Big Farms and Flawless Fries Are Gulping Water in the Land of 10,000 Lakes
When Minnesota farmers cranked up their powerful wells, they blew through state limits. Thirsty crops included corn, soybeans and perfect, fry-friendly potatoes.
I certainly understand the truth of it, but something about relying on toilet flushes and treatment plants to keep our rivers flowing just seems - - incredible? (Probably a better word that I'm not thinking of.) And thinking about THAT water being cleaner than what is coming off of most ag acres seems even more sad and strange.
Finished your book and I have re-read a few chapters. Thanks much for your work on it Chris! I have been recommending it to friends and will forward my copy to someone that can benefit from reading it.
Just think, if farmers had control gates on tiles outlets, they could have saved all that water earlier in the season to sustain their crops today. Drain tile pollutes the rivers and enhances the drought effects and the citizenry gets to pay for both, drought disaster payments and dirty water. When does it end.
2024, the second year of El Nino will tell whether this drought is just the start of something bigger. Red dots on USGS river maps reach far into the tall grass, prairie peninsula. Sure seems to put a bit of a damper on the meaning of sustainable while 2012 is still fresh in red dot memory.
On the bright side, poling tandem canoes upstream on ____ creek is now very doable.
Hi Chris...I am a reporter doing a short story on water consumption in Iowa, the drought, and Microsoft. Is there way we can talk asap? My email address is sharonadarlo at gmail dot com.
Big Farms and Flawless Fries Are Gulping Water in the Land of 10,000 Lakes
When Minnesota farmers cranked up their powerful wells, they blew through state limits. Thirsty crops included corn, soybeans and perfect, fry-friendly potatoes.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/09/03/climate/minnesota-drought-potatoes.html?unlocked_article_code=INCS8Gy7yPP9SazTaQZf-yjF4TCrbztghgXlx0IjH_thPv0DScfRtyw4nQYoz47oQlz5pztSEPkXWC3pRJW6Jv8Mm9jy1YTI5KZxLfVJowMCTra4M2GeW4GQga0TeDUU8NqAwUhXAv3z13O836Z2JRGcuPoMi5Q3A6vkITz00a7xuNp_H76JUHPnCQUfK6gC66lH20lZym-2BuHzG45UhfmSqBnNME6gbjLmLkh5QD_hVO6vWX-V8L1gzcPWeQgdrF94gjg33mdJ2aNcV4aBzZNsxf2omOYEHX5sjxCdHsg20zkAIWMnRtaE0wZeDS2ZgDiQeh-sUJYX7-uBTJj08xJ2R3UeWqiyhSjf4ArgtCE7JPFQ&smid=em-share
Great article thanks!
I certainly understand the truth of it, but something about relying on toilet flushes and treatment plants to keep our rivers flowing just seems - - incredible? (Probably a better word that I'm not thinking of.) And thinking about THAT water being cleaner than what is coming off of most ag acres seems even more sad and strange.
Finished your book and I have re-read a few chapters. Thanks much for your work on it Chris! I have been recommending it to friends and will forward my copy to someone that can benefit from reading it.
thanks Paul!
Just think, if farmers had control gates on tiles outlets, they could have saved all that water earlier in the season to sustain their crops today. Drain tile pollutes the rivers and enhances the drought effects and the citizenry gets to pay for both, drought disaster payments and dirty water. When does it end.
2024, the second year of El Nino will tell whether this drought is just the start of something bigger. Red dots on USGS river maps reach far into the tall grass, prairie peninsula. Sure seems to put a bit of a damper on the meaning of sustainable while 2012 is still fresh in red dot memory.
On the bright side, poling tandem canoes upstream on ____ creek is now very doable.
Hope you'll read the NY Times today. . . story about Minnesota's water shortage. An excellent and wide-ranging piece.
Hi Chris...I am a reporter doing a short story on water consumption in Iowa, the drought, and Microsoft. Is there way we can talk asap? My email address is sharonadarlo at gmail dot com.