Oregon farmer spent 40 years proving crops can grow without irrigation: How dry farming helped tomatoes, potatoes and beans survive hotter, drier conditions

Across the Pacific Northwest, hotter temperatures, drought and declining snowmelt have put pressure on water supplies. But one Oregon farmer spent decades experimenting with a different approach: growing crops without irrigation.

The technique, known as dry farming, relies on carefully managing the moisture already stored in the soil instead of regularly supplying crops with water. A 2014 Oregon State University report documented one farmer's experience growing crops without irrigation for about 40 years, from 1974 to 2014.

ALSO READ: A tiny ceramic jug buried nearly 600 years ago in Russia held more than 2,600 silver coins

What is dry farming?

Dry farming is not simply a matter of turning off the irrigation system and hoping plants survive. Instead, the method focuses on preparing soil so it can capture and retain winter and spring moisture and make that water available to plants during the growing season.

The Oregon farmer initially practiced dry farming in California before moving to a 9.6-acre property near Veneta, Oregon, in 2007. The land had no water rights, yet he managed to grow food for his family while also selling crops to small grocery stores in Eugene. His crops included organic tomatoes, potatoes, winter squash, garlic, favas and other beans.

ALSO READ: California Governor Gavin Newsom lists his $7.5 million Sacramento-area mansion

The secret was in the soil

According to the Oregon State University report, soil preparation was one of the most important parts of his approach. The farmer worked the soil during the first good dry spell of spring, when it was moist enough to hold together when squeezed but dry enough to crumble.

He would cultivate the ground, leave it for two or three weeks and then cultivate it again. This repeated preparation helped create a seedbed capable of holding moisture around the root zone.

The soil at his farm was primarily Veneta loam, while deeper layers of clay helped retain water. He also used sheep, geese and legume cover crops to improve fertility and soil structure.

ALSO READ: In 1921, a 14-year-old Idaho farm boy looked at the rows in a potato field and imagined television: How Philo Farnsworth turned a plowed field into a world-changing invention

Keeping moisture underground

Once planting began, water conservation remained critical. For crops grown directly from seed, the farmer planted the seeds into the soil and stepped on them to create strong soil-to-seed contact.

He also kept the soil loose for roughly four to six inches around plants. This allowed roots to develop while helping keep moisture below the surface. That distinction was important. Heavy rain or overhead watering could actually work against the system by compacting the soil surface.

As the surface later dried, cracks could form and contribute to moisture escaping from deeper layers. Wider spacing between plants also reduced competition for the limited water and nutrients available.

The farmer even chose spacing that worked with his tractor, making the operation easier to manage largely on his own.

ALSO READ: In 1998, Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek donated 74 acres in Hollywood Hills worth $2 million

Choosing the right crops mattered

Dry farming also depended heavily on selecting crops that could handle the conditions. Tomatoes, potatoes, winter squash, garlic and beans performed well on his land.

The farmer also saved seeds from many of his crops, allowing plants to become increasingly adapted to his specific growing conditions over successive seasons.

Some varieties reflected years of experimentation. His tomatoes included a Big Beef variety that began as a volunteer plant, while his Blue Hokkaido squash was developed over decades.

Could dry farming help farmers today?

Dry farming is not a universal solution. The Oregon State University report notes that the technique may not work well in sandy or shallow soils with limited water-holding capacity, and some crops are simply poorly suited to the method.

But for farmers dealing with water shortages, uncertain water rights or expensive irrigation systems, dry farming could offer another way to reduce risk.

The Oregon farmer's four decades of experimentation showed that irrigation is not always essential for productive agriculture.

With careful soil preparation, appropriate crops, good spacing and disciplined moisture management, water stored in the soil can potentially sustain crops through an entire growing season.