What does the future of irrigation look like? It depends on where you stand. 

With more than 100,000 registered irrigation wells and around 9 million irrigated acres of cropland, “the future of irrigation in Nebraska looks pretty good,” says Chuck Burr, crops and water Extension educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “There are a few areas where groundwater is declining. And at some point, they’re going to run out of water. But for most of Nebraska, we should be OK.”

While quantity might not be a big concern for the Cornhusker State, quality is. Burr predicts groundwater nitrate levels will continue to rise over time and could become a serious problem in the future. Thankfully, reducing nitrates in drinking water is simple.

“Nebraska has done a good job of promoting testing in drinking water,” he says. “If nitrates are high, they’re offering a reverse osmosis system.” 

Water concerns in Kansas

To Nebraska’s south, conversations around irrigation are very different. In Kansas, water availability is very much of a concern.

“The condition of the aquifer is varied. There are portions that we have already depleted to the point that it can no longer sustain irrigation, and there are other areas that have significant remaining saturated thickness,” says Susan Metzger, director of the Kansas Water Institute. “We treat [irrigation] in Kansas with a great sense of urgency.”

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Even areas with plentiful reserves today are at future risk. If users maintain the status quo for the next 50 years, Metzger estimates Kansas would deplete its aquifer by 70%. Agriculture accounts for around 14% of Kansas’ gross regional product, so Metzger says irrigation is a statewide economic issue as much as it is an immediate localized problem. Given this outlook, Metzger says it’s no surprise that aspiring young farmers looking to someday take over their family’s farm are worried about future water access.

“Being able to have surety that you have a long-term reliable water supply is key,” she says. “It would be hard to make any other investment in land or equipment if you can’t guarantee that you have a reliable water supply. And that’s also true of a young person who isn’t interested in farming but wants to return to a rural community. Chances are that the rural community is very reliant on agriculture.”

Environmental, cultural changes

Driven by droughts and extreme weather patterns, agricultural practices are evolving along with the environment. Tomorrow’s farms will look different than today’s. And as more areas urbanize, drifting from their agricultural roots, there’s a societal shift going on, too. Burr predicts that public perception of irrigation — especially in areas removed from agriculture — will be the biggest challenge the next generation of Nebraskan farmers will have to face. 

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“I have a little bit of concern that this public perception may drive public policy, which could restrict how we use our groundwater supplies,” Burr says. “Just because of that perception of wasting water, I think our farmers of the future, going forward, are going to have to be much more efficient with water and nitrogen application.”

Precision technology is a wild card that could help alleviate both real-world and perceived problems by enhancing irrigation efficiency. States are betting on this via cost-share programs that bring water-saving tech like autonomous pivots and soil moisture probes to farms that couldn’t afford them otherwise. There are also funds available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service and local groundwater management districts.

“I think technology is valuable to help us be very productive,” Burr says. “Some people think that if we move toward efficiency, we lose productivity. That’s not true. We need our growers to become more comfortable with that fact.”

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Empowering the next generation

Metzger says it’s never too early to start advocating for water conservation.

“The best thing to do is to start now by getting involved in your local and state water management policy process. In Kansas, that would mean going to your local groundwater management board meetings,” she says. “We need young people who are interested in serving on water management boards to help advance water policy. Don’t be intimidated by thinking that if you’re 18, you’re too young to be a part of it.”

Metzger says it’s up to today’s farmers to enable and empower their children to speak up, because they’ll be the ones confronting future water inaccessibility head on.

“We give lip service to this being ‘for the next generation.’ But the more [young people] we get to actively engage with their voices and perspectives, the better,” she says.