Ronald Rayner is a lifelong farmer who has gained a wellspring of wisdom across the course of his career. Facing the various challenges that working in agriculture presents, the key that helped his family’s farm to stand the test of time was simple — learning how to do more with less.
“I’ve been actively engaged in a lot of innovative things and, especially in the water conservation community, finding ways to do more with less on a wide range of things,” he said. “It truly is one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned — whether it’s dealing with water, fertilizer, labor, inputs, or any of those things."
Rayner, along with six other community leaders, were honored as Arizona History Makers on Oct. 25 Scott Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. The lifelong farmer was recognized for his contributions to the agricultural world — developing arid land double crop and no-till crop management practices that result in lower water and fuel use, as well fewer pesticides, while increasing the health of the soil. Rayner said that while he wouldn’t take credit for every farm’s sustainable practices, some have adopted his approach to farming. He said he is very proud to have received the award as well.
“I was just really pleased to see that agriculture was being recognized as part of the history of the state, because it definitely is,” Rayner said. “Even though I’m 84 years old, I still do work every day and I’m very happy to have received it.”
The other individuals who were chosen alongside Rayner were Bob Boze Bell, Diana Yazzie Devine, John W. Graham, Sharon and Oliver Harper, M.D., Sister Adele O’Sullivan, CSJ, M.D., Eric Reiman, M.D., and David Wooten, M.D.
Rayner’s farm, A Tumbling-T Ranches, has existed in his family for several generations. From childhood well into adulthood, farming was part of his daily life — with the exception of two years after he graduated from college. Between himself, his brother and now his son and nephews, the management of the land is a family and group effort.
According to Rayner, Arizona is exceptionally dry and experiences higher temperatures, which informed the way he and his family had to approach agriculture. Because the state sees less rainfall than other places in the country, Rayner said that his farm is much more reliant on ground water — which has high salinity, or salt content. Due to this, more water is required to leach the salt from the soil and keep the land productive. In order to save water and protect the soil, Rayner developed no-till farming techniques for arid lands.
“We leave crop residue on top of the ground all the time, so we’re not tilling and plowing under any leftover stalks or leaves from the plants,” the farmer and history maker said. “It lowers the temperature of the soil and gives us the ability to use less water by reducing the evapotranspiration rate of the plants — and that’s really important in an area where we have very low humidity and high temperatures.”
Some of Rayner’s other feats in agriculture are developing arid land double crop practices — planting two crops on the same land within a single year — and crossbreeding seeds with natural pesticides to prevent the cotton crops from being overrun by pests.
Beyond the dry, warm weather, Rayner expressed that farming is still not without its challenges. Soon, a freeway will be built very close to farm headquarters and his family’s approach to farming will have to adapt — if they continue farming at all. With the small amount of land they would have left, Rayner said they are considering trying indoor, vertical farming.
Additionally, the market price for the farm’s commodities — cotton, wheat, alfalfa and others — have been quite low, while the costs associated with producing them have increased “dramatically.” It is another area, he said, in which he and his family have to find ways to do more with less.
Despite the challenges, one of the joys Rayner has experienced from farming has been the opportunity to work closely with his family. He said that while much of the work he does today requires him to be at a desk, his son and nephews take care of many of the physical labors and Rayner has worked with his brother for many years as well.
Aside from his work as a farmer and legacy as a history maker, Rayner has also served on two major organizations related to water use and conservation — the board of directors for the Central Arizona Project and the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District as a founding board member.
Being 84 years old, the history maker has said he had the pleasure of witnessing the evolution of local government in Arizona, marveling at the way things have changed over time.
“It’s really been interesting — I’ve met a lot of people that, over the years, have been very instrumental in shaping our state and serving with the governors,” he said. “Seems funny nowadays — there’s so many people that I don’t know.
“It’s just a sign of the times.”
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