sheridan 6 LEMA Wendell Nicholas & Eldon Schmidt

Drip Irrigation Saves Water: Kansas grower installs huge subsurface system

Date Added: Nov 14, 2013

Wendell Nicholas was featured in the February 1999 issue of Corn and Soybean Digest for his installation of Subsurface Drip Irrigation.

LINK: http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/drip-irrigation-saves-water-kansas-grower-installs-huge-subsu

>> Category: Irrigation
>> Case Study: Wendell Nicholas & Eldon Schmidt