02
Jun

June 2, 2025

Farming in a dry future: What B.C.’s drought teaches us about soil health and innovation

Another dry season is already upon us in British Columbia.

The headlines have started again—drought warnings, early wildfires, water restrictions. For many farmers, it feels like we’re back where we started. But this isn’t the same drought story as last year. It’s evolving. And so must we.

At Agrotek, we’ve been asking a question that isn’t making the news:
What happens beneath the surface when the rains don’t come?

The soil story we’re not talking about

When we think about drought, we tend to think about the sky. But resilient farming starts in the soil.

Healthy soil isn’t just about nutrients. It’s a sponge. It’s a living system. It holds water longer. It protects roots from heat. It creates the conditions for crops to survive longer when external inputs run dry.

When soil is depleted or compacted, it loses its ability to support crops under stress. That’s not theory—it’s what we hear from producers every time the summer gets hot too early. And it’s what we’re seeing in our own trials and research.

What the research tells us

One study that caught our attention this year comes from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Their team is exploring farming strategies for dry conditions—particularly ones that don’t depend on high-tech irrigation or expensive interventions. They’re looking at soil texture, organic matter, and how to “do more with less” in terms of water.

That’s not just academic work. It’s practical, real-world knowledge—and it aligns with what many of us already feel in our bones: if we don’t start from the ground up, we’ll always be in reaction mode.

How we think about drought resilience at Agrotek

This is where humic substances come in—not as a magic fix, but as one piece of the resilience puzzle.

We work with humic acid because it helps soils retain moisture, improve soil structure, and boost microbial activity. That means better water infiltration during rain, and slower evaporation during dry spells. It means roots can access nutrients more efficiently. It means the soil life works harder, so we don’t have to keep chasing it with inputs.

And most importantly—it means a buffer when weather becomes unpredictable.

We know humic substances won’t change the weather. But in seasons like this, every small gain matters. Every ounce of retained water. Every plant that holds on a little longer. Every root system that goes a little deeper.

Where do we go from here?

This drought season, we’re challenging ourselves—and our peers—to reframe how we think about soil.

So we ask:

• Is your soil ready to hold water this summer?
• Are we investing in inputs that strengthen systems, not just patch problems?
• Are we prepared to think long-term, not just survive the short-term?

We don’t pretend to have all the answers. But we’re committed to sharing what we know, learning from what we don’t, and being part of a conversation that goes deeper than the weather forecast.