Future Outlook of Dryland Crop Production Systems in the Semi-Arid High Plains Amid Climate Change

Abstract

Dryland agriculture or dry farming is a type of crop production that relies on stored soil moisture and occasional rainfall without providing supplemental irrigation. Dryland agriculture is a predominant crop production system in the semi-arid High Plains of the United States where water resources are scarce, drought is frequent, and grain yields are low. Producers are struggling to balance their pest management needs with soil moisture conservation practices such as no or reduced tillage, as well as loss of efficacy for some herbicide chemistries. The predicted increase in dryland farming acreage due to increasing underground water resource limitations and climate change, it is prudent to understand major pest issues in dryland agriculture to develop research-lead solutions.