txH2O Fall 2026
Regenerative Agriculture
Can cover crops, no-till, and livestock grazing be profitable in the Southern Great Plains?
Recent water science news from around the state and nation
Drawing on decades of regenerative farming experience, producers on the Regenerative Ag project’s Advisory Board help researchers meet producers’ real needs
Oklahoma and Texas scientists study how regenerative agriculture practices can change runoff and impact water quantity and quality on a regional scale
Experts and many producers agree that regenerative agriculture is good for the land, but can it profit more than conventional methods?
Regenerative Agriculture in the Southern Great Plains
To help rural communities survive and thrive in the shifting economic and environmental conditions, researchers are examining regenerative agriculture’s impacts from every angle
Research shows farmers’ perceptions and decisions related to regenerative agriculture
Using the Power of Modeling to Build a Sustainable Future
Texas A&M researchers use computer models to predict the long-term effects of regenerative agriculture practices
Outreach efforts turn five years of research into practical tools for producers
Soil scientist Katie Lewis’ family has been farming for generations. Now, her regenerative agriculture research is protecting soil and water for future Texans.
When is the Best Time to Terminate a Cover Crop?
These Texas A&M AgriLife researchers are figuring that out
Testing Regenerative Ag in a Virtual World to Refine Regenerative Strategies for the Real World
OSU water modeling team’s analysis shows benefits of regenerative practices
New project funded by a USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant will support soil health management systems in the Southern Great Plains
Project Impacts & Research Results
Learn how the Regenerative Agriculture project has impacted real people from the project impacts and research results infographic.
Texas Environmental Excellence Award recognizes Katie Lewis for regenerative agriculture project
Texas A&M AgriLife Research Scientist Katie Lewis, Ph.D., was honored with a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) 2026 Governor’s Texas Environmental Excellence Award for Agriculture at the annual awards banquet June 9 in Austin.
Lewis received the award for leading the Agricultural Intensification and Enhancement through the Utilization of Regenerative Agricultural Management Practices project, to which this issue of txH2O is dedicated.
Watch the TEEA video showcasing this project and Lewis’ work in the Southern Great Plains at tx.ag/TEEA26.
These annual awards celebrate citizens, communities, businesses and organizations working to help preserve and protect the Texas environment, while inspiring others to become better environmental stewards in their communities, according to TCEQ.
By successfully integrating practices such as livestock grazing, cover cropping and conservation tillage into cotton and wheat systems, Lewis’ research is breaking new ground and helping the entire region stay resilient in shifting economic and environmental conditions.
This project is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Strengthening Agricultural
Systems Program Competitive Grant no. 2021-68012-35897, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, statements, or
recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
