SI From the Farmer

Mark Gwines is a producer in Worth, Dougherty, and Lee Counties, growing corn, cotton, peanuts, and pecans. He has been farming since 1987 and now farms with his son Luke.

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Mark and Luke joined Flint River SWCD to tell us how and why Smart Irrigation Technology has been beneficial for their operation:

“Through smart irrigation technology we can better manage water use on the farm. With Variable Rate Irrigation we can cut off water for non-crop areas and control the amount of irrigation for certain soil types. We save water through pivots retrofitted with updated drop nozzles. Soil moisture sensors of this technology we are able to conserve not only water but diesel, and electricity as well.

By providing funds for the equipment, NRCS cost share programs have allowed us to implement many of these smart irrigation practices. Cost share programs have also given us the opportunity to apply other conservation practices on the farm, like cover crop, that I may not otherwaise have attempted. All of these practices funded through NCRS share programs have helped achieve my conservation goals on the farm.”