The USDA-ARS-NPA/Central Great Plains, located in Akron, CO, is a research station under the United States Department of Agriculture. Covering approximately 20 million acres of dryland farms across Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas, the station focuses on agricultural research aimed at improving the sustainability and productivity of farming in the region. By implementing a systems approach based on ecological trends in the soil, the station aims to reduce the reliance on fallow and promote continuous cropping, ultimately benefiting the rural economy and making farming more sustainable in the long run.
With a primary focus on water conservation and crop rotation, the research conducted at the USDA-ARS-NPA/Central Great Plains aims to optimize water use and improve soil health. By studying the effects of different crop sequences and tillage systems, the station's team of experts in weed science, soil physics, soil health, meteorology, soil fertility, and organic matter work together to find the best combinations for maximizing crop productivity while minimizing fallow. Through their research, they have discovered that continuous cropping with appropriate crop sequencing can significantly increase water use efficiency and land productivity, making farming a more viable and sustainable venture in the Central Great Plains region.
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