The primary focus of the webinar will document some of the progress that has been made in developing a systems approach to water conservation, discuss barriers to adoption, and provide data on how on-farm profitability is impacted. Speakers will explore management and methods to conserve water in the Ogallala Aquifer region, including cover crops, irrigation efficiency, no-till practices and more.

Sara Wyant, founder and editor at Agri-Pulse, will serve as moderator. The webinar is sponsored by the Water Grows Initiative, which is a partnership of the Texas Corn Producers and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas.

Speakers include:

• Gloria Montaño Greene, deputy undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation, USDA
• Joe Outlaw, Ph.D., regents fellow, professor and extension economist in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University
• Katie Lewis, Ph.D., associate professor of soil chemistry and fertility, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas Tech University
• Brandt Underwood, agronomist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
• Kelly Kettner, owner, Kettner Farms
• Braden Gruhlkey, partner, Gruhlkey Family Farms

View the webinar here.

Gloria Montaño Greene

Gloria Montaño Greene was appointed Deputy Under Secretary for USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area on February 22, 2021. As the FPAC Deputy Undersecretary, Montaño Greene leads agencies that deliver farm programs and services to farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. These programs include farm loans, conservation, disaster assistance, crop insurance and price support. Montaño Greene is a former State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Arizona from 2014-2017. With FSA in Arizona, Montaño Greene led implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill programs across the state. She previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff to Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva of Arizona. Montaño Greene also served as Deputy Director for Chispa Arizona, a program of the League of Conservation Voters focused on the empowerment of Latino voices in Arizona on issues including energy, public lands, and democracy access. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona.

Joe Outlaw

Joe Outlaw, Ph.D., is a Regents Fellow, Professor and Extension Economist in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University. He also serves as the Director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M University. His extension education and applied research activities are focused on assessing the impacts of commodity programs, crop insurance, renewable energy, and climate change legislation on U.S. agricultural operations. Outlaw has received more than 30 state, regional and national awards for his policy education efforts and has been awarded Fellow of both the Southern and Western Agricultural Economics Associations. He has presented nearly 1,000 invited presentations across the United States and Internationally. Outlaw received his B.S (1987), M.S. (1988), and Ph.D. (1992) degrees from Texas A&M University, all in agricultural economics.  

Katie Lewis

Katie Lewis, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Soil Chemistry and Fertility. Research conducted in the Soil Chemistry and Fertility program at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock, TX, is designed to evaluate alternative soil and nutrient management practices that will improve the economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture production. Lewis received her B.S. in Chemistry from Sam Houston State University and her MS and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Soil Science.

Brandt Underwood

Brandt Underwood is the agronomist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) serving in the High Plains and South Plains regions of Texas. Underwood began his career as a soil conservationist with the NRCS in 2003. Later he was promoted to district conservationist and served two years before moving to a field agronomist position in Amarillo.

In 2009, Underwood was chosen for the zone agronomist position in Lubbock, serving the Texas High Plains where he currently provides technical support to 51 counties. His technical support and expertise are focused primarily on residue management methods and grass plantings for conservation practices. Underwood received his Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy from Texas Tech University. He is a national certified crop adviser, and he has earned multiple certificates of merit over the course of his career.

Kelly Kettner

Kelly Kettner is the owner of Kettner Farms and farms northwest of Lubbock, Texas. His primary crops are corn, cotton, wheat, and sunflowers. Kettner also raises sheep and cattle. Kettner farms with regenerative farming techniques and strives to leave the land in better shape than he received it.

Braden Gruhlkey

Braden Gruhlkey partner at Gruhlkey Family Farms located in the Texas Panhandle. He farms corn, cotton, seed and grain sorghum, sunflowers and wheat; as well as raising cattle alongside his farther and two brothers. Gruhlkey serves on the Texas Corn Producers Board and is the vice chairman for its research committee. He has participated in the Future Directions research project through Texas Corn Producers Board since its inception. Gruhlkey is a graduate from Texas Tech University with a degree in agricultural education.

View the webinar here.