{"id":167957,"date":"2025-08-04T05:00:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T09:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/?p=167957"},"modified":"2025-07-30T16:22:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T20:22:49","slug":"best-dry-farming-crops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/08\/best-dry-farming-crops\/","title":{"rendered":"The 7 Best Crops for Dry Farming"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As heat and water scarcity increase, farmers have to adjust their strategies to ensure good production. The bottom line is important, but so is <strong>conserving non-renewable resources<\/strong>. Dry farming is one way to keep both in mind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The technique\u2019s success is surprising, as it shows that <strong>crops don\u2019t need daily watering<\/strong> and pampering for a good yield. There are several crops that work in a dry system, many more than we can cover here, with many tailored to your region\u2019s conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before next summer, consider growing some of the <strong>best dry farming crops<\/strong>. When this strategy is employed appropriately, the plants are resilient and still offer delicious produce that is desirable in any market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is Dry Farming?<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167960\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167960\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"b89a5b\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #b89a5b;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167960 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Wheat-field-with-very-dry-soil.webp\" alt=\"A field of wheat with golden vertical stems and ears of seeds grows on dry, cracked soil.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Wheat-field-with-very-dry-soil.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Wheat-field-with-very-dry-soil-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Wheat-field-with-very-dry-soil-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Wheat-field-with-very-dry-soil-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167960\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Roots chase the water underground while the sun does the rest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The contemporary understanding of dry farming was developed in areas with <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dryfarming.org\/about\/what-is-dry-farming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">20 inches or more<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> annual rainfall<\/strong>. However, the practice has expanded beyond these regions to any region, as farmers grow crops within the constraints of their environment. That includes farms near <strong>desert ecosystems<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The origins of the practice in the Americas lie with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the <a href=\"https:\/\/resilience.arizona.edu\/news\/man-working-sustain-hopi-dry-farming-arizona\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hopi peoples<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of northern Arizona. By selecting crops that are <strong>already adapted<\/strong> to a region with 10 inches or less of rain per year, it\u2019s not only possible to grow nutritious food, but it\u2019s also likely to result in flavorful crops. This is not a novel case, however, as people all over the world have farmed on dry land for centuries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some systems rely on <strong>early-season precipitation<\/strong>, while others simply <strong>don\u2019t have water<\/strong> as an input and rely on a hardy plant that grows deep roots. Paramount to most systems is soil that is deep, arable, and that drains well. It should have good water-holding capacity. This is the foundation of a good system in areas where rainfall is more common.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7 Best Dry Farming Crops<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re trying to decide <strong>which of these crops will work in your <a href=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2022\/06\/dryland-farming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dry system<\/a><\/strong>, think about your regional geology and rainfall. If you live in an area where rain is plentiful, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll have more options. In an area where rain is scarce, choose crops that handle drought with ease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tomatoes<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167961\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167961\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"817b38\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #817b38;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167961 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tomatoes-garden.webp\" alt=\"Clusters of ripe oval tomatoes with glossy orange-red skin hang from upright, sturdy stems in a sunny garden.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tomatoes-garden.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tomatoes-garden-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tomatoes-garden-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tomatoes-garden-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167961\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spring rains do the heavy lifting before roots dig deep.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s start with an <a href=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/06\/dry-farm-tomatoes\/\">unlikely dry crop<\/a>. Tomatoes do not have a reputation for being drought-tolerant. However, in areas that receive <strong>sufficient spring rains<\/strong>, they are a great crop for dry farming early in the season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/agwaterstewards.org\/practices\/dry_farming\/#:~:text=Jim%20Leap%2C%20when,as%20dry%20farming.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UC Santa Cruz\u2019s dry farms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, tomato plants produced ample amounts of smaller fruit. The secret to dry farming in this instance was trapping soil moisture in May by<strong> lightly tilling<\/strong> just as the rains rolled in. At transplant, seedlings weren\u2019t watered, which prompted them to develop deep roots.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These roots penetrate the layers of soil, touching the areas below where moisture is available. Thus, dry farming tomatoes was possible! But it\u2019s more suited to areas with <strong>deep<\/strong>, <strong>moist<\/strong> <strong>soils<\/strong> and substantial spring rains.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pumpkins and Winter Squash<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167962\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167962\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"96ae52\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #96ae52;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167962 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/luffa-plant.webp\" alt=\"Close-up of a luffa plant climbing on trellises with drooping lobed leaves and elongated green fruits with a slightly ribbed surface.