Michael Kotutwa Johnson's farmland with his house in the distance.

CALS Alum Celebrates Indigenous ‘Dryland’ Farming Techniques

A member of the Hopi tribe, Michael Kotutwa Johnson ’99 is spreading the word about how ancient methods nurture crops

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By Melissa Newcomb

When it comes to how much rainfall is needed to grow corn, Michael Kotutwa Johnson ’99 is well aware of the conventional wisdom: 30 inches per year. But in Arizona, Indigenous farmers have grown thriving crops with a mere six inches of rainfall for thousands of years.

The practice, called Hopi dryland farming, can produce not just corn but also beans, melon, squash, and cotton.

And while the techniques are not widely known beyond the Hopi community, Johnson is working to change that.

Michael Kotutwa Johnson wears a bowtie and suit and smiles.

A Hopi tribe member, Johnson is on the faculty at the University of Arizona, where he’s an assistant professor of Indigenous resilience and a Cooperative Extension specialist in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment.

He conducts research and has written academic papers on dryland farming, and works to spread awareness of its benefits. Its techniques, he says, are designed around maximizing and conserving soil moisture, and farmers don’t use herbicides or pesticides.

An ear of corn being held in a hand.
White, orange, and red beans held in a hand.
Corn and beans grown through Hopi dryland methods.

“Hopi and other Indigenous crops are raised to fit the environment,” says Johnson, who majored in agriculture in CALS and earned a doctorate in natural resources from the University of Arizona. “The environment is not manipulated to fit the crops.”

As Johnson explains, dryland farming begins with selecting the right site: a field that receives rainfall runoff and has clay in the soil, which helps with water retention.

Hopi and other Indigenous crops are raised to fit the environment. The environment is not manipulated to fit the crops.

For corn, around 10 seeds—instead of the typical one—are planted per hole; they’re placed more deeply than in conventional farming, and the rows are much farther apart.

(Johnson even refers to the seeds as “children,” underscoring their precious role in the community’s future.)

Once the seedlings emerge, the best specimens are left to grow while others are culled—reducing competition for moisture.

“This farming method has been taught for generations,” says Johnson, who learned the techniques from his grandfather and now maintains crops outside his home.

“And while some of the processes change over time, the ‘why’ never changes.”

Now, Johnson is advocating for Hopi dryland farming to be recognized as an official method by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Michael Kotutwa Johnson kneeling on the ground inspecting corn growing.
Inspecting a corn plant.

He’s working on a nutritional analysis of Indigenous crops, as well as research on best practices for water conservation—particularly as environmental factors like drought continue to impact the region.

And while the dryland method is unique to the Southwest climate, Johnson believes its underlying values—making thoughtful decisions based on conditions and culture—can be applied to any location.

This farming method has been taught for generations—and while some of the processes change over time, the ‘why’ never changes.

“We have been out here farming for 3,000 years with no irrigation; that’s 3,000 years of observation and repetition,” says Johnson. “We are resilient, and I want to show people what we are doing, and that we do more with less.”

This academic year, Johnson is also launching an initiative in some Arizona classrooms: called “One Seed, One Child,” it’s having first- and second-graders plant a seed on their first day of school, helping to connect them to the land and the cycle of food production.

Michael Kotutwa Johnson teaches seven kids about Hopi farming on the farm.
Johnson teaches schoolchildren about Hopi farming—including the fact that corn rows are planted much farther apart than in conventional agriculture.

“What makes this whole system work and be so vibrant is that it’s integrated into our culture,” he says of Indigenous growing practices.

“It’s faith-based agriculture—because the most important part is to have faith in everything we do. This isn’t a commodity to us; it’s a life-giving force.”

Top: Johnson’s farm, in front of the home he built himself. (All photos provided.)

Published August 20, 2025

Comments

  1. Susan Goodspeeds Anderson, Class of 1961
    1 Sep, 2025

    After growing up in NY dairy country, living for over 50 years in ND , I have moved to AZ. Kudos to Dr. Johnson for his wise work to preserve the beautiful and bountiful desert lands.

    Reply
  2. Tom Furlong, Class of 1979
    17 Sep, 2025

    I recently relocated to AZ from GA (where my garden issue was too much rain) and am very interested in “dryland farmimg” for my garden. Thank you for this article!

    Reply

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