On the northwest edge of Kearny County, where the plains stretch flat and wide, farmer Ryan Barnhardt has found a new purpose for the less productive parts of his dryland acres — turning them into wildlife habitat and helping recharge the Ogallala Aquifer through playa conservation.
“It’s relatively flat ground,” Barnhardt said of the area where his playas sit. “One field has some terraces to control erosion when we get heavy thunderstorms. But the playas themselves were never productive, just bare spots or drowned-out crops.”
That’s when Barnhardt started learning more about the ecological value of these features. Playas are vital, temporary wetlands that provide important habitat for wildlife and are a primary source of recharge to the Ogallala Aquifer, a critical water source for western Kansas. These shallow, clay- lined depressions collect runoff from the surrounding area, filtering out contaminants and directing water underground.
About 10 years ago, Barnhardt enrolled in the Migratory Birds, Butterflies and Pollinators
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) State Acres for Wildlife (SAFE) practice through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which allowed him to take unproductive playas out of rotation and establish grass buffers. For each enrolled playa acre, the program included a buffer of approximately three grassed acres surrounding it.
“The motivation was simple,” Barnhardt said. “There was no benefit in farming those areas. The soil is either too tight and burns up quickly, or they flood out in a heavy rain. Either way, you end up with poor yield and more weeds.”
The shift from marginal farming to conservation has helped not only Barnhardt’s operation but the surrounding ecosystem. While his playas aren’t on irrigated land, he sees clear benefits for aquifer recharge. With vegetation cover in place, more rainfall is absorbed into the soil instead of evaporating or running off.
“That grass cover helps reduce evaporation and gives water more time to soak in,” Barnhardt said. “That’s good for the aquifer, and long-term, for all of us relying on it.”
Wildlife has also found a home among Barnhardt’s playas and buffer zones. Native upland game birds like pheasants and quail are regular visitors, along with migratory waterfowl such as geese.
The impact has been notable enough to catch the attention of out-of-state conservationists.
“I recently got a letter from the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies,” he said. “They wanted to come out and observe species using the playas. It’s nice to see others recognizing the value these places bring.”
While the playa conservation program doesn’t significantly boost his bottom line, Barnhardt says it helps offset some maintenance costs and provides a small, steady income stream. Land enrolled in a conservation program doesn’t require the intensive inputs of traditional farming and offers a more consistent return on otherwise unproductive acres.
“There’s some mowing and maintenance, mostly on the buffer strips,” he said. “It’s similar to CRP [Conservation Reserve Program] contracts. Sometimes, those expenses can be cost-shared.”
When asked what he would tell other producers considering enrolling their playas in similar
programs, Barnhardt is honest about the considerations.
“The rental rate might not be what it used to be,” he noted. “And if the playa is in the middle of your field, it can be harder to manage around. But overall, I still think there are a lot of advantages.”
Among those benefits, Barnhardt points again to water recharge and wildlife habitat — and the fact that trying to farm playa ground is rarely worth it. “At the end of the day, it’s just not productive ground,” he said. “The program gives you a consistent
income on something you otherwise wouldn’t get much out of. And it’s great to see the wildlife coming back. I’ve had neighbors call me just to ask if they can go bird hunting out there in the fall.”
For Barnhardt, conservation isn’t just a practice — it’s a partnership between land, water, and wildlife. And it’s proving to be one that pays off in more ways than one.
Ryan Barnhardt’s story is just one example of how conserving playas can turn unproductive ground into an asset for both producers and the land. Learn more about how playas support aquifer recharge and wildlife habitat at playasworkforkansas.com.
To discuss programs and options that can help meet your conservation objectives, contact PLJV Conservation Outreach Specialist Titus Jaeger at 620-272-2828 or Ducks Unlimited Biologist Abe Lollar at 620-214-2693.