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/luffa-plant.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/luffa-plant-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/luffa-plant-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/luffa-plant-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167962\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wider spacing helps avoid garden drama over moisture rights.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the season, dry farming pumpkins and winter squash is possible. What you need in this case is a mild climate with <strong>pre-season rains<\/strong> that ensure the soil is already moist at planting. Till very little at the start of growth, and <strong>provide a <\/strong><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/smallfarms.oregonstate.edu\/smallfarms\/dry-farming-vegetables-one-farmer%E2%80%99s-approach-building-soil-conserving-water-and-producing#:~:text=The%20strategy%20for%20managing%20soil%20moisture%20at%20Your%20Hometown%20Harvests%2C%20involves%20deep%20straw%20mulch%2C%20low\/%20no%20irrigation%2C%20and%20low\/no%2Dtillage.%20After%20two%20years%20of%20trialing%20this%20system%20and%20great%20success%20with%20tomatoes%20and%20winter%20squash%2C%20she%20has%20decided%20to%20expand%20dry%20farming%20onto%20two%20more%20acres.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>deep layer of mulch<\/strong><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is the best way to get most winter cucurbits started.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, there are gourds that grow in the desert with very little water. <strong>Bottle gourds and luffa<\/strong> (which is a highly heat-tolerant plant) are perfect for dry farming. Soaking seeds ahead of time gives them the moisture they need to get started. Plant them ahead of the driest parts of the year, with enough rich soil to get them going.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of all, give them the space they need to grow, which prevents them from sucking moisture from nearby plants. A <strong>wider spacing is recommended<\/strong> for crops that are more supple, planting them as if they are perennials that will spread over time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Melons<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167963\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167963\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"a6ae65\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #a6ae65;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167963 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Melons.webp\" alt=\"A close-up of two large, round melons with pale green, netted rinds hanging from vines with broad green foliage.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Melons.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Melons-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Melons-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Melons-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167963\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sweetness is dialed up thanks to sealed in moisture during early growth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farmers at OSU<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> managed to grow a healthy crop of \u2018Pike\u2019 melons and watermelons in 2013, in moist soil covered with a <strong>hefty layer of mulch<\/strong>. In this case, the rains of the Pacific Northwest and the moisture-trapping mulch were what made dry farming these crops possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By 2018, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/progress.oregonstate.edu\/blog\/2018\/08\/27\/dryland-farming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trials were completed,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and farmers found the fruits were <strong>sweeter and more flavorful<\/strong> than those grown with regular irrigation. They had uniform size and color. What it took to grow them was good observation skills ahead of the season to ensure conditions were right for planting.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grapes<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167964\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167964\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"7b7d58\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #7b7d58;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167964 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Grape-plantation.webp\" alt=\"Grape plants with large drooping clusters of round, dark purple fruit growing closely together among green, lobed foliage in a sunny garden.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Grape-plantation.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Grape-plantation-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Grape-plantation-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Grape-plantation-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167964\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">No need to water constantly once roots settle deep.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we think of grapes, we often think of regions with<strong> sandy or rocky soil<\/strong>\u00a0and an arid<strong>\u00a0climate<\/strong>. Grapes are some of the best dry farming crops that can really thrive in these conditions, and growing them without irrigation is possible. Not only has this been a practice across the most famous viticulture regions in the world, but there are newspaper articles <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/winehistoryproject.org\/1874-article-grapes-without-irrigation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">from 1874<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> showing that it was practiced in the United States as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most important part of growing wine grapes is <strong>root establishment<\/strong>. Frequent irrigation keeps the roots near the soil line, rather than delving deep into the layers where moisture is present. Today, people use drip irrigation to ensure roots develop in their first season, then they rely on pruning and maintenance to grow a great product in subsequent seasons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olives<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167965\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167965\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"71673b\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #71673b;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167965 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/olive-tree.webp\" alt=\"Close-up of olive tree branches covered with slender, oval, green leaves and small, oval-shaped, purple-hued, hanging fruits.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/olive-tree.