Episode 65 • Farming Data, Water Innovation, and Resilient Living with Billy Tiller

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Billy Tiller, a fifth-generation cotton farmer, entrepreneur, and data solutions innovator from West Texas. Billy shares his journey from farming and ag banking to launching technology ventures focused on ag data cooperatives and water management solutions. He explains how his work in Nebraska’s Twin Platte Natural Resource District helped pioneer a large-scale project using electric smart meters to track irrigation more accurately and encourage conservation—an approach now viewed as a model across the state.

The conversation expands beyond water to the challenges of dryland farming, the role of crop insurance, and the slim margins farmers face amidst rising input costs. Billy and Tillery also reflect on food systems, from international competition in cotton markets to the need for healthier diets in rural America. Billy shares personal insights on resilience, from cooking during COVID to innovations in chemical solutions through his new venture, the Grower Freedom Alliance, which promotes more efficient and sustainable ag inputs.

Closing with a heartfelt discussion on mentors and legacies, Billy honors those who shaped his path and emphasizes the importance of hope, second chances, and lifting up positive voices in agriculture. This episode blends innovation, faith, and community spirit—painting a vivid picture of how one farmer is working to secure the future of agriculture on the High Plains and beyond.