When it comes to conservation efforts by the USDA, in what areas is the Department focusing on now and into the future?

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"Certainly irrigation technology is moving very quickly," said Kevin Norton is acting Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. "There are new delivery systems that are available that reduce the energy consumption in the irrigation system where supplies the water more specifically to the soil surface."

"We have moisture sensing technology that can be integrated into a feedback system to the producers so they only checking on the wells and pumping the water when it's necessary to keep the appropriate amount of soil moisture in the profile for plant production."

Norton added that connectivity is essential for some conservation tools.

"On farm weather stations all of that promotes water use efficiency in agriculture production. Then we do have composting types of facilities and techniques around dealing with animal residue, those kinds of things."

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