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/olive-tree-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/olive-tree-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/olive-tree-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167965\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Even in dry years, the harvest holds steady charm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Much like grapes, olives typically grow in regions that are dry and rocky. That makes them another entry in the category for best dry farming crops, and a perfect option for<strong> drought-prone areas<\/strong>. While the crop will not be as robust as it would in rainier years, olive trees will produce good yields without additional irrigation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Much like grapes, <strong>olive tree roots reach deep into the earth<\/strong>, accessing groundwater below. They are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wearewater.org\/en\/insights\/olive-trees-beyond-the-climate-crisis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">adapted to hot regions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that experience low rainfall year after year. One note on olives is that some species are classed as invasive in the regions where they\u2019re likely to be dry farmed. Ensure you\u2019re planting a non-invasive olive before you plant an entire grove.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grains<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167966\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167966\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"87714c\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #87714c;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167966 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Field-of-sorghum.webp\" alt=\"A wide field of tall, upright plants with elongated, broad green leaves and dense, reddish-brown seed heads growing in vertical inflorescences.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Field-of-sorghum.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Field-of-sorghum-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Field-of-sorghum-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Field-of-sorghum-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167966\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sun and heat don\u2019t slow these resilient grains down much.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A number of different grains have been cultivated for ages in drought-prone areas. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adra.org\/news-release-ancient-cereal-grain-a-likely-answer-to-helping-drought-affected-countries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sorghum<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and millet are two that can <strong>handle periods without irrigation<\/strong>. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/icarda.org\/media\/blog\/new-drought-tolerant-crops-resilient-dryland-livelihoods\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Durum wheat and barley<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are also quite tolerant of drought.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The dense coverage of grain crops keeps moisture in the soil for longer. Many are adapted to historically hot and dry regions as well. Some of the best dry farming crops are grains.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tepary Beans\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167967\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167967\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"7a6b50\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #7a6b50;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167967 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tepary-bean-plants.webp\" alt=\"Young seedlings with slender, upright stems and paired oval green leaves emerge from the dry soil in a neat row.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tepary-bean-plants.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tepary-bean-plants-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tepary-bean-plants-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tepary-bean-plants-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167967\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tepary beans can still form pods in temperatures up to <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">105\u00b0F (41\u00b0C).<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re growing in an intense, dry region, it\u2019s hard to get a good crop of beans once summer rolls around. Most varieties <strong>drop flowers in the heat<\/strong>. But <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/plants.usda.gov\/DocumentLibrary\/plantguide\/pdf\/cs-pg_phac.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tepary beans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which have been cultivated for ages by people in the American Southwest, are perfect for dry farms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They can handle <strong>no irrigation<\/strong>, and still set flowers and form pods in heat up to 105\u00b0F (41\u00b0C). Tepary beans also have deep roots that reach groundwater and don\u2019t require surface irrigation to thrive and produce. This is an excellent choice (and perhaps the most historic on this list) for dry farming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta a-guide-to-drought-resilient-farm-animals\">\n<div class=\"mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta-flex\">\n<p><a class=\"full\" title=\"A Guide to Drought-Resilient Farm Animals\" href=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2022\/06\/drought-resilient-farm-animals\/\">full_link<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex\">\n<p class=\"title mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta-title h1\">A Guide to Drought-Resilient Farm Animals<\/p>\n<div class=\"description\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #122108; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; background-color: #fdfff7;\">As with people, some livestock and poultry breeds tolerate heat better than others.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"svg mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta-svg\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dry farming is a viable strategy that helps farmers adapt to their local climate. It bolsters farms located in dry areas, allowing them to produce even though water is scarce. Take note of these 7 crops as you develop your own dry farm. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2074,"featured_media":167968,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":[],"meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33068],"tags":[],"article-theme":[],"class_list":["post-167957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The 7 Best Crops for Dry Farming<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Check out our recommendations for the best crops for dry farming!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/08\/best-dry-farming-crops\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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