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Claude and Linda Sheppard, San Joaquin Valley, California Claude and Linda Sheppard grow organic cotton and grains in California's San Joaquin Valley. They have been farming cotton most of their lives. Claude's family started growing cotton in Texas before the turn of the century; his great-grandfather moved to California during the Dust Bowl. For the past four years, the Sheppards have been growing their cotton organically, without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. They report a water use reduction of 25%. Water Supply and Management The Sheppards receive their water from Chowchilla Water District, which contracts for federal water supplies from Friant Dam and Buchanan Dam. Their water is measured by weirs and delivered through a canal. The Sheppards have access to some deep wells, but they try to conserve ground water and rely primarily on surface supplies. Current surface water costs $35 per acre-foot, with an additional $12 per acre flat charge. Although the Sheppards see it as a disincentive to conservation, the district charges farmers for a minimum of 1.5 acre-feet of water per acre farmed, whether or not they use it. Ground water costs approximately $25 per acre-foot. Water conservation and organic produc- tion are interrelated and complementary in the Sheppards' operation. According to the Sheppards, their primary methods for conserving water include the following: ^ For the first three waterings (out of a total of eight), they irrigate every other row. This allows them to rely on hoeing for weed control and also prevents the cotton from growing too quickly. Conventional growers irrigate every row and use chemicals to stop growth once the cotton has achieved the appropriate height. ^ The Sheppards stop irrigating earlier in the season than conventional farmers because they use cessation of irrigation as a defoliant. Conventional growers use chemicals for this purpose. ^ The Sheppards irrigate on 12-hour sets (for 12 hours at a time) instead of 24- hour sets. This keeps growth in check and reduces weed and grass growth. Conventional farmers use herbicides to control these plants. ^ Laborers who irrigate the fields carry beneficial insects with them and are trained to recognize problems and release the insects where appropriate. The Sheppards are cautiously optimistic about the future of organic cotton. In addition to their own farming operation, they provide services for other farmers, such as monitoring crop and pest condi- tions, purchasing beneficial insects and helping the farmers make the transition away from chemical-intensive farming. For More Information Contact: 53 ~- , h---1 _yL -- __. Ronnie Cohen Natural Resources Defense Council 71 Stevenson Street