“Kansas Farmers Dramatically and Profitably Pare Water for Irrigation,” Circle of Blue

This article reviews recent management and research activities in the Sheridan LEMA (Locally Enhanced Management Area) in Kansas. In the face of dropping water tables, farmers in the area have collectively imposed on themselves a 20-30% cut in water use – and have been able to meet that goal without significant reductions in yield through a combination of increased efficiency and crop switching. Two research papers provide details on the economic and environmental benefits – which is important for other regions around the country that might want to emulate this success.

Context: The Ogallala Aquifer, extending under large swaths of the Great Plains, is one of the most important agricultural water sources in the US. But it has been used unsustainably for many years, and parts of the aquifer are expected to become depleted in the coming decades, as shown in the map below. Major changes in water use are needed, but they may result in major economic and social disruption. The Sheridan LEMA is quite small, but it is a model for how locally-driven solutions can allow continued agricultural production with lower environmental impact (both water use and other metrics such as greenhouse gas emissions).

Portions of the Ogallala Aquifer are quickly becoming unusable for irrigation due to groundwater overuse and depletion. Source: Rhodes et al. (2023).