Photo by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
Join us on a virtual trip to southwest Louisiana to meet two rice farms that are models in conservation. Durand Farms in St. Martinville and Simon Farms in Morse are collaborating with organizations such as USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ducks Unlimited, USA Rice, and the local Soil and Water Conservation District to protect their soil and improve their water use and quality. Discover more about their best management practices.
“When it comes to tillage, the research shows that the less you do, the better it is for your soil health,” says Jacob Jarreau, Resource Conservationist at USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Durand Farms in St. Martinville, Louisiana, is a testament to this. By not constantly tilling the soil, they have achieved a high level of organic matter in their fields. The roots from the previous year are still visible in the ground, providing nourishment for microorganisms. “The soil is much healthier than tilled soil,” says Jeff Durand, owner of Durand Farms and Chairman of St. Martin Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).
The power of partnership
Collaboration is key to Durand Farms’ conservation success, including with USDA NRCS, Ducks Unlimited, USA Rice, and the local Soil and Water Conservation District.
“All of these partnerships markedly leverage our abilities to meet the end goal: soil, water, and nutrient conservation,” says Dr. Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
The 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement (NPS) Program, funded through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act Section 319, is a case in point. Through coordination with local soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs), it provides cost-share incentives for farmers to implement conservation practices that reduce soil erosion and minimize pollutants entering local waterways.
Muddy water in, clean water out
Simon Farms in Morse, Louisiana, is another prime example of partnership and resource efficiency. Reduced-till and no-till planting, residue management, cover crops, and irrigation water management are just some of the best management practices (BMPs) they use to boost soil health and manage and improve water quality. As Glenn Simon, owner of Simon Farms and Acadia SWCD Chairman explains, growing rice provides a natural boost to water quality. The rice “serves as a filter”, removing sediments and nutrients and producing cleaner water when it leaves the field.
Tests conducted over the past four to five years on Durand Farms, and other sites across southwest Louisiana, support this.
According to Kyle Soileau, Ducks Unlimited, Rice Stewardship Coordinator, Louisiana, the entire farm is irrigated using surface water from the nearby Bayou Veillon. Samples are taken when the water is flooded onto the field and again when it is released into the ditches before harvest, some eight or nine weeks later.
Soileau says, “The numbers are pretty much the same; it doesn’t matter what the watershed is. Rice will reduce total suspended solids generally by between 75 and 80%, reduce turbidity by around 90%, and [reduce] nitrate, nitrite, and phosphorus anywhere from 70 to 80%.”
Ultimately, when the water is drained, it leaves the field cleaner and clearer than when it was first pumped on.
Watch the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s video for additional insights into conservation on Simon Farms and Durand Farms. Tune in here.