Agriculture
Globally, the agricultural sector consumes about 70% of the planet’s accessible freshwater. Because water is vital for the success of agriculture, proper water management techniques are necessary to meet food and fiber material demands around the world. Resources available here pay special attention to efficient irrigation and sustainable agriculture techniques.
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Agriculture Resources
Additionality in Agricultural Conservation Programs
Published:
September 8, 2014U.S. Department of Agriculture
Additionality measures the extent to which conservation program payments actually encourage adoption of practices that farmers would not otherwise adopt. Considering additionality in conservation program design could help make programs more cost effective, but only if additionality is considered...Read more
Western Irrigated Agriculture: Production Value, Water Use, Costs, and Technology Vary by Farm Size
Published:
September 2, 2013U.S. Department of Agriculture
The largest irrigated farms in the region averaged about 3,300 acres, of which 1,020 were irrigated in 2008; the smallest farms averaged 244 acres, of which 47 were irrigated. Use of improved water-management practices can help producers maximize the economic efficiency of their irrigation systems...Read more
Improving Air and Water Quality Can Be Two Sides of the Same Coin
Published:
September 1, 2005U.S. Department of Agriculture
Air quality policies have traditionally focused on urban areas and industrial emissions. Extending these laws to cover agriculture would require an understanding of how farmers respond to different policy incentives. Farmers have many choices in deciding on what to produce and the production...Read more
Irrigation and Water Use - Briefing Room
Published:
November 22, 2004U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agriculture is a major user of ground and surface water in the United States, accounting for 80 percent of the Nation's consumptive water use and over 90 percent in many Western States. This ERS research program investigates water allocation, water conservation, and water management issues...Read more
Water Quality Impacts of Agriculture
Published:
July 21, 2006U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural production releases residuals, like sediment and pesticides, that may degrade the quality of water resources and impose costs on water users. Agriculture is the leading source of impairments in the Nation's rivers and lakes and a major source of impairments to estuaries. However,...Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesIrrigation and Water use: Glossary
Published:
October 26, 2004U.S. Department of Agriculture
An overview of agricultural methods, systems, and practices to increase land and water productivity. Several definitions are offered for terms associated with water use and agriculture. Read more
Video: Improving People's Livelihoods with SolutionMUS - Small Livestock
Published:
May 1, 2015Winrock International
Most livelihood activities require water. Productive water services alone increase income and food security but the benefits of this productive water can be solidified and amplified through targeted livelihoods support programs. This video tells the story of Nyakonge, a pastoralist village in...Read more
Regional focus:
Sub-Saharan AfricaVideo: Improving People's Livelihoods with SolutionMUS - Livestock and Gardening
Published:
May 1, 2015Winrock International
Most livelihood activities require water. Productive water services alone increase income and food security but the benefits of this productive water can be solidified and amplified through targeted livelihoods support programs. This video tells the story of Peter Mbuya, a poultry and goat farmer...Read more
Water Quality Index for Runoff Water from Agricultural Fields (WQIag)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Water Quality Index for Runoff from Agricultural Fields (WQI) is currently being developed by the USDA/NRCS-WNTSC National Water Quality/Quantity Team in Portland, Oregon. The purpose/benefits of this tool include: comparative assessment over time & space, no substitute for monitoring/...Read more
Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX) model was developed for use in whole farm/small watershed management. The model was constructed to evaluate various land management strategies considering sustainability, erosion (wind, sheet, and channel), economics, water supply and quality,...Read more
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