Grower Story: Improving Water Efficiency and Soil Health for Ed Curry’s Arizona Chili Pepper Farm
Ed Curry has been farming in Arizona’s Sulphur Springs Valley since 1971, where his pioneering work in pepper genetics has shaped the chili pepper industry. While his contributions are well-known, Ed has faced the same growing challenge as many farmers: how to conserve water without sacrificing productivity.
Looking to strengthen his soil and reduce water use across his nearly 2,200-acre operation, Ed turned to MyLand.
Ed sits on the Arizona Governor’s water board and is connected to many in the local agriculture industry, so he’s familiar with the water challenges statewide and has shifted his farm’s irrigation and growing practices over the years with an eye towards water conservation. Regarding his crops, he said, “on our farm, we do a lot of different things to try to save water. Rosemary is a relatively low water, native desert crop. Our predominant thing is genetics and peppers.”
“What we try to do is save enough water that we can grow our peppers and still be ahead of the game,” said Ed.
After trying bottled algae and other alternatives, Ed said:
“The idea was amazing. The real deal was taking algae locally, your own algae and your own soil. And building it. I can tell you already, we can see a difference.”
Results are early on Ed’s farm, and he has already seen measurable improvements.
“I would say on the very conservative side, we can save 5%. On the opposite end, we might save 15%. But in the middle, I think we’re going to be able save 8 to 10% year in, year out. In an underground water system like we’ve got, that’s huge.”
Backed by Partnership and Support
Ed shared he was ” blessed to get the WIFA grant to get two units.” Thanks to a grant program between MyLand, Arizona State University, and the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) of Arizona—a program that supports investments in water efficiency and sustainability—Ed has two MyLand Systems on his land, which deliver live, native microalgae to the soil on a continuous basis.
From the beginning, Ed has valued the MyLand team’s consistent support and shared commitment to outcomes.
“I first met Dane [Hague, MyLand Co-founder and CEO], and now we’re working closely with Dave [Booher, SVP of Sales] and the rest of the team,” he says. “They’ve been with us every step of the way.”
Farming with the Future in Mind
For Ed, soil health and water savings aren’t just short-term goals—they’re a legacy.
“This is important not for me, and not for most of us, but for our grandkids and our great grandkids,” said Ed.
He went on to say: “I always say this: there’s a baby being born in Pennsylvania right now that’s going to move to Phoenix. If we don’t protect this water, that person is going to come 30 years from now and buy a house to have it run out of water ten years later. That’s how important this is.”
“The whole world is watching what Arizona, the last state in the Union, is going to do to affect water… Water is king.”
Ready to start improving your soil? Reach out to our team to get started today.
About Curry Farms
Location: Pearce, Arizona
Crops: Chili peppers, rosemary, beans
Challenges: Water conservation, soil performance
Acreage: ~2,200 acres; two MyLand Systems in operation