Throughout the entire history of agriculture, water storage has always been a primary concern for farmers. This is because agriculture traditionally depends on irrigation. And irrigation makes it necessary for farmers to manipulate the flow of water.
This necessity, in turn, has led to the development of a wide variety of water storage practices and technologies. For the sake of simplicity, we can divide these into two separate categories. These include on-farm and off-farm water storage systems. There are certain benefits to both, but on-farm storage systems have become especially popular in recent years.
In this article, we’ll discuss the differences between the two systems and the benefits of on-farm water storage systems. Then, we’ll dive into how securing an agricultural loan can help you implement a storage system.
On-Farm Vs. Off-Farm Water Storage Systems
Off-farm water storage is a system that relies exclusively on freshwater sources that are located outside of a farm’s perimeter. As such, it can potentially lead to problems if, say, those freshwater sources are affected by drought or legal dispute.
Conversely, on-farm water storage (OFWS) is a system whereby a farm maintains its own supply of freshwater. In this way, it gives farmers a relatively high degree of control over how water is irrigated, controlled, and used.
What Are the Benefits of On-Farm Water Storage (OFWS)?
OFWS systems typically capture natural sources of freshwater (primarily rain and groundwater), and redirect them to on-site storage areas. These storage areas come in a variety of forms. Usually, they depend on the resources and topography of a given farm. For example, some farmers choose to construct artificial ponds or ditches. Or, others choose to invest in a large tank.
Here are a few of the major benefits of OFWS:
- Gives farms more resilience to drought.
- Increases irrigation options and capability.
- Allows farmers to recapture agricultural chemicals. This prevents them from entering into outside sources of freshwater (like lakes and rivers).
Implement OFWS with an Agricultural Loan
As you can imagine, there are some construction, labor, and technology costs that come along with OFWS systems. But you don’t need to let those stop you! With an agricultural loan, you’ll secure the financial freedom that you need. Then, you’ll have the necessary funds to construct your own on-site water storage system.
Contact MSF Agriculture
MSF Agriculture can connect you with the agricultural loan option that will work perfectly with your budget and business goals. Contact us today to learn more!