For decades, Kansas farmers have relied on an ancient underground reservoir to provide water for their crops. But now the aquifer is drying up, reports The Wichita Eagle. Most farmers in Kansas are already feeling the effects of the depleted Ogallala aquifer. For some farmers, the energy bills for pumping water are costing more than the leases paid on the land itself. Water from the aquifer has gone down as much as 200 feet in some areas, doubling what it costs to pump it. Many farmers now use satellite technology and phone apps to monitor their sprinklers and fields. They’re conserving as much as they can, but it may not be enough.
These images from Wichita Eagle photographer Travis Heying show farmers in and around Ulysses, Kansas, grappling with issue of the depleting water supply.