Texas Farmer Doubles Acreage with Irrigated Strip-Till

New technology and precision farming practices help Harold Grall boost yields and cut costs.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 6:34am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a collection of precision farming tools and sensors, including a GPS receiver, soil moisture probe, and tractor tire tread, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background to represent the abstract concepts of data-driven, sustainable agriculture.Precision farming tools and sensors help Texas producer Harold Grall double his acreage while reducing resource use.Dumas Today

Harold Grall, a farmer in the Texas Panhandle, has been able to double the size of his operation to 7,400 acres by adopting strip-till and new farming technologies. Grall credits good record-keeping, strip-till, and precision equipment for allowing him to increase his corn and grain sorghum production while reducing fuel and irrigation water usage.

Why it matters

Grall's story highlights how innovative farming practices and smart use of technology can help producers in water-scarce regions like the Texas High Plains boost productivity and efficiency. His experience demonstrates that strip-till and precision agriculture can be viable solutions for farmers looking to expand their operations sustainably.

The details

When Grall took over the farm in 1994, he was using ridge-till and furrow irrigation on 3,700 acres. Over the years, he has transitioned to strip-till and precision irrigation, which has allowed him to double his acreage to 7,400 acres while cutting fuel and water usage. Grall says good record-keeping has been key to identifying opportunities for improvement and making smart decisions about new technologies to adopt.

  • Grall took over the farm in 1994 with 3,700 acres.
  • Over the years, Grall has transitioned to strip-till and precision irrigation.

The players

Harold Grall

A farmer in the Texas Panhandle who has doubled the size of his operation to 7,400 acres by adopting strip-till and new farming technologies.

Dale Coleman

Grall's mentor, from whom he bought out the farm in 1994.

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The takeaway

Grall's experience demonstrates that innovative farming practices like strip-till, combined with precision technologies, can help producers in water-scarce regions boost productivity and efficiency, even as they expand their operations.