In The Press

Click each panel to see how the Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference and EXPO continues to highlight work in soil conservation.

Delta Farm Press

Mar. 25, 2024

Irrigation technology: lessons learned

The road to automating Midsouth row crop irrigation has been paved with good intentions. But that hasn’t made the process any less frustrating for farmers. Joe Massey, a research agronomist with the USDA-ARS Delta Water Management Research Unit in Jonesboro, says there have been several attempts at irrigation automation.

Feb. 22, 2024

Arkansas Cooperative Extension announces irrigation contest winners

Winners of the 2023 Arkansas Most Crop per Drop Irrigation Yield contest were announced Jan. 29 at the 26th annual Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference and Irrigation Expo at the First National Bank Arena on the campus of Arkansas State University.

Feb. 9, 2022

ARS researchers helping improve water quality, quantity

Most farmers believe that conserving water and reducing fertilizer and herbicide inputs in an intensively managed crop like rice can have a positive effect on the environment. But how do they quantify the benefit?

Feb. 7, 2022

Most Crop Per Drop winners announced in Arkansas

For the second year in a row, Arkansas farmer Chad Render is a winner in his state’s irrigation yield contest. Render placed first in the soybean division and broke the record for highest water use efficiency in that crop. He placed first in the corn division last year.

Feb. 25, 2019

Improving soil structure with cover crops

When it comes to profitability, money can be a lot like the water that lands in farmers’ fields, according to Dr. Bill Robertson, Extension cotton specialist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Mar. 27, 2019

Debbie Moreland named Friend of Conservation Agriculture

Nevertheless, she persisted. That phrase could be used to describe many determined women, but none more so than Debbie Moreland, program administrator with the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts.

May 22, 2018

Capturing 100 percent of runoff saves water, money

Most farms aren’t built in a day, and the farm owned by Lori Dabbs’ family near Stuttgart, Ark., is no exception. Over a period of years the family has added tailwater recovery reservoirs that allow them to capture 100 percent of the runoff from irrigation. She explained the process during a presentation at the Arkansas Soil & Water Education Conference & Irrigation Expo at Arkansas State University.

Jun. 4, 2018

A target on our backs

Over the years, the Dabbs have participated in a number of such programs with one of the latest being the Arkansas Discovery Farms Project. The Dabbs are willing to participate, Lori Dabbs said, because they believe the research could help them and other farmers better conserve their natural resources and remain profitable.

Feb. 4, 2016

Arkansas Soil and Water/Irrigation Expo features farmer presentations

It's one thing when soil scientists tell growers conservation practices can be beneficial on their farms, and it's quite another when successful farmers in Arkansas describe how they're making those practices work for their operations.

Conference News

Meet The Speaker: Laudies Brantley

Laudies Brantley (right) We are excited to introduce Laudies Brantley as one of our speakers for the 2026 Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference and Irrigation EXPO. He graduated from England High School in 1965. Following graduation, he attended Arkansas State University (A-State) and completed his Bachelor of Science degree. Laudies received his college diploma from Carl Reng in the Spring of 1969. Laudies was born in 1947 and the first year his parents made their fir

Meet The Speaker: Dan Hooks

We are excited to introduce Dan Hooks as one of our speakers for the 2026 Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference and Irrigation EXPO. Dan Hooks, current President of the White River Irrigation District, is a semi-retired American farmer managing approximately 1,200 acres of irrigated farmland in Prairie County near Slovak, Arkansas, alongside his brother and son. Their family operation primarily produces rice and soybeans, with some wheat cultivation, and has successful

Meet The Speaker: Dr. Michele L. Reba

We are excited to introduce Dr. Michele L. Reba as one of our speakers for the 2026 Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference and Irrigation EXPO. Dr. Reba is a research hydrologist, lead scientist, and research leader (acting) at the USDA-ARS-Delta Water Management Research Unit in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The mission of the unit is to execute research related to agricultural water resources management at the multiple scales to further our knowledge base, evaluate technologic

Follow Us