MAKING THE CHANGEBarry Evans of Kress in Swisher County, a cotton and grain sorghum producer, has proved a man ahead of his time, steadily transitioning to dryland farming from irrigated farming in recent years. (Photo by Jim Steiert)
RELYING ON SUMMER FALLOW--Michael Carlson near Milo Center adjacent to the 385 Corridor where aquifer depletion is heavy. He says declining well flow has necessitated adjustment. “We’re planting fewer acres and closely managing the efficiency of what we do plant. I rely on summer fallow ground now.' (Photo by Jim Steiert)
A FORCED TRANSITIONRaymond Schlabs Jr. who farms along the 385 Corridor north of Hereford has cut irrigated acres and is gearing for full dryland farming in the not-too-distant future. He feels that the Ogallala aquifer is going away fast, and the end of irrigation for the whole county is getting close. (Photo by Jim Steiert)
A steep decline of the Ogallala aquifer in many of the 16 counties in the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District has been tracked for decades. Many area residents still haven’t accepted that reality.New average flow figures from the HPUWCD released in April drive home that point even more bluntly. The notorious “race to the bottom of the aquifer” in Deaf Smith County a...
