Along with Kansas and Nebraska, the midwestern state of South Dakota was also hit hard. In normal times, these three states provide one-third of U.S. winter wheat production and a quarter of corn production. About 30 percent of Marc Ramsey's land is irrigated, which means part of it is doing better than its other fields. Tucker Farms' only irrigated field also outperforms the others.

But even some of Ramsey's irrigated fields are producing only 80 canishers of corn per acre, less than half the normal rate. High levels of water use have led to "fairly dramatic declines" in aquifers in western Kansas, Buchanan said, adding that farmers in some areas "have really struggled." "They saw that some wells dried up. They had to go back to the agriculture of the land", that is, without irrigation.

With water rights strictly limited, Buchanan said some farmers have joined in agreements on the more cautious use of groundwater, extracting up to 20% less than allowed. Ramsey, like the Tuckers, has agricultural insurance that covers exceptional losses.

Source: Agrolink