Conservation Tillage in a Winter Wheat–Fallow System: Ron Jirava

This publication profiles Ron Jirava, a dryland farmer near Ritzville, Washington, who uses conservation tillage in a low-rainfall winter wheat–fallow system. Jirava farms in an area receiving about 11.5 inches of annual precipitation, where limited moisture strongly shapes production decisions. The case study focuses on his use of an undercutter sweep, which severs soil capillary channels while leaving more residue on the soil surface than conventional tillage. This helps reduce wind erosion, retain seed-zone moisture, and support soil organic matter while maintaining economic viability. The publication also discusses Jirava’s limited experimentation with no-till fallow, winter triticale, winter peas, biosolids, drill selection, residue management, weed challenges, and participation in long-term cropping systems research. Overall, the case study presents conservation tillage as a practical compromise between erosion reduction, moisture conservation, and profitability in very dry wheat-fallow systems.