When did american farmers go back to relying on rain? Last I heard they had invented something called CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION.
I think this article is a crock.
Where I live in central KY I asked a guy why all the corn here is “feeder corn”. He said that sweet corn needs irrigation and to effectively irrigate, you need pretty flat ground. It’s hilly here and our abundant rain allows one to grow at least feeder corn with no irrigation. They also do tobacco, wheat and soy. The Wheat was all harvested about a month ago.
About $150 an acre to buy a center pivot irrigation system and keep it running.
My husband and I went for a drive yesterday. We saw a few of the center pivot irrigation devices working. But right next to a field receiving water would be another that was so parched the corn is not yet knee high.
Not everybody can afford irrigation systems. We were in a area of Mennonite and Amish farms mixed in with modern farms. They don’t use irrigation systems.
Yes, lots of farmers still rely on rain.
Typically in Indiana irrigation is not used.
Then again, we haven’t had this type of drought since 1988.
Dryland farming is used most often to grow corn and small grains. Not every farm has water rights and the water right laws vary from state to state.
In our state those who get water from the main river have been cut to 35% of their water.