What is dryland farming?
Dryland farming systems do not use irrigation but depend on precipitation to meet crop requirements. For this reason, it is essential that the producer first evaluate the effect of conversion from irrigated to dryland farming based on crop yields, crop production costs, and farm profits from neighbors in similar geographical and climatic contexts in order to assess associated risks. This assessment will help the producer determine how much of their land to transfer and its feasibility in relation to type of crop, crop yield, production costs, and total potential profit. The most common dryland crops are pasture and small grains, however, row crops such as sorghum, corn, or cotton may also withstand dryland farming depending on geographical location. Record keeping will help the producer monitor changes over time in order to assess long term risk and economic feasibility.